Why Mansfield's historic Palace Theatre is set for a bright future

Mansfield’s Palace Theatre can look forward to a bright future following a recent major revamp of their facilities.

That’s the confident view of the attraction’s cultural services manager who believes that the summer modernisation scheme has left the Leeming Street theatre in a positive place.

The upgrade programme saw important changes made to the historic theatre’s stage lighting, sound systems and stage floor.

Christopher Neil, cultural services manager at the theatre, said: “We are a very busy theatre and maintaining it, and keeping it in a good state for the public, is a priority.

“The upgrade of the stage was well overdue. It has been 30 years since it had a real facelift and to have the stage freshened up really helps people and makes sure we don't have any issues on stage.

“There is a lot going on and we are fortunate that our local council still supports us with capital spend.

“The council has been really supportive in helping us make these improvements and ensuring that we keep our buildings up to standard for local people.

“The work that happened in the summer ensures we are taking ourselves into the future in a good way.”

Plans are now underway to build further on those improvements to ensure the theatre, which originally opened as a cinema in 1910, continues to head in the right direction.

They are changes which Chris, who has been involved in Mansfield’s theatre and museum life for around 17 years now, knows are vitally important as the influence of technology continues to grow.

“I have seen so many changes during my time of being involved with the theatre,” he added.

“In the last four or five years we have had Arts Council England support and that has allowed us to develop in so many ways.

“We are able to now present things more digitally in the museum and take our audiences into a digital world. To be able to bring new shows to our stage and open our local audience up to new things is exactly what we want to do.

“Technology has improved so much in the theatre, but equally people will be surprised at how museums are also developing and the different opportunities technology brings.

“It is not just hanging paintings on a wall in an art gallery, it is about the different ways of using technology to great advantage to bring to life new things and getting people involved.”

The theatre last underwent a major renovation back in 1997 when it was closed for a seven-month overhaul costing £2.9m.

For further info on what’s on at the Palace, or to book tickets, visit https://www.mansfield.gov.uk/palacetheatre/homepage/1/palace-theatre