Best seats in the house!

At the end of the year, it is also due to have comfy new seats installed in the stalls.

To allow this work to take place, the theatre in London Road, Westcliff, will be closed from Thursday 27th December until Saturday 12th January.

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council's Executive Councillor for Culture and Tourism, Councillor Derek Jarvis said: "We apologise for any inconvenience this closure may cause. However the existing seats really do need to be replaced.

"They have been there in the stalls since 1986, but they are actually much older than that, because they were acquired second hand from another theatre.

"The brand new ones will improve customer satisfaction and ensure comfortable viewing for the Palace Theatre audience for many years to come.

"They are also a fitting and lasting 100th birthday gift to this historic theatre."

The Palace Theatre is managed on behalf on Southend-on-Sea Borough Council by HQ Theatres.

Throughout its centenary year, a series of minor improvements have helped boost the theatre's ambience, topped by these forthcoming new seats funded by the Council.

Meanwhile, a host of events are taking place to celebrate the theatre's birthday.

On Sunday 21st October - the actual day of the birthday - there will be a special open day from 11am until 3pm.

This will give a rare opportunity for members of the public to access all areas, go backstage, see the dressing rooms and find out how the theatre works.

There will be entertainment from local theatre groups and the Palace Writers Group, as well as a chance to see the Palace100 film made by Southend schoolchildren.

In addition there will also be games and quizzes based around items from the theatre's vast archive.

This activity is free and there is no need to book.

For more details about the Palace Theatre and forthcoming performances, please call 01702 351135 or visit http://www.southendtheatres.org.uk/