Pictures that show fading glory of city's former Palace Theatre
THESE revealing pictures show the Dance Academy nightclub as it has never seen before, and may never been seen again.
The images, which were sent in to The Herald, show parts of the former Palace Theatre that have never been in print and some reveal its state of disrepair.
Some of the pictures, which were taken in mid-2008, show club owner Manoucehr Bahmanzadeh's living area and the state in which it has been left since being shut down after a huge drugs raid in May 2006.
Areas which regular club-goers would never have had access to are also shown for the first time, including an electrics room, coat storage area, the VIP room, and some of Bahmanzadeh's living quarters.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Sunday, May 26 2013
Some other pictures reveal how badly the club has suffered with damp and show evidence of leaking roofs and rot.
The photographer described the condition of the grade two listed building: "It smells of damp wood, carpets and old beer. You can hear water dripping down from the roof into the main dance floor area with a fair-sized puddle on the floor next to a pile of rubber gloves and other rubbish.
As you walk around the site you can easily make out where the old Palace Theatre was and the modern Dance Academy takes over," he said.
While touring the empty rooms the photographer was always wary of the building's deterioration: "There is the odd floor board that does not feel safe and a little creaky under foot. All the floors felt safer than I thought they were going to be," he said.
Many parts of the club appear to have been frozen in time with the club's upper rooms and drinking areas left to gather dust with empty bottles and beer crates left on the bar, while other rooms look cleaner, as if someone has been in to move items out.
"It's not until you start making your way to the upper floors and into what was once the accommodation area that it becomes more obvious that it was either raided or people left in a hurry," he said.
The pictures show there are still items left behind, such as game consoles, games, videos, beds, bedding, paper work, computer items and files, and even food left in the cupboards, the photographer claims.
He also found evidence of dogs living in the building with dog bowls and leads lying around.
The exterior of the club has not escaped the effects of the weather with a lack of regular maintenance allowing rotten window frames and glass to fall away letting rain and birds enter the upper floors and turrets. The brickwork and guttering of the building is crumbling with plants, weeds and small trees growing up the sides of the walls.
Protesters campaigning for the release of the "Plymouth Two" gathered outside the Dance Academy. Filmed October 30, 2008.
Comments
by ANDY, plymouth
Sunday, March 14 2010, 7:54PM
“can any 1 tell me who to contact
and let me know who still owns it,,im sure that with a right frame of mind good management,,some guts hardwork,a really good persistants and the right contacts who knows........but it could start with knowing who still own it and how much it will cost to buy ......come on may some body tell me”
by andy cornwall, cornwall
Thursday, March 11 2010, 10:51PM
“Turn it into a giant rock/heavy metal bar/gig venue as there are in other cities around the country, there are to many dance clubs in this city already and itd be good to have a multi room venue for the rock loving people of plymouth to go to, all we really have is jfks and the white rabbit both small little venues its about time us rockers had a top quality club to head to on a weekend.”
by D, Plmouth
Sunday, February 21 2010, 12:54AM
“Look past the decay and you see a magnificent building which deserves to be restored to its former glory, I don't understand why it can't when the ugly Civic Centre is listed! Sheer madness!”
by james, plymouth
Tuesday, August 25 2009, 2:26PM
“people that are saying it should be pulled down are being ridiculous! as others have said it is part of plymouths heritage and it is a beautiful building. I and many others have lots of happy memories of the place, I am glad the drugs problem is dealt with in dance academy, but I am not happy that the place has just been left to rot!!! plymouth is still riddled with drugs and its dance music scene has not been the same since it closed, much as they try in my opinion other clubs just don't cut it against DA! restore it and do something with it! preferably not turn it into houses!”
by paul, plymouth
Tuesday, August 25 2009, 10:22AM
“bring it back, sing it back too me!!!
the memory will always be there for me i had some great nights there and always went home at the enfd of the night without getting started on by someone who cant handle much beer and then wants too fight the world i belive that we should be able too do what we want too ourselves aslong as we do NOT take from anyone or cause anyone any harm BRING BACK DANCE ACADEMY, even for one final night LOVE IS GONNA SAVE US!!!!”
by Paul, Torpoint
Sunday, August 23 2009, 12:17AM
“Now look. Can't we change the record from refuges, clubs, restaurants, moneyspinning booze palaces and the like? Is there nothing else for us all to think about, besides your own greed and selfishness, people?
Here's a new idea...Plymouth tradition and heritage. Know what that means?”
by Anonymouse, Plymouth
Saturday, August 22 2009, 11:47PM
“The New Palace Theatre belongs to Plymouth. Turn this wonderful place into Flats ?
People can go and find their own homes, this Theatre is Plymouth history and heritage.
Have some respect.”
by Anon, Plymouth
Saturday, August 22 2009, 11:29PM
“Do we really deserve to keep this landmark? Other than as symbol of eastern block neglect and decay, which we have become?
One of the most cultural- and heritage rich Cities in Britain has been let down for donkeys years, by a shabby authority that simply destroys our history, helped by the wide boys and developers all chasing a fat profit. There's hardly anything left of our Plymouth. What chance for the symbol of Music Hall and Variety, when our Barbican is now a multicolored drinking den and our councillors parade on TV, quaffing canapes, declaring "Plymouth will be the new Barcelona"?
It was closed for a reason, known only to town planners and grubby developers.”
by anon, plymouth
Saturday, August 22 2009, 11:11PM
“Every time I drive past the Dance Aceademy my heart is captured by the looking tower and murals of th Spanish Armarda, it's such an inspiration to artists, performers and anyone that appreciates true beauty. It is made even more beautiful through the decay, the smashed open window at the front of the building makes you wonder what things have started living/growing there for the past three years. The room which is left bare must be full of trees and plants now, growing up form the floor boards and full of pigeon faeces. It is without doubt THE most beautiful building in Plymouth, yet the only ones enjoying it are the pigeons. I would love to go to the top floor and look out from the shattered windows. The building is older than most of us and should be treated with respect.”
by gina, plymouth
Saturday, August 22 2009, 10:52PM
“Turn it back into a theatre! it was ruined by becoming a nightclub... the pictures i saw were so sad and made me feel kind of empty (i never went there as its not my scene) but shouldnt we do something really good with it?
it WAS a beautiful place before Dance Acadamy... and it CAN be beautiful again... come on PCC please see the potential its got and turn in back to its former beauty!”