Nostalgia: Looking back at 80 star-studded years for the Edinburgh Playhouse as a first class venue

Published on Saturday 15 August 2009 11:20

IT'S opened its doors to animals, boxers, rock gods and film stars, protesters and professionals. The Edinburgh Playhouse is marking its 80th birthday this year – and it's clear there's much to celebrate.

Building began in 1928 on a grandiose design inspired by the Roxy in New York. Glasgow architect John Fairweather's creation required 1.25 million bricks, before, on 12 August, 1929, the Playhouse welcomed the public in for the first time for a film adaptation of JM Barrie's play Half an Hour called The Doctor's Secret.

One of the original super cinemas of the 1920s and 30s, the Playhouse's most illustrious guests in those early years were comedy duo Laurel and Hardy.

By 1969, with the golden age of cinema over and audience numbers falling, the Playhouse was put on the market. Bought by property development firm Maxwell Property Holdings Ltd, it shut down in 1973 – the last film shown was Live and Let Die.

The plan was to demolish the Playhouse and turn it into an office block, but strenuous protesting by the Playhouse Preservation Group saw the building win a B-listed status – recently upgraded to A – which saved it. But it remained closed for seven years while the Edinburgh Playhouse Society campaigned for its reopening.

It was bought by Lothian Regional Council for 135,000 in 1979 and reopened as a venue for theatre and opera in 1980.

That year, Shirley Bassey visited – and there have been big names at the Playhouse every year since. One of the early coups was a gig by the Rolling Stones in 1982, when Mick Jagger donned a Scotland football jersey.

Stevie Wonder, Ella Fitzgerald, Cliff Richard and Elvis Costello are just a few of the other stars to have stepped on its stage.

The theatre has entertained more than 50 million people over its 80 years.