Theatre stages bid for more premieres

Details of the proposed plans for a 2.8 million extension to the theatre have been unveiled, with work set to be completed in time for the Edinburgh Fringe in 2012.

The project is planned for a gap site to the rear of the Nicolson Street venue and will create the biggest rehearsal space in the city for theatre and dance acts.

John Stalker, chief executive of the Festival City Theatres Trust which runs the theatre, said it was "embarrassing" that the world-class venue has never had its own rehearsal room.

He said: "The rehearsal facility will accommodate everything from simple rehearsals to complex rehearsals, and education workshops to performances. We envisage it being a performance venue for the Fringe and other local groups, seating around 160 people.

"I think Edinburgh will get more world premieres as a result of the extension. It will make the Festival Theatre more attractive to choreographers and theatre directors to come and make work here in Edinburgh."

The extension will also include a small foyer and a box office area.

Councillors on the city's culture and leisure committee approved the plans in February last year but the project still requires planning permission.

Theatre bosses struck a deal to pay for the new scheme by building student flats on a wedge of land between the new extension and South College Street.

Mark Sidgwick, a partner in LDN Architects which drew up the plans, said: "The site has been divided into three buildings – the rehearsal building and two student accommodation buildings. The student accommodation will consist of a mixture of three and four-bedroom flats, with 34 flats in total."

The project will be paid for from the land sale and a mystery benefactor's 500,000 donation to the Festival City Theatres Trust.

A 250,000 shortfall for the scheme will be met by the Theatres Development Fund, which was set up by the Trust in January this year and sees 1 from every ticket sold at the Festival Theatre donated.

A public consultation on the plans will be held by Ardmuir, the developers behind the proposed development, at the Festival Theatre tomorrow, from 5-9pm.

Mr Sidgwick added: "It's quite deliberate that the design isn't complete yet because we want to get as much feedback as we can."

Mr Stalker said: "One thing that is very thin on the ground in Edinburgh is rehearsal rooms. The rehearsal facility will be extremely popular."