The Stage

Theatre de Complicite to renovate Ally Pally theatre

Published Tuesday 20 April 2004 at 14:25

North London company Theatre de Complicite has unveiled plans for a £500,000 refurbishment of the 19th century theatre in Alexandra Palace so it can be used as a performance space early next year.

Producer Judith Dimant said proposals to renovate the main areas outside the 2,500-seat auditorium had met with a positive response from the London Borough of Haringey and trustees of the venue.

Said Dimant: “The space is completely beautiful but very, very dilapidated. This year we have been running for 21 years and had the idea to do a project in there. We will have to raise money to pay for the necessary refurbishment and then we will build a temporary structure inside the auditorium space. It will be very nice to be able to do something so close to north London, which we think of as home.”

Alexandra Palace, known as Ally Pally, opened in 1873 as the People’s Palace but burned down after 16 days when a fire in the dome could not be extinguished. In May 1875, the new Palace opened, covering seven acres with a Great Hall, seating 12,000 people, a museum, lecture hall and a concert room, which was later turned into a roller skating rink and a theatre.

The BBC leased the eastern part of the building and the first live television transmissions were broadcast from there in 1936. In 1980, a second fire destroyed the Great Hall, banqueting suite and the former roller rink, together with the theatre dressing rooms. Haringey Council decided to rebuild. Phase one of the development was opened in 1988.

Dimant said Ally Pally would not become a permanent home for Complicite but the refurbishment work would allow other touring companies to use the venue.