The Britannia Panopticon: Music Hall Memories

I slept in shockingly late on Saturday, but once I was up and about I made my way back to the old city centre - taking the underground to St. Enoch and heading down Argyle Street which then turns into Trongate, to go back to the music hall for a performance.

I hadn't realised when I was there last week that I was actually IN the music hall. A lady introduced the history of the music hall (growing up out of industrialisation) which started in the 1830's, and told how easily these early music halls burned down - with open flame for lighting, and much smoking etc. She told us how the Panopticon was unique - in that the bar was downstairs, and the hall upstairs. She puts its survival down to saturation - she said the men had nowhere to relieve themselves, being upstairs, so they just did so where they were, thus ensuring that it could not burn down!

After this introduction, a little show was put on - different members of the cast singing songs("If you knew Suzy" and a song by Harry Lauder among others), reciting humorous poetry, and there were even a couple of magic shows. It was all thoroughly enjoyable!

The finale. The lady w/ black hair is the one who provided the introduction, and has written a history about the Britannia Panopticon

Inside the music hall: the back of the balcony

Another view of the balcony

The ceiling