Leith Theatre is well imbedded in the local community, and is an important local asset celebrating the heritage and civic pride of Leith. With this in mind, it is especially good news that, just days after being included on the Theatres Trust ‘Theatres at Risk’ Register for the ninth year, and shortly after securing a 50 year lease of the complex from City of Edinburgh Council, Leith Theatre Trust announces Heritage Fund backing with a significant funding package that is potentially worth £4.5m from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Built to commemorate the incorporation of Leith into the City of Edinburgh’s new boundaries in 1920, the Grade B listed building with classic interwar architecture is an impressive civic space with a unique political history that is now suffering from damage and decay. Lengthy periods of closure have preserved many original features, making the theatre a distinctive and valuable heritage site.
An initial award of £247,947 for its Back to Life: the theatre that isn’t just a theatre project supports Leith Theatre to develop its capital refurbishment plans in close collaboration with The National Lottery Heritage Fund in order to secure the full remaining funding award of just over £4.2m.
Without support, the curtain could have fallen on Leith Theatre’s rich social and cultural history forever. This funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund opens up the possibility of significant refurbishment and a year-round, permanently open Leith Theatre for the first time since its initial opening.
Funding and Finance Manager from Leith Theatre Trust, Anna Higham, said “This project to bring Leith Theatre back to life really shines a spotlight on heritage and how important it is for communities to retain buildings of local value. Although this feels like the culmination of lots of hard work, it is really just the beginning, and we are excited to continue our next step development plans and launch our full capital fundraising campaign.”
The Trust’s ambition is to save this valuable community asset so it can take its rightful place at the heart of Leith and in the cultural landscape of Edinburgh, contributing to local vibrant life and ultimately benefitting future generations.
The vision for the refurbishment is to ensure the building fulfils these original purposes but as a contemporary space that preserves the charm and heritage that makes it so interesting to visitors. A mix of the old and the new will involve retrofitting the iconic venue to preserve its rock-and-roll spirit while hitting the right notes on sustainability.
Everyone will be able to take part in the refurbishment project through events and heritage opportunities, allowing many people to access the venue and play their part in preserving and creating Leith and the City of Edinburgh’s history and folk can stay up to date by signing up to the organisation’s newsletter and social media channels.
In the longer-term, this project ensures organisational sustainability in order to offer employment opportunities and skills development, bringing economic and social benefits to Leith.
Irene Brown
Radio Summerhall Arts 