(All photos by Anneleen Lindsay)
Capital Theatres invites the public to discover The Grand Old Lady and Her Neighbours, a free pop-up photography exhibition that celebrates the people, places and stories of Tollcross ahead of the reopening of the King’s Theatre this summer.
Taking place at Barclay Viewforth Church, the exhibition features work by photographer, Anneleen Lindsay and has been curated by the King’s Theatre Community Panel, a diverse group of local people who help to shape plans for the theatre’s future community programme and play an important role in ensuring local voices remain at the heart of the King’s Theatre.
To mark the reopening of the King’s Theatre, the Panel members selected streets, spaces and landmarks in Tollcross that hold particular significance for them. Through photography and their personal reflections, the exhibition explores the connection between the local community and the historic theatre affectionately known as the Grand Old Lady of Leven Street.
Anneleen said “I’m always interested in how people interact with the places they inhabit and move through, particularly from an emotional perspective. The memories that these specific places in Tollcross invoke for the Community Panel members are vivid and often formative. Many of them told me stories from their childhood, both distinct moments – first experiences of live theatre and special treats of ice-creams from Mr Boni’s – and more general, accumulated memories of how living or working in Tollcross gave them confidence and cultural passions that they carried throughout their lives.
“Throughout the past four years photographing the King’s pre, during and soon-to-be post redevelopment, I have always wanted to convey the marks that The People’s Theatre has made on the people of Edinburgh. This exhibition feels like a meaningful way to honour the local community within that story. I hope that those visiting the exhibition will connect to the Panel’s recollections and that it sparks their own memories of the area or helps them to think about the places that were formative for them.”
King’s Theatre reopens on 1st August 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.
Since construction began in February 2023, the building has been transformed by dramatic structural improvements that will offer welcoming new public spaces, including a street-level café, a Creative Engagement Studio for workshops, community projects and events.
Alongside the physical transformation, the King’s story is celebrated by The People’s Archive - a digital archive containing more than 3,000 items contributed by audiences, performers and staff to ensure the theatre’s rich history continues to inspire many generations to come.
Venue: Barclay Viewforth Church
Dates: 15th-19th June
Irene Brown
Radio Summerhall Arts 