ONCE again proposals for Warrington to have its own theatre have been scuppered by the council’s refusal to consider conversion of the former Drill Hall into a performance area.

But many people are aware that the town has had its own theatre since 1907 when The Palace Hippodrome opened on Friar’s Gate with a seating capacity in excess of 2,000.

It underwent a change in 1931 when it became the Palace Cinema until 1964, afterwards it operated as a bingo hall, Surewin then the Apollo.

Keeping up with modern trends, it changed to a nightclub in the 1990s first as Brannigans and now Showbar.

I understand that most of the theatre is hidden away behind false doors and ceilings but given the will and the funding, it could give back to Warrington the facility it deserves.

Still waiting for Godot.

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