New look for King's Theatre in Edinburgh under £25m revamp revealed

The King's would have a new ground-floor cafe bar if its overhaul goes ahead. Image: Greig Penny

New bars, foyers, hospitality and education facilities, and extension housing a ground-floor cafe are among the key features of the overhaul, which stars like artist John Byrne, author Ian Rankin and actor Brian Cox have backed.

The revamp, which will see the venue's backstage facilities and stage overhauled, is expected to "futureproof" the building for the next 50 years. A key aim of the changes is to open up the building to the public every day, even when shows are not being staged.

The designs, by Edinburgh-based architects Bennetts Associates, suggest removing the back wall of the auditorium and replacing it with a new curved structure to reflect the original design of the theatre.

Although the theatre's capacity would drop from 1300 to 1100 under the proposed transformation, the architects say the new-look venue will have improved sightlines and better access for wheelchair users.

The trust which runs the theatre on behalf of the city council has warned that it is in "urgent need of an ambitious, major redevelopment to protect and enhance the built heritage for future generations and to modernise facilities, so it can attract customers and top-quality touring productions."

Capital Theatres is pressing ahead with the coronavirus project despite being forced to close the King's in the face of the coronavirus pandemic for the foreseeable future. Its hugely-popular festive panto is said to be hanging in the balance due to the likelihood of social distancing restrictions having to be enforced in theatres across Scotland into 2021.

Noel Coward, Laurence Olivier, Maggie Smith, Simon Callow, Maria Callas, Ian McKellen, Rikki Fulton and Sean Connery are among the stars to have appeared at the venue since it opened in 1906.

The foyers and bars of the King's Theatre would be transformed under the venue's £25 million makeover. Image: Greig Penny

The Tollcross theatre, one of the main venues used for the Edinburgh International Festival each August, would close down for nearly two years in 2022 to allow the work to be carried out if planning permission and funding is secured in time.

It is hoped the transformation will allow the theatre, which is known as The Grand Old Lady of Leven Street, to more than double its opening hours and increase the number of visitors through the doors by 50 per cent.

In the planning application lodged with the city council, Capital Theatres states: "The project will futureproof and sustain the operation of the ‘A’ listed theatre, whilst providing community access to, and engagement with, its significant heritage."Building work will include essential access, public and technical improvements to bring the theatre into the 21st century.

"Our aim, however, is not only to transform the historic building but also to create a wide-ranging programme of community and educational activities so that we can engage audiences from across Scotland with the built heritage and a century of social and cultural heritage of the King’s Theatre within its neighbourhood of Tollcross.

The new-look King's Theatre would have a dedicated education and workshop space on its top floor. Image: Greig Penny

"Modern facilities will enable us to attract top quality touring companies which will help restore the King’s asone of the UK’s premier drama houses and bring new work to Edinburgh which has previously been unable to tour here.

"Keeping the building busy, vibrant and relevant will mean that we can keep it viable and well maintained for the next 30-50 years."

James Nelmes, director of Bennetts Associates, said: "I'm delighted Capital Theatres has chosen to push ahead with the Planning application for the King’s Theatre.

"As someone who has lived a stone’s throw from the King’s for 20 years, like so many others in the city, I am looking forward - not only to the reopening of the theatre but to a time when the building is as busy throughout the day as it is at show time.”

The changes to the King's Theatre are aimed at doubling its opening hours and boosting the number of visitors by more than 50 per cent. Image: Greig Penny

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