What I can see

Palace Theatre is an impressive, luxurious cultural space, which hosts concerts, plays, films, musicals and operas, generally large-scale productions, made possible thanks to a recent restoration by Giannis Kizis. Kizis’ biggest accomplishment is that he managed to make the modern “converse” with the old, adding contemporary architectural brushstrokes, which showed respect for the original elements of the old movie theatre. The stylistic elements, highlighted with the recent restoration, have apparently been inspired by the theatre of the Champs Elysées and the Rigalle and Pathe-Marignan theatres in Paris. There are controversial views about the wavy false ceiling, which has embedded optical fibers and is divided into three levels, creating the illusion of Aurora Boeralis. The theatre can accommodate 1,500 spectators (its former seating capacity of 2,500 was limited for safety reasons) and an enlarged stage.

What I can't see

It was built as a cinema, a cultural space for the bourgeoisie of the era since lower classes preferred smaller neighbourhood cinemas around Omonia. The theatre had advanced technological equipment for its time. During the Greco-Italian War, it was given to the National Theatre as a shelter during bombings. A school-age Maria Kallogeropoulou (Callas) performed here in the operetta “Boccaccio”, in the 1940-1941 season. During the Civil War, it served as a governmental event venue. In the basement and the foyer there were two smaller theatres, which are no longer in operation. The building is currently listed and hosts major, demanding productions.

Info

• Address: 5 Voukourestiou St.
• Phone: +30 210 3213100
• Website: http://www.ellthea.gr/index.php?module=venues&venueid=001003&lang=el

Bibliography