Show must go on as theatre plan progresses

AMBITIOUS plans to see the curtain rise again on one of Scotland’s best-loved theatres from the golden age of music hall have reached a major milestone.

Work was finally completed yesterday on the restoration of the exterior of Aberdeen’s Tivoli Theatre when the last granite block, to replace a missing piece of column, was put in place on the Guild Street frontage of the Victorian building.

In its heyday, stars including Stan Laurel, Charlie Chaplin, George Formby and Jimmy Logan took to the stage of the Tivoli.

It closed as a theatre venue more than 40 years ago, leaving the building, with its imposing Venetian Gothic facade, to be turned into a bingo hall and then fall into decline.

The Grade A listed building, placed on the Buildings at Risk Register for Scotland, was bought three years ago by local businessman Brian Hendry. And his plan to restore the theatre to its former glory was identified as a priority project of Aberdeen’s Green Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) which provided a £508,700 grant for the desperately needed repairs to the external fabric of the building.

Mr Hendry said: “We can safely say that the building has been saved for the next 100 years, with the help of the Green THI.”

Graham Young, the Green THI project manager, said: “It is wonderful to see this theatrical old lady being gradually restored to her former glory.

“The restoration and ultimate reopening of the Tivoli will be a pivotal link in helping to stimulate and regenerate the Green THI area.”