RESIDENTS are being invited to enjoy a day of events to celebrate the Grade II listed Palace Theatre’s centenary.

On Saturday, September 7 from 10am until 4pm there will be a number of events taking place not just in and around the theatre, but also in the town centre, by the entrance to St Stephen’s Church.

In the theatre’s Room Upstairs venue there will be a history exhibition detailing how the Edwardian theatre survived the fate of thousands of theatres nationwide, now lost for ever.

The Advertiser reported last week how a century of changing tastes saw several incarnations for noted theatre designer Wiliam Robert ‘Bertie’ Crewe’s 1913 opus, including conversion into a roller disco in the 1950s and, later, even a bingo hall.

In the bar lounge there will be singing, while in the foyer or outside (weather permitting) there will be face painting, puppet shows, story time performances and magic demonstrations.

Meanwhile in the town centre there will be arts and crafts and activities for children.

There will be a Palace Theatre information point, live singing and a number of street performances by the Palace Youth Theatre, pupils from NEW College and Bread and Butter Street Theatre.

And, if all that wasn’t enough on the night there will be unique Centenary Celebration Show.

A gala evening hosted by Don Maclean will take people on a musical revue through the century with contributions by Redditch Operatic Society, Astwood Bank Operatic Society, Studley Operatic Society, Alcester Musical Theatre Company and The Harlequins.

The show starts at 7.30pm with tickets, costing £12, expected to sell fast.

For more information about any of the performances or the celebration show, visit redditchpalacetheatre.co.uk.