The List

Britannia Panopticon Music Hall

The Britannia Music Hall (The Panopticon) in Trongate, Glasgow, Scotland is the oldest surviving music hall in the world. Built in 1857 by Thomas Gildard and HM McFarlane, it has hosted some of the biggest names on the Music hall circuit. In 1906 Stan Laurel made his first stage appearance there on amateur night. In that same year A E Pickard bought the building and changed its name to the Panopticon. He also undertook some major works, installing a freak show, a roof top carnival and a waxworks. He also excavated the basement and installed an indoor zoo. The Panopticon was one of the first buildings in Glasgow become powered by electricity and one of the first cinemas in Scotland. It closed in 1938 when it was sold to a tailors and converted to a workshop. It is currently being conserved by a trust who regularly perform traditional shows in the auditorium. It is now protected as a category A listed building.

What's On @ Britannia Panopticon Music Hall

Adult Panto: Loose Maw Goose - 10 Years Of Panto At The Panopticon
Celebrating 10 years of panto at The Panopticon and 10 years of Auntie Effie as our Dame!!! Maw Goose was once the shining star of Panoptica but now the Twink has left her twinkle . With the help of her family and chosen band of dilapidated performers, will she eventually become the beauty she once was, will she be able to save her struggling venue, or will this prove to be Auntie Effie's Goose-song? Find out Christmas 2026.
The Cult of Astaroth

The Cult of Astaroth

17 Oct 2026 - 17 Oct 2026

Brothers! Sisters! Siblings All! Rejoice for The Grand Duke of Hell, Lord Astaroth, welcomes you to his Brotherhood. Visit the esoteric realm of an ancient demonic cult with Edinburgh Horror Festival sell-out magician Ash Pryce: Paranormal Illusionist. Take part in a dark magick initiation ritual, and learn the secrets of the teachings of Astaroth. Will you save your soul, or be damned to oblivion? Praise Astaroth! Bonus show: Before the main show begins, there will be a performance of The Discoverie of Witchcraft, a magic show looking at the world of witches and the occult. Two shows for the price of one! Programme included with admission.
Bizarre Magic

Bizarre Magic

2 Oct 2026 - 2 Oct 2026

Join five very strange magicians for an evening of Bizarre Magic Cabaret in Glasgow's most haunted venue. Halloween starts now. Do you dare?
Tea & Tarot

Tea & Tarot

3 Oct 2026 - 3 Oct 2026

Fortunes Told! Join us for another amazing Tea & Tarot event with our regular tarot readers, Katerina and Judith and special guests. also a wonderful stall selling esoteric goods. Admission is only £2. Consultations cost extra.
Rocky Horror Picture Show Shadowcast with The Denton Deviants
The Denton Deviants bring the Timewarp back to the Britannia Panopticon Music Hall. A flat tyre leaves Brad and Janet stranded on a stormy night. They experience strange incidents when they seek shelter in a nearby castle belonging to Frank-N-Furter, an eccentric transvestite. A shadowcast will play out the film in front of the screen, with dressing up and callbacks highly encouraged. Goody bags will be available to purchase at the door!
Darker Material

Darker Material

24 Oct 2026 - 29 Oct 2026

This October, join me — Lorenzo, Mind-reader and paranormal enthusiast — for a night of psychological chills and supernatural thrills in Glasgow’s Britannia Panopticon Music Hall. Once shuttered in the 1930s and lost to time, the Panopticon has creaked back into the light… just in time for Darker Material, an evening of Twisted Humour, Mind-Bending Mentalism, Darkly Immersive Storytelling, and perhaps a brush with something outwith our understanding; not everything that stirs in the dark is part of the show. WARNING: This performance has the potential to be psychologically distressing: it is not suitable for pregnant persons or those with heart problems.
Ghost Stories for Christmas

Ghost Stories for Christmas

21 Nov 2026 - 21 Nov 2026

The horror of Christmas comes to the Britannia Panopticon with a collection of grisly, creepy ghost stories. Remember to dress for the cold as Britannia Panopticon Music Hall is heated by ghosts.
Frankly, The Smiths

Frankly, The Smiths

4 Dec 2026 - 4 Dec 2026

Frankly, The Smiths return to Glasgow’s beautiful and historic Britannia Panopticon for a special acoustic duo show on Friday 4th December. Following our sold-out acoustic show at the Panopticon, Steven and Jason return for another intimate evening celebrating the music of The Smiths and Morrissey. Expect stripped-back versions of much-loved classics, fan favourites and a few deeper cuts, performed in the unique surroundings of the world’s oldest surviving music hall. With limited seating and the Panopticon's wonderfully intimate atmosphere, this is a chance to hear these songs in a completely different setting.
The Panopticon Comedy Club

The Panopticon Comedy Club

9 Oct 2026 - 9 Oct 2026

Join us in the World's oldest surviving music hall, where Stan Laurel made his stage debut in 1906. In 2023 we will be showcasing Glasgow's finest comedy talent and introducing a few new acts. "I Laughed til the tears ran down my legs!" Paul from Sidney, Australia
The Magician Silent Horror From 1926

The Magician Silent Horror From 1926

28 Oct 2026 - 28 Oct 2026

The Magician is a creepy horror from 1926. A magician/alchemist, seeking to create life, finds that he needs the "blood of a virgin" to continue his experiments. Skin crawling, blood chilling and quite frankly horrifying! Gladstone's Bag will be providing the live music and sound effects.
Ash Pryce's Spook Show!

Ash Pryce's Spook Show!

17 Oct 2026 - 17 Oct 2026

Welcome to the Spook Show! A celebration of all things Hallowe'en, because spooky isn't just for October 31st! Ghosts, witches, occult powers, and a bizarre night of frightfully fun magic from award-winning, sell-out magician Ash Pryce - Paranormal Illusionist and Ghost-Master! Featuring seance demonstrations, mind reading, and witchcraft practices, the show is at times funny and ridiculous, at others dark and macabre. Mixing all the fun of Hallowe'en with the terrifying things that go bump in the night.

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