When the Palais Theatre was first opened it was one of the largest "picture theatres" in the southern hemisphere, and for years it was THE place in Melbourne to see a moving picture. Today it is one of THE places in Melbourne to see local and international performing artists. The Palais Theatre has had everyone from Margot Fonteyn, to the Rolling Stones perform on its main stage and is also home to the annual St Kilda Film Festival and Melbourne Comedy Festival Gala.