On 1stAugust, the King’s Theatre officially reopens as a world-class venue at the centre of Edinburgh’s cultural life and will be one of the most accessible heritage buildings in the UK. The building has been transformed by dramatic structural improvements, including a raised fly tower and raked stage with a new level stage allowing a wider range of performances. Accessibility is at the heart of the redevelopment and improvements include:
Two front-of-house lifts serving all levels of the building, plus one back of house.
Increased wheelchair spaces, new end of row seats with transfer arms and the addition of some wider seats available in the Stalls.
New accessible toilets on every floor and a Changing Places toilet facility open to all.
The historic Edinburgh theatre returns with a special Opening Weekend when people will be able to explore all areas of the building, book behind-the-scenes tours that include stepping onto the new flat stage and find out more about the theatre’s history and the extensive redevelopment project that began in February 2023.
Prior to the Opening Weekend, Capital Theatres is calling upon audiences to help put the theatre through its paces with a short series of test performances. These special events allow the team to rehearse everything that makes a theatre visit run smoothly, from ticket scanning to wayfinding around the venue and front of house operations. The test performances include:
Thursday 23rd July 7.30pm – A Great Night Out – Edinburgh’s community companies return to their beloved King’s Theatre home for a one-off concert, hosted by panto favourites Clare Gray and Gail Watson and featuring King’s favourites Allegro; Bohemians Lyric Opera Company; Edinburgh Gang Show; Edinburgh Gilbert & Sullivan Society; Edinburgh Music Theatre; Showcase and Southern Light.
Saturday 25th July 2.30pmFrozen Singalong- a singalong screening of the Disney classic for the young and young at heart.
Saturday 25th July 7.30pmMhairi Black and Kevin Quantum – an evening of comedy, magic and science.
Chief Executive of Capital Theatres, Fiona Gibson said “We are absolutely thrilled to officially welcome people back to the King’s Theatre on Saturday 1st August for our Opening Weekend.
Hundreds of people have been hard at work on our beautiful building and we can’t wait to show you what’s changed, what’s stayed the same and how the theatre plans to welcome you all back over the coming year. Come and have a peek at the new bars, experience the all-new lifts to every floor, enjoy the rare chance to step onto the new flat stage, or simply have a drink in the new café, our team is excited to see you again…”
Alongside the physical transformation, the King’s remarkable story is celebrated by The People’s Archive – a digital archive, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic Environment Scotland.
Priority booking for Friends of Capital Theatres for the test performances is on Thursday 28th May, with general booking open on Thursday 4th June.
The King’s Theatre Opening Weekend is free to attend but booking is required to guarantee a slot. Booking opens for everyone on Thursday 28th May at capitaltheatres.com.
To learn more about the King’s Theatre redevelopment, visit http://www.capitaltheatres.com/kings-future.
Irene Brown
Radio Summerhall Arts 