Queen's Theatre in a modern style. The reconstructed theatre opened 8 July 1959 with John Gielgud's solo performance in "Shakespeare speeches and sonnets, Ages of Man". Since April 2004, the theatre has played host to Cameron Mackintosh's production of "Les Misérables" which transferred after 18 years at the nearby Palace Theatre. The musical celebrated its 20th anniversary at the venue on 8 October 2005 and overtook "Cats" as the longest running musical of all time a year later on 8 October 2006. The theatre was Grade II listed by English Heritage in June 1972. An extensive refurbishment was undertaken in the latter
Palace Theatre, London War (1900). The Palace continued to show films as part of its variety and musical programmes. In 1904, Morton was succeeded by manager Alfred Butt, whose father Alfred Beyfus and associates had purchased the theatre. Butt introduced many innovations to the theatre, including dancers, such as Maud Allan (including her famous "Salomé") and Anna Pavlova, and elegant pianist-singer Margaret Cooper. Oliver G Pike premièred his first film, "In Birdland", at the theatre in August 1907. This was the first British wildlife film to be screened to a paying audience. On 26 February 1909, the general public first saw Kinemacolor in