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, Plymouth to escape within 12 minutes. Later that week, Houdini was "securely chained" before diving off the Halfpenny Bridge, which connected Devonport with Stonehouse; Houdini returned to the surface within a minute of entering the water. In 1931, Charlie Chaplin visited Plymouth as the guest of Lady Astor, the M.P. for Plymouth Sutton. He appeared on the stage at The New Palace Theatre on 16 November 1931, before catching a late train to London. Chaplin was seen off at the station by the manager of the theatre, Jack Fitchett, with whom he had previously appeared in "The Mumming Birds" when they