It’s a year to the day that we first closed the Palace doors due to the pandemic.
It’s been a tough 12 months for everyone. Here at the Palace we’ve had plenty of lows too, at times our future has been in the balance. But there have been positives: whenever, however, we could we’ve tried to entertain you and support our community. Check out the photos below, which are a great summary of everything we’ve enjoyed together over the past year.
We also want to look to the future, so have asked our small, but extremely hard working team, to pick out some things they’re looking forward to in the (fingers crossed) brighter year ahead, both at Alexandra Palace and beyond.
Thank you for all your support, we couldn’t have got to this point without you. Hopefully see you soon x
THE ALLY PALLY TEAM
Zed Major, head of facilities: Personally I can’t wait to see people back inside the Palace. I felt like Jack from The Shining for the first two months of the pandemic. You only have to look at the Nick Cave film shot here to see how cavernous it is without people in. The Palace is run for people to enjoy, so that is what we want to see. Elsewhere, I’m looking forward to getting back on the gig scene. I’ve got tickets for the Dub Pistols, Skints and New Model Army, which me and my family will go to.
Lucy Fenner, commercial director: I’m looking forward to being back in our beautiful venue and working in person with the amazing Ally Pally team. First stop is The Terrace, second stop is the ice rink and then the golf course. Kaleidoscope Festival is set to be amazing and then hopefully no stopping us with the return of fabulous events across the Palace, Theatre and Park. Away from here I can’t wait for the return of all the festivals, gigs and theatre. The Back to the Future musical looks fab and I can’t wait for Glastonbury in 2022.
James Atkinson, development director: The thing I’m most looking forward to seeing again at the Palace is the darts. Seeing the fans in matching outfits parading up the hill is a unique sight! From a personal point of view I’m hoping to see the End of the Road festival in September. If it happens, it means we will have had a good summer and things are getting back on track.
Lou Glover, theatre manager: We do a great Christmas show each year but I’m particularly excited for this year’s – it’s one not to miss. Elsewhere, I had tickets for a Dream Nails gig for the end of this month; can’t wait for the rescheduled date and to be dancing at the front with friends.
Kirsten Forrest, curatorial & interpretation manager: I’m most looking forward to just being back on the hill! And seeing the buzz of audiences arrive for gigs, the Theatre and big exhibitions. I really miss the atmosphere and energy of the Palace. Aside from that, I’m very much raring to go with historic building tours, art exhibitions and any kind of talk – somewhere outside of my own house!
Mark Evison, park manager: I am looking forward to spending more time onsite again, exploring the Park, rediscovering the building and reconnecting with people in real life! I have missed watching the Park and the view of London change with the seasons. As restrictions hopefully begin to lift, it’ll just be good getting out and about, around the country. I’m looking forward to the beach in Devon this summer!
Jack Brooks, visitor services manager: I can’t wait to see Architects. I first saw them at a 150 capacity club in 2007 when I was 15. Fourteen years later I’m ready to be working on their 10,000 capacity show at the Palace. It’ll be amazing and great to see a British metal band that has come so far. Further afield I’ve got my fingers crossed for the British Lions Tour; it’s once every four years, I’ve got tickets for their first match in Edinburgh. With sport being mostly cancelled for over a year, this will be much needed and couldn’t be a better first sporting event to go to after such a dreadful year.
Isobel Aptaker, creative learning manager: I am looking forward to Biblio-buzz coming back to the Palace – I will never forget just how incredible it is to have 800 young people in the Theatre all buzzing about books. In terms of something outside of the Park and Palace, then it would have to be the museums opening. For me there is nothing better than exploring the amazing objects in their collections.
Graeme Timms, head of health & safety: At Ally Pally it will be great when we can experience a room of 10,000 people quieten to near silence before erupting as the headline act takes to the stage. And going to see grassroots music live in person for the first time in close to 15 months is something I’m waiting for.
Stephan Hickey, head of events: We’ve had plenty going on, but when we can have people back in large numbers it will be special. I’m looking forward to seeing life returning to normal and people enjoying all our event spaces with fewer restrictions in place. The music gigs we’ve got planned, artists like London Grammar, are something I’m really looking forward to. Beyond Ally Pally I’d love to go and see some dance at Sadler’s Wells. Watching live theatre again will be great, and I look forward to taking the kids to some live shows and museums.
