Edinburgh's historic King's Theatre has re-opened following a £41m refurbishment after being closed for almost four years while the work was carried out. The 120-year-old venue has undergone extensive modernisation aimed at making the building more accessible and updating its facilities.
What did leaders say about the reopening?
First Minister John Swinney described the building as
an iconic landmarkand a
prized part of Edinburgh's identity and heritage.
He added:
Its reopening will strengthen the city's vibrant cultural sector, draw in tens of thousands of visitors and support jobs and businesses across Edinburgh and beyond.
Members of the public will be able to tour the theatre on Saturday and Sunday before performances begin on Friday.
How long did the refurbishment take?
The project involved more than 1,370 workers from 160 organisations and took 1,252 days to complete. A series of test events was held before the reopening to trial technical equipment and operational procedures.
The venue's future had been plunged into doubt when operator Capital Theatres came close to running out of money because of the soaring cost of the renovation.
What accessibility changes were made?
Three lifts have been installed to help people with mobility issues, and accessible toilets have been added on every floor. The auditorium now has 10 wheelchair spaces and there is also an accessible dressing room.
The refurbishment also included conservation work on the theatre's dome painting.
The artwork, called All the World's a Stage, was created in 2013 by the late Scottish playwright, artist and designer John Byrne.
What else has changed inside the theatre?
Technical infrastructure throughout the theatre has been upgraded as part of the redevelopment. The fly tower has been extended by 4.5 metres (14.8 ft) to accommodate more technically demanding touring productions, and the raked stage has been replaced with a level surface.
Hospitality capacity has increased from 200 to 405 people. The former box office has been converted into a café, and a new creative engagement studio has also been created within the building.
Who were the first members of the public to enter?
Nine-year-old Isla and seven-year-old Ewan from Tollcross Primary School joined lifelong King's Theatre visitor Charlotte Fabian, 104, as the first members of the public to be welcomed into the redeveloped venue by Capital Theatres chief executive Fiona Gibson.
Their combined age of 120 matches that of the theatre.
What is the theatre's history?
Opened in 1906, the Grade A-listed theatre is the only surviving working theatre designed by architects Swanston and Davidson. Plans for the renovation were first announced in 2018, and initial designs suggested removing nearly 200 seats to provide more hospitality.
Since then, the theatre has survived two serious threats to its existence. In 2020, Succession star Brian Cox appealed to then First Minister Nicola Sturgeon after the theatre failed to secure emergency funding during the Covid pandemic. Two years later redevelopment costs, driven by inflation, soared by 20% to 30%.
City of Edinburgh Council and the Scottish and UK governments later contributed about £8.85m to ensure the work was able to be completed.
What was discovered during the renovation?
During the renovation, a slip of paper containing the names of architects and plasters responsible for building the theatre was discovered in a glass bottle hidden behind a crown decoration.
The theatre's full summer programme will play host to certain events in the Edinburgh International Festival from 11-30 August.
Key Facts
- Edinburgh's King's Theatre has re-opened after a £41m refurbishment.
- The venue was closed for almost four years and the project took 1,252 days.
- More than 1,370 workers from 160 organisations were involved.
- Three lifts, accessible toilets, 10 wheelchair spaces and an accessible dressing room were added.
- The theatre will host some Edinburgh International Festival events from 11-30 August.
