The Britannia Panopticon Music Hall

The Britannia Panopticon Music Hall The World's Oldest Surviving Music Hall in the heart of Glasgow. To find out when we are open please Oldest surviving Music Hall 1857-1938 Glasgow
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06/10/2023

Just a wee note to say that The Britannia Panopticon Music Hall will not be open for general viewing on Saturday 7th October. But we will be open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday next week. Sorry for any disappointment.

🎥 Another nice turnout for an evening of Laurel and Hardy films presented by The Sons of the Desert.🎩✨We have a special ...
04/10/2023

🎥 Another nice turnout for an evening of Laurel and Hardy films presented by The Sons of the Desert.
🎩✨
We have a special Laurel and Hardy event coming up in November, stay tuned for further updates! 👀

Only 13 tickets left for Thursday Friday is Sold Out
04/10/2023

Only 13 tickets left for Thursday

Friday is Sold Out

An Adults only Pantomime of Sleeping Beauty from the team that brought you 6 years of Panto After Dark and Dragged Tae The Steamie .

The night I died onstage at The Britannia Panopticon Music Hall.
03/10/2023

The night I died onstage at The Britannia Panopticon Music Hall.

It's so exciting! The first re throughs are happening at this very minute for Ghost Stories - From around the World  Hav...
29/09/2023

It's so exciting! The first re throughs are happening at this very minute for Ghost Stories - From around the World Have you got your tickets yet?

Do you want to be a vendor at our Hallowe'en market? Email us at info@britanniapanopticon.org for a booking form!
28/09/2023

Do you want to be a vendor at our Hallowe'en market? Email us at [email protected] for a booking form!

25/09/2023

Upcoming September and October events
🍂🍁👻✨🎃

29th & 30th September 8pm - Don't get mad get everything
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dont-get-mad-get-everything-a-drag-parody-of-first-wives-club-tickets-598635192977?aff=oddtdtcreator

4th October 7pm- Laurel and Hardy film night with sons of the Desert 📽️
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/laurel-and-hardy-film-night-tickets-719116335317?aff=oddtdtcreator

6th October 8pm - Dragopticon 👯‍♂️
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/113-117-trongate/the-britannia-panopticon-music-hall/drag-opticon-october/e-pxdeko

13th October 7pm - The Panopticon Comedy Club 🎩
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-panopticon-comedy-club-tickets-717562317207?aff=oddtdtcreator

20th October 7:30pm - Ghost Stories from the World 👻🙀🕷️
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ghost-stories-from-around-the-world-tickets-717553671347?aff=oddtdtcreator

27th October 8pm - The Friday Night Fling 👯‍♂️
https://glasgowfestivalofburlesque.designmynight.com/

28th October 12-5pm - The Panopticon Halloween Market 🪄🧙🏼‍♀️🔮
£1 admission

28th October 7pm - The Cabinet of Dr Caligari 📽️🎃
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-cabinet-of-dr-caligari-tickets-717013636087?aff=oddtdtcreator

Excellent video by Andrew Quinn 👻

This afternoon, join us for Music Hall Memories, where you can step back in time to experience the charm of bygone Music...
23/09/2023

This afternoon, join us for Music Hall Memories, where you can step back in time to experience the charm of bygone Music Hall variety shows.
Free to get in but we charge to get out!
1:30 & 3:30
🎩🎭✨

Contact info@dragsteamie.com or Dragged TAE productions Ltd to apply / details This is a great annual event and always a...
19/09/2023

Contact [email protected] or Dragged TAE productions Ltd to apply / details

This is a great annual event and always a lot of fun

ADULT PANTO : CASTING CALL

We are currently casting for our 2023 Adult Panto at The Britannia Panopticon Music Hall

We are looking for :

Princess

Prince

Comic Lead

Featured Ensemble

Auditions will take place on Monday 2nd October in a Glasgow City Centre .

Interested parties should email headshot and Acting CV to [email protected] using Shattered rosebud as subject .

All applicants must be 18+

For the auditon you will be required to sight read and perform a song of your choice .

Princess auditionees will also be asked to perform chorus of “I will always love you “

Video auditions be accepted on a case by case basis .

please let us know when you apply

Today is the last day of Glasgow Doors Open Days Festival. Come along and discover the history of the world's oldest sur...
17/09/2023

Today is the last day of Glasgow Doors Open Days Festival. Come along and discover the history of the world's oldest surviving music hall.
👯🎩📸✨🎻

Join us this weekend for doors open days and see what we have prepared just for you! come along, take some photos of our...
15/09/2023

Join us this weekend for doors open days and see what we have prepared just for you! come along, take some photos of our carnival photobooth and share away your snaps!
📸🎩👯🎪

Burlesque returns to Panopticon with Friday Night Fling! A wonderful evening hosted by Roxy Stardust! Join us for some m...
15/09/2023

Burlesque returns to Panopticon with Friday Night Fling! A wonderful evening hosted by Roxy Stardust! Join us for some more Sparkle and Glamour on the 27th October with a spooky themed night. 🌟💃

We have a fantastic turnout for tonight's screening of 'Oliver Twist' with musical accompaniment provided by Gladstone's...
13/09/2023

We have a fantastic turnout for tonight's screening of 'Oliver Twist' with musical accompaniment provided by Gladstone's Bag.
🎻🎥🍿

07/09/2023

PLEASE NOTE DUE TO FILMING WE WILL NOT BE OPEN THURSDAY 7th Sept

Re- Open Friday 8th 12-4:30

We've been featured in The Guardian and Glasgow Times for Glasgow Doors Open Days Festival Join us for an unforgettable ...
06/09/2023

We've been featured in The Guardian and Glasgow Times for Glasgow Doors Open Days Festival

Join us for an unforgettable experience from the 15th to the 17th! Step into history at the world's oldest music hall, where comedy legend Stan Laurel took his first comedic steps. Curious to know who else graced our stage? Come along and visit us, we can't wait to see you!🎭🎶🌟

06/09/2023

Coming up this Friday at 7pm we have the Panopticon Comedy Club! Kavita returns with another incredible lineup at the very venue that Stan Laurel made his comedic debut! 🎩🌟
Tickets are only £5 and money raised goes towards the upkeep of the world's oldest music hall!
Don't miss out!
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/myevent?eid=700174640197

The World's Oldest Surviving Music Hall in the heart of Glasgow. To find out when we are open please see our website www.britanniapanopticon.org
https://linktr.ee/britanniapanopticon

We’ve been featured in The Guardian’s article as one of the top ten best attractions across the UK to see for the Glasgo...
05/09/2023

We’ve been featured in The Guardian’s article as one of the top ten best attractions across the UK to see for the Glasgow Doors Open Days festival!

Come see our glorious building and auditorium, learn about its rich history. We are open Saturday 16th & Sunday 17th September.

Times: 11am-2pm and 2pm-5pm both days.

In September, thousands of monuments, civic buildings and private homes throw open their doors to offer a rare glimpse of normally off-limits spaces. Here are some lesser-known treasures around the country

Our monthly victorian style music hall shows return! With an array of music, comedy and other variety acts gathered from...
26/08/2023

Our monthly victorian style music hall shows return! With an array of music, comedy and other variety acts gathered from all four corners of glasgow, and scraped from the gutters of the Trongate.

Performances at 1.30pm & 3.30pm
Free to get in but we charge to get out!

25/08/2023

Come along and discover our wee shop tucked away at the back of the auditorium! 🌟From fascinating books to stylish t-shirts, we have a fine but small collection just for you. ✨ If you would like to purchase from our shop and are unable to visit please email [email protected] for more information. 🌹🎩👯‍♀️

23/08/2023

THIS FRIDAY!

We’re bringing little touch of the Edinburgh Fringe to you all right in the heart of Glasgow! Fancy supporting the oldest surviving in Music Hall and seeing and awesome burlesque show? Then join us at The Britannia Panopticon Music Hall on the 25th August and catch a bevy of Burlesque beauties from far and wide.

🎟️ www.glasgowfestivalofburlesque.com
(Direct Link - https://glasgowfestivalofburlesque.designmynight.com/)

*Acts featured on poster may not feature in the show

This afternoon, come along to the Panopticon and check out our wonderful Second hand Rose's Second-Hand, Vintage & Handm...
19/08/2023

This afternoon, come along to the Panopticon and check out our wonderful Second hand Rose's Second-Hand, Vintage & Handmade sale and discover a wide range of collectables and trinkets from our wonderful vendors! 🌟🛍️
We'll be open from 12am until 5pm with £1 admission 🎟️

Glasgow International Comedy FestivalWe will shortly start planning our events for Glasgow International Comedy Festival...
17/08/2023

Glasgow International Comedy Festival

We will shortly start planning our events for Glasgow International Comedy Festival 2024 .
This will include daytime events / shows and evening shows including full day / evening events and also 1hour slots .

If anyone wishes to express an interest in performing at The Britannia Panopticon Music Hall for GICF2024 please send us a message or email ( using subject GICF 2024) with your contact details and some details of your show and we will be in touch when we start programming .

Our email address is [email protected]

Venue has a capacity of 100 seats and we will be programming a mix of dry hire and box office split events .

We particularly want to hear from family friendly day time events and Stand alone 1 hr comedy shows but all events will be considered if suitable .

Please note that we are a limited tech venue so we can ensure you are seen and heard but May not be able to offer any specific lighting effects or special effects .

This Saturday our Second hand Rose's Second-Hand, Vintage & Handmade sale returns!Step into the world's oldest music hal...
15/08/2023

This Saturday our Second hand Rose's Second-Hand, Vintage & Handmade sale returns!
Step into the world's oldest music hall and discover a fantastic collection of vintage and hand crafted wonders from our vendors.
We'll be open from 12pm to 5pm ✨
£1 admission 🎟️

A fantastic sold out show for this evening's A Night of Ghosts  brought to you by Ash and Des.👻
12/08/2023

A fantastic sold out show for this evening's A Night of Ghosts brought to you by Ash and Des.
👻

🎪🤹Roll up roll up, come along and discover our fantastic merchandise at our charming  shop tucked away at the back of th...
11/08/2023

🎪🤹Roll up roll up, come along and discover our fantastic merchandise at our charming shop tucked away at the back of the auditorium! 🌟From informative books to stylish t-shirts, we have a fine but small collection just for you. ✨ If you snag a trendy t-shirt, don't forget to tag us – 😘🌝

Address

113-117 Trongate
Glasgow
G15HD

Opening Hours

12pm - 5pm

Telephone

01415530840

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Our Story

Britannia Panopticon began life in the late 1850s when Glasgow was bursting at the seams with humanity. Thousands of workers had flocked to the city to work in the mills, factories, foundries, shipyards and collieries. They lived in the worst conditions imaginable; single ends* housed one third of the population, lodging houses where they crammed eight to a bed were available for those who couldn’t afford a single end and if you couldn’t afford a sliver of bed space then the penny line** was a slightly better option than the poorhouses and workhouses.

The social and working conditions of the workers of this industrial empire were not so much intangible as unimaginable to us today; men, women and children toiled in the most atrocious and dangerous conditions, the stench of the sewers, the thick smoke that belched from the factories and mills and made the air thick and foul to breathe, the lack of indoor and outdoor plumbing etc. would be insufferable to our modern and delicate dispositions – only the strongest survived.

The audience of the Britannia Music Hall (as it was originally known) comprised 1500 of these people, who would cram into the small auditorium four times a day, squeezing up cheek to cheek (so to speak) on the rough wooden benches that served as seating for those who could afford it. Those who couldn’t got to stand at the sides and back of the hall. Where-ever they sat and whoever they were, they all came for the same reason, to be entertained, blow off steam, have a laugh (usually at the expense of the act on stage if they weren’t up to muster) and escape from their difficult lives. But this was an audience that had for generations cut its teeth on the barbarous practice of public punishments and executions, which in Glasgow had been the only form of legitimate entertainment from the 1550s to the 1750s. Consequently the Glasgow audience evolved over the generations into a merciless mob who literally left no turn un-stoned. In Britannia Music Hall the turns (acts) could find themselves pelted with Shipyard rivets, nails, rancid turnips and horse manure, whilst urine might rain down on them from the balcony. However, if the turn appealed to the Britannia’s audience, they would be rewarded with thunderous applause and foot-stamping instead.

Nearby museums


Comments

Join Auntie Effie and friends for Drag-Opticon the monthly live drag show at The Britannia Panopticon Music Hall which showcases the best of the Glasgow Drag scene!
Don't miss a special screening of the influential German science-fiction film Metropolis at The Britannia Panopticon Music Hall featuring live music and sound effects from Gladstone's Bag!
Catch a phenomenal night of comedy with a dazzling array of acts including comedy singers who get the crowd involved and a well-known headliner at The Britannia Panopticon Music Hall!
I was a very recent visitor to the Theatre and what a wonder it was! Such an amazing hidden gem in the city.

And of course I just had to have a picture taken of my ‘dramatic pose’ on the stage which has been walked on by so many amazing entertainers. A ‘must visit’ next time you’re in Glasgow.
The Britannia Panopticon Music Hall's Laurel and Hardy Movie Night returns with a selection of three classic films!
The Big Variety at The Britannia Panopticon Music Hall is an all new and inclusive monthly live cabaret show... don't miss it on the Friday 8th April!
Join Alana Duvey, Dharma Geddon and friends for Drag-Opticon the monthly live drag show at The Britannia Panopticon Music Hall which showcases the best of the Glasgow Drag scene!
Vance Alexander captures Tommy Cooper's style in this remarkable tribute to a much loved star at The Britannia Panopticon Music Hall on March 18th as part of Glasgow International Comedy Festival!
The sheepish guitarist 🎼🎶

A wee pre-show portrait by my pal Debbie McCall at The Britannia Panopticon Music Hall last Saturday 💜😊💜

📸
Rep'd by Rogue Model Management
A live poetry competition to decide the Scottish Slam Champion of 2022 is being held at The Britannia Panopticon Music Hall on Saturday 12th March!
My next show is the Comedy Club this Saturday night at The Britannia Panopticon Music Hall 😍 Come along for a good laugh!
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