Edinburgh’s King’s Theatre will officially reopen on 1 August. The Tollcross venue has been shut for three years for a massive structural overhaul. But amidst this generational transformation, perhaps the most dramatic change is to the stage itself: the rake is gone.
Contractors ripped out the slanted floor and installed a completely level surface. They also raised the fly tower by 4.5 metres. As a result, the Old Lady of Leven Street will now be able to welcome in a far wider spectrum of work, from dance through to the most technically needy blockbusters.
The dress rehearsal
Before the official launch, management will run the building through a practical stress test. Capital Theatres has scheduled public trial performances from 23 July. These initial dates will check crowd flow, ticketing software, and front-of-house operations under full-capacity strain.
Local companies will test the boards first in a community concert titled A Great Night Out. A Frozen singalong screening and a comedy-magic bill featuring Mhairi Black and Kevin Quantum complete the trial run.
“Every great show needs a dress rehearsal, and the reopening of the King’s is no exception,” said Fiona Gibson, chief executive of Capital Theatres. “That’s why we’re inviting audiences to be among the first to experience the transformed theatre to help us test how the building operates with a full audience. We can’t wait to see the King’s Theatre full of art, people and life once more.”
Expanding the programme
You only need to look at the King’s already announced Autumn season to see the possibilities created by that flatted stage and upgraded fly tower. The line-up includes contemporary dance from superstar choreographer Jasmin Vardimon, Fringe alumni turned West End musical transfer Operation Mincemeat, and new Scottish work, including Rob Drummond’s Wallace.
Fixing the access limitations
Away from the stage floor, the multi-million-pound project solves a long-standing lack of accessibility. A century ago, society didn’t tend to build for the differently-abled, but structures built on bedrock and constructed from stone aren’t subject to easy re-arrangement. The 20th century saw some noble attempts to expand access to the King’s, but it’s only now that the doors will truly open to anyone.
Step-free routes now run from the pavement directly to the auditorium and the backstage areas. Two front-of-house lifts and a dedicated backstage lift connect the floors. Inside the hall, the stalls feature wider seats, increased wheelchair capacity, and end-of-row seats with transfer arms. A street-level café and a Changing Places toilet bring the facilities up to standard.
You can explore this reimagined space during the public Opening Weekend on 1 and 2 August, right before the Edinburgh International Festival takes up residence.
“Hundreds of people have been hard at work on our beautiful building and we can’t wait to show you what’s changed, what’s stayed the same and how the theatre plans to welcome you all back over the coming year,” Gibson said. “Come and have a peek at the new bars, experience the all-new lifts to every floor, enjoy the rare chance to step onto the new flat stage, or simply have a drink in the new café, our team is excited to see you again.”
And we are theQR.co.uk couldn’t be more excited to see the King’s Theatre again – or to find King’s Panto back where it belongs when Christmas arrives. We’ll see you there!
Featured Image: After an extended interval, The King’s Theatre officially reopens to the public on Saturday 1 August. Photo Bennetts Associates
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