Palace Court Theatre

Booking tickets

The Palace Court Theatre is used for a variety of events. To book tickets, please go to the individual event page in the What’s On section. From here, you'll find a link to the ticket booking page for that event. Every member of the audience must be in possession of a valid ticket to gain entry to the theatre. The seats are non-allocated.

Ticket policy

Once purchased, tickets can't be exchanged or refunded. All customers aged 14 years or below must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 years or over. Some performances may have different age restrictions. It's the responsibility of the ticket-holder to check any restrictions before they purchase tickets.

Every effort to admit latecomers will be made at a suitable break in the event, but admission can't always be guaranteed.

House opening

Please check individual events for information on what time the house will be open to the public.

Accessibility

We're working on making the venue more accessible. There are currently no lifts in the building, so accessibility is limited. There are three steps from the street to the theatre entrance. A moveable ramp is available to use on these steps. Please let us know in advance if you need to use this.

Access to the main auditorium is on a level with the foyer. There's seating available with extra legroom and two wheelchair spaces. Please advise when booking tickets if you require these spaces. There's one accessible toilet located one floor down from the auditorium. Access is via one flight of stairs. There's a stairlift available for use, with which you may require assistance if you're a wheelchair user.

Access to the toilets is via a series of steps. Access to the clubroom is from the foyer via a series of steps.

Please note, it's also important that you make us aware prior to an event that you have an accessibility need, so that we can arrange a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan for you.

Toilet Facilities

The toilet facilities are currently limited in number, please be aware of this and expect queuing time especially during peak periods (intervals). The toilets are accessed via stairs. There's one stairlift, which can be used to get to the accessible toilet from the auditorium. Please be advised that the toilet facilities are part of the refurbishment project, so whilst functioning, aren't glamorous.

Front of House

Whilst the theatre is under development, please be aware that the space can be cold.

AUB and Palace Court Theatre are cashless sites, payments for refreshments and tickets can only be made by card or contactless payment. There's currently no bar area, but refreshments will be served from the auditorium area.

Travel

Palace Court Theatre is in the centre of Bournemouth on Hinton Road.

• Bus – Hinton Road Top bus stop is opposite the theatre and served by several bus routes.
• Car parking – Westover Gardens Car Park and Central Car Park are both within 200 metres of the theatre entrance.

The Palace Court Theatre, which originally opened in 1931, owes its existence to the Bournemouth Little Theatre Club, for whom it was commissioned as a permanent base for their 1,000-strong membership. It was an important focal point for drama on the stage and screen for over 50 years, offering a repertory season of plays and entertainment, including many new works, both on the main stage, and in the clubroom downstairs.

The theatre was designed by local architects Seal & Hardy, who were also responsible for more than 50 other local buildings, including the Regent Centre in Christchurch, the Bournemouth Daily Echo offices, Westover Ice Rink and the Palace Court Hotel (now Premier Inn).

The first Seal & Hardy design, published around 1930, had a vaguely Egyptian cinema-style façade. However, owing to budgetary restraints, it was simplified to emulate the Portland stone façade of London’s Whitehall Theatre. Inside the venue was a fairly plain, typically 1930s modernist interior with a single balcony. Specifically commissioned as a playhouse, rather than a cinema, (sound cinema came along in 1929), the acoustics are excellent for the spoken word. It remains the only theatre in Bournemouth fully suitable for plays.

At the time of opening in June 1931, there were administrative offices and accommodation facilities alongside the theatre in the building next door. In the ensuing years, the Edwardian villas of Westover Road were replaced with hotels, cinemas, theatres, dance halls and an ice rink, as well as the sports facilities at the YMCA. Locals and visitors were attracted to "the strip". A place to see and be seen.

In the 1960s, changing holiday habits and rising costs meant that the amateur drama company could no longer afford to run the theatre, and in 1970 the building was sold to Louis I. Michaels’ LM Theatres. The former clubroom on the lower ground floor was converted into the Galaxy Cinema, whereas the main 595-seater theatre was renamed The Playhouse and operated as a repertory theatre for eight years. After this, in light of dwindling attendances, The Playhouse eventually became a full-time cinema.

In 1983, upon the death of Louis Michaels, the building was put on the market and sold to the Assemblies of God, who'd been hiring it for Sunday services. Change of use to a church was allowed on appeal, and was also made personal to the owners so that, upon any change of ownership, the permission would lapse.

In 2021, AUB purchased the building, and has since begun restoring its use as a theatre venue.

The Palace Court Theatre is currently undergoing significant redevelopment and redecoration to reactivate the space. Areas of the space require significant work and access can be difficult. We're working to improve infrastructure systems as well as the physical space. AUB is committed to making its buildings environmentally sustainable in line with its 2030 net zero strategy.

The auditorium

A large stage with gentle raked seating for up to 250 people in the stalls (the circle seating isn't currently available for use). With excellent acoustics for the spoken word, the space is ideal for performances, talks and lectures. The seating isn't numbered and is allocated on a first-come first-served basis. The seating is particularly comfortable as it was acquired from a cinema refurbishment.

The clubroom

Located below street level, the clubroom is a large open space with a low stage area and striking parquet floor. Ideal for meetings, music performances, social gatherings and performances. The current capacity for the clubroom is 100 people.

AUB is pleased to offer the Palace Court Theatre for hire to external organisations from August 2024. The theatre is still in development, so please ensure you fully understand the limited tech spec and temporary infrastructure of the building. We run termly Open Site visits for creatives, and we'd encourage anyone interested in hiring the PCT to attend one of these to see the spaces before making a hire enquiry.

All external hires of the Palace Court Theatre will need to attend a pre-event planning meeting at the venue, show proof of their public liability insurance, and provide a risk assessment for their use of the space.

If you're interested in hiring the Palace Court Theatre, please complete and submit a Hire Enquiry Form.

If you'd like to bring your work to the Palace Court Theatre as part of the artistic programme, please contact the Theatre and Venues Manager, Nicola Cartlidge, at palacecourtheatre@aub.ac.uk

Since acquiring the Palace Court Theatre, AUB has committed to carrying out extensive work to the building, which has allowed for the presentation of live performance, film and the hosting of workshops and community projects. Those who've attended shows, talks and tours at the theatre are excited about its potential for AUB, corporate organisations, the creative industries and the community. The improvements to the building are already significant, and yet there's still a long way to go to really bring the theatre back to its full potential.

To support the development of the theatre, the AUB Charitable Foundation is leading the current aim of raising financial support for the reimagining and programming of the Palace Court Theatre. AUB Charitable Foundation is launching a major fundraising programme to engage with trusts and individuals interested in art, heritage and culture who may join in the journey to restore Palace Court Theatre to a vibrant, living venue for the arts.

A membership programme will open in 2025 to gain support from the community. There'll be an opportunity to be Founding Members, supporting the renovation and programming of this project from the beginning. Alongside the fundraising, the University will continue to invest in the building to make improvements for all users and increase the range of work that can be hosted in the space.

For more information about the fundraising and membership programme, you can get in touch via email at palacecourtheatre@aub.ac.uk.