Bournemouth, Culture, Events & Entertainment | Posted on March 15th, 2024 | return to news
Palace Court Theatre reclaims Bournemouth town centre spotlight
Bournemouth's historic Palace Court Theatre on Hinton Road is reclaiming its spotlight in the town's cultural landscape with an exciting new chapter.
Acquired by AUB in 2020, Bournemouth’s last surviving 1930s’ art deco theatre is poised for a remarkable revival and saw its opening production on 14 March.
AUB Productions proudly unveiled its highly anticipated Spring 2024 theatre season, starting with ‘The Ballad of Maria Marten’, the first fully mounted, public-facing production to grace the refurbished theatre’s stage in more than 40 years.
This compelling production from AUB Productions is a thought-provoking play by Beth Flintoff, directed by the internationally acclaimed Luke Kernaghan. Performed from 14 to 16 March, the play offers a unique perspective on a harrowing true crime from 1827, exploring themes of love, loss, and societal power dynamics.
Under the university’s stewardship, the Palace Court Theatre is being successfully reactivated as a venue for educational and cultural engagement with a teaching space, a 400-seat auditorium, interval bar and rehearsal space.
“Substantial refurbishment has already been undertaken at the theatre and will continue as AUB creates a space in Bournemouth town centre for students and the community to enjoy creativity and connection,” said Professor Paul Gough, Principal and Vice-Chancellor at AUB. “And by using the spaces that have already been refurbished, the venue will be able to host a full programme of educational and cultural events.”
Following ‘The Ballad of Maria Marten’, audiences can look forward to ‘La Casa Nova’, a comedy masterpiece by Carlo Goldoni, directed by Ken Robertson in May. Concluding the season is Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, directed by Aileen Gonsalves.
Creative producer Jonny Hoskins said: “We are thrilled to present our Spring 2024 theatre season at the Palace Court Theatre. These productions showcase the high-quality talent and dedication of our students.”
Nicky Cartlidge, The Palace Court Theatre manager, added: “As Arts University Bournemouth continue its transformation project on the newly owned Palace Court Theatre, it offers a fantastic platform for showcasing talent from the university and providing the local community with more opportunities to enjoy live performances in the town centre.”
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