Leith Theatre officially taken off 'at risk' register after almost a decade

The organisation behind a near-century-old theatre which survived a wartime bomb blast and has not been permanently open for more than 40 years has welcomed the building being taken off the “theatres at risk” register, but warned there is “still a long way to go”.

Theatres Trust, which operates the Theatres at Risk register, said Leith Theatre securing £4.5 million of National Lottery Heritage funding last year and the appointment of a design team to start a major capital project meant it was no longer at risk of closing for good or being redeveloped for another purpose.

The theatre has been on the at risk list for almost a decade and has not been open on a permanent basis since 1983, due to its poor condition, although it has hosted pop-up events and productions.

Lynn Morrison of Leith Theatre Trust said the move was a “real testament” to the journey the theatre has taken and said audience members did not notice the lack of running water or the fact it is not water tight.

She added: "But we still have a long way to go. People are so blown away to be back in the building for events, they can't see that we don't have running water in some parts of the building and that we're not wind or water tight."

The 2026 Theatres at Risk Register comprises of 39 theatres across the UK under threat of closure, redevelopment or severe decay, which all have the potential to be revived for their local communities with the right support. Three other Scottish venues - Motherwell Concert Hall and Theatre, Brunton Theatre in Musselburgh and Dundee's King's Theatre, remain on the list.

The Trust said it had provided “expert, impartial advice” to Leith Theatre and would continue to support it.

Leith Theatre has been taken off the at-risk register. | RYAN BUCHANAN / LEITH THEATRE

In January 2025, a charity secured a crucial agreement with the City of Edinburgh Council to run the venue for the next 50 years, while an architect for the project was appointed in November. The charity was formed in the wake of a lengthy campaign to prevent the 93-year-old theatre, which was almost destroyed by a bomb blast in the Second World War, from being sold off for development.

Joshua McTaggart, chief executive of Theatres Trust said: “We are delighted to say that Abbeydale Picture House and Leith Theatre are no longer considered at risk. Their inclusion on the Theatres at Risk Register achieved its purpose, raising awareness to build local support and help unlock funding for these special theatres.

“Removing them from the Register is not the end of the journey and there is still work to be done to ensure their long-term resilience. Theatres Trust will be there to support both organisations with the operational challenges they may face as they move towards fully reopening.”

He added: “While it is fantastic to celebrate these successes in our 50th anniversary year, we must temper that with the reality that we are also adding two more theatres to the Register. That means two more communities losing access to the joy and opportunities that theatre brings. Sadly, these buildings are just the tip of the iceberg, and we are beginning to identify a potential trend for theatres built in the 1970s now facing a higher likelihood of challenges that could lead to long-term or even permanent closure.

“Without sustained long-term support for theatres at the local, regional, and national level, we could see many more theatres from the 70s added to our Theatres at Risk Register. This is a future we want to confidently avoid, and so Theatres Trust urges theatre owners, operators and local authorities to reach out to us before concerns become crises.”

The register noted two new additions this year, Preston Guild Hall in Preston, which has been closed since 2019, initially due to legal disputes and more recently as due to the discovery of “crumbling concrete” RAAC in the roof, while the Forum in Barrow-in-Furness closed due to asbestos both in the theatre and the connected building, which has led to proposals of demolition.