The actor who plays one of TV's most famous detectives is to head the new team at Westcliff's Palace Theatre.

Roy Marsden - better known as PD James' Commander Adam Dalgliesh - will be the Palace's new artistic director when it reopens in December, it was revealed today.

Theatre production company Green & Lenagan, based in London's West End, is to run the theatre under a five-year contract.

The company's recent work includes runs of the Birthday Party by Harold Pinter and Steven Berkoff's Shakespeare's Villains.

Mr Marsden said the firm aimed to give the Palace a long-term future: "We want the Palace to become a nationally-recognised centre of artistic excellence.

"I want to make it fun to go to the theatre - to put the word fun in front of Palace.

"At the moment, around two per cent of the population goes to the theatre and hardly any young people come.

"Theatres are closing every day around the country. One thing's for sure, this one ain't!"

The Palace Theatre Repertory Company will produce five in-house productions each year, alongside a lively programme of amateur and professional work.

This will include pre-West End, touring, educational and other shows.

Former Palace employees made redundant when the theatre closed could be rehired by the new management. Around 40 jobs were axed in March.

Ex-artistic director Christopher Dunham, marketing manager Marion Orchard and administrative officer Andrew Knowles-Harrison were among them.

Full details of the theatre programme for the first quarter of next year will be announced in the autumn.

Picture, top: New boss - actor Roy Marsden at the theatre.

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