Built in 1913, the Palace Theatre in Redditch is a building of national significance - and over the past 12 months, a major refurbishment project has restored this historic venue to its former glory.

The grand re-opening on April 22 was the culmination of the £4.1 million redevelopment - funded by Redditch Borough Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund - which has seen the 1970s-built foyers demolished and replaced, and the auditorium itself returned to its original Edwardian splendour.

The theatre is one of only 13 surviving venues built by renowned theatre and cinema architect, Bertie Crewe, and one of only six working examples that can be wholly attributed to the architect - as such, it is of national importance as well as being one of the few remaining historic buildings in Redditch.

In 1913 the building's classical design and modern facilities lived up to the design brief of a theatre to rival the latest London venues, and its restoration has taken this theme into account with a clever design from architects Sansome Hall. The new three-storey foyer offers much-improved visitor facilities in its spacious and airy layout, featuring an atrium-style curving stairwell that wouldn't look out of place on a luxury cruise liner.

The auditorium, however, has been transformed to create the opulence of the Edwardian age, expanding its seating capacity to 425 yet maintaining a warm, intimate atmosphere with its burgundy, gold and cream colour scheme. The seats have been re-upholstered in plush velveteen, with embroidered seat numbers for an extra touch of luxury, while magnificent curtains frame the two boxes and the 'grand entrance' to the stalls.

Every detail has been considered - wall decorations picked out in gold leaf are matched in the design of the stage curtains, while the centrepiece chandelier (or 'electrolier', to use its proper name) features a beautiful stained glass rose bowl design. Stained glass is a major theme throughout, and theatregoers will be enchanted to see the glass panels in the auditorium remain lit for a few moments after the house lights go down, adding to the overall atmosphere.

Meticulous research has gone into the restoration, with elements such as globe lamps and door handles being replicas of their Edwardian counterparts, while specialists analysed tiny flecks of original ceiling paint to ensure the new colour scheme was correct.

Linking the deliberately old-fashioned auditorium with the thoroughly modern foyer development could have been tricky, but hats off to the designers for creating a 'transitional' theme. Leading in from the minimalist outer shell, the colour scheme slowly becomes darker and leaded lights start to appear in the connecting doors until eventually, the carpet design changes to a more traditional pattern and the polished wooden doors or swathes of velvet curtain open onto the grandeur of the auditorium.

"The idea is that people feel they are gradually stepping back in time," explains the theatre's press and publicity officer, Paul Hughes. "It's unusual that the refurbishment has been done in this style - a lot of venues would choose a really contemporary theme."

As well as the main auditorium, the new-look Palace also boasts a versatile studio space that can be used as a rehearsal room, for workshops or intimate performances such as poetry readings. The whole building now has disabled access, with a lift to all floors, ten wheelchair spaces and even a dedicated wheelchair box. Technological improvements include an induction loop for hearing-impaired people, and each seat in the auditorium features its own ventilation system!

The autumn season at the Palace features a packed programme of shows, plus plenty of treats for kids during the holidays. See our What's On listings for more details.

Palace Theatre, Alcester Road, Redditch

01527 65203