Britannia Panopticon Music Hall
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1st Floor, 117 Trongate, G1 5HD
1857, Thomas Gildard & Robert H. M. MacFarlane (Cat A) The Britannia is the oldest surviving Music Hall in the World. It began in 1857 when Glasgow was a booming industrial capital. Music Halls were a popular and cheap form of entertainment and were the birthplace of Variety - the acts on stage ranged from singers, dancers and comedians to novelty acts and circus performance. In 1896 the “Animatograph” (cinema) was added to the list of amusements and in 1906 showman, A.E Pickard, added a carnival, freak show, wax works and zoo. Pickard changed the name of the building from Britannia to Panopticon (meaning to see all). In 1938, the Panopticon closed, unable to compete with modern cinemas. Today it is a miracle survivor best remembered for Jack Buchanan and Stan Laurels debuts.
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What's on?
Live Tours - see below for details Webinar - see below for details Live tours and the Webinar will take place on Britannia Panopticon Facebook Page. 
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Live Tour Details:
Judith Bowers – Live from the Britannia Panopticon Music Hall
Judith Bowers (AKA Florrie Bowwow pictured), founder and director of the Britannia Panopticon Music Hall Campaign and the Friends of the Britannia Panopticon Music Hall Trust (SCIO), will be presenting 3 live broadcasts from the building at 2pm on the Monday, Wednesday and Saturday of the Glasgow (Digital) Doors Open Day Festival. Judith will be talking from different parts of the building relaying some of its colourful, comical and diverse history and giving you an opportunity to ask your questions. If you have a question already, please submit it in advance to judith@britanniapanopticon.org.
If you would like to ensure that Britannia Panopticon Music Hall survives beyond the current restrictions due to Covid-19, please go to our website www.britanniapanopticon.org and find out how you can help.
If you would like to ensure that Britannia Panopticon Music Hall survives beyond the current restrictions due to Covid-19, please go to our website www.britanniapanopticon.org and find out how you can help.
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Monday @ 1400-1440
From the stage: How the music hall began and why Britannia Panopticon, the audience and the acts. Wednesday @ 1400-1440 From the balcony: The development of Britannia Music Hall from music hall to cine-variety and the effect electricity had on the development of new acts. Saturday @ 1400-1440 From the attic: Tales from Pickard’s Panopticon. The colourful life of A. E. Pickard, Glasgow’s last great showman, who operated the Britannia from 1906 - 1938 as a music hall, cinema, wax works, carnival, freak-show and zoo. He changed the name of the building to Panopticon; meaning ‘to see everything’. |
Live tours will take place on Britannia Panopticon Facebook Page.
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Webinar Details:
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Webinar will take place on the Britannia Panopticon Facebook Page. Sunday @ 1400-1500 Author John Connolly discusses his book, "He" - a fictional account of the real Stan Laurel. The Panopticon Music Hall closed in 1938 but one man ensured its lasting fame: Stan Laurel of Laurel & Hardy renown debuted there aged just 16 in 1908. "He" is the poignant story of Laurel and Hardy's lives together, told through the eyes of Stan in his final days. Join John and comedian Phil Differ as they discuss the book and Stan Laurel, and take part with your own questions and comments. |
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