Trust hopes to act out reopening of theatre

Published on Tuesday 7 April 2009 09:39

FOR the last 20 years, the only sign of creative activity at the abandoned Leith Theatre has been that of spiders weaving cobwebs.

But fortunes may soon change as optimism grows among campaigners who hope to reopen the iconic attraction – 90 years after the amalgamation of Edinburgh and Leith for which it was built.

Leith Theatre Trust has joined with architects and conservation experts in a bid to compile a strong proposal to be put to the council, which owns the Ferry Road theatre, to prove it can work as a multi-purpose, commercially viable arts centre, potentially housing a cinema and restaurant.

As a feasibility study is drawn up, leaders believe they can persuade the council – which closed the B-listed building due to financial constraints – to hand it over, allowing it to be used as a venue of potentially international significance.

Trustee John Paul McGroarty said: "We're very optimistic at the moment.

"We believe that Edinburgh is lacking a building of this calibre. We certainly won't be trying to compete with other venues, though, we want this to be something totally new."

The theatre, originally the port's town hall, was gifted to the people of Leith by Edinburgh following the Act of Parliament which controversially amalgamated the two in October 1920.

It is neighboured by the Thomas Morton Hall, Leith Library and also incorporates a registration office where marriages are still held. Despite being disused for so long, it remains wind and water tight.

Campaigners fighting for its future are using the 90th anniversary of the Act in 2010 as a "date on the horizon" to focus their reopening hopes.

The Cockburn Conservation Trust is carrying out an options appraisal on the site and is speaking with residents and businesses about what could work as a successful and long-standing venture.

The appraisal is expected to be completed by the end of the year and will then be submitted to the council.

Project officer Jane Robertson said: "There has been a great deal of local support for the reopening of the theatre, it is just about finding a viable business case – something that stacks up."

Leith Theatre Trust intends to apply for a 3 million Scottish Community Foundation arts prize to help kick-start the project but is confident it would be able to make the project commercially viable itself.

Chairman Philip Neaves said: "We are going for the fund but we are self-supporting and will not be a group reliant on winning competitions."

Leith councillor Rob Munn has supported a reopening for many years.

He said: "I am feeling optimistic about this. It's very important to get this building back into public use.

"It is very hard to say what the council may decide – members will have to see the plans."

Culture leader Deidre Brock said that the council would "await with interest the outcome of the feasibility study in due course".

A public consultation event, run by the Cockburn Conservation Trust, takes place on April 22 in the Thomas Morton Hall at 3pm and 6pm.