Palace Theatre

Manchester's Palace Theatre has had more iconic entertainment stars treading the boards than most other theatres in Manchester — Judy Garland and Laurel and Hardy performed there in its earlier years and  more recently the likes of Rufus Wainwright, Dawn French and Bryan Ferry have appeared there. Since opening in 1891 as 'The Grand Old Lady of Oxford Street', the theatre has become an iconic landmark of Oxford Road and the Manchester scenery, and has become home to a range of long running theatre and musical performances, be they classic tales or brand new creations. The Grade II listed theatre building itself has a 1,955 person seating capacity across three tiers and an orchestra pit with space for 110 musicians for musical events. It's always worth having a look to see what's on at the Palace Theatre — their programme is full of family friendly matinee events and they have previously staged famous productions such as Blood Brothers, The Producers and The Rocky Horror Show. Opening hours vary depending on the event, so check our listings for more information. [Charlotte Davies]