Serendipity and local outcry save King's Theatre

King's Theatre

Print article
Post to Facebook

There are those of a certain age still living in Southside Edinburgh who can remember a time when it was called the People’s Theatre and the Old Lady of Leven Street; when names such as Sean Connery and Maggie Smith crossed its stage in front of a packed hall of thousands.

It is these Tollcross residents and theatre lovers from across the city who have come together to help secure the future of the King’s Theatre.

The 103 year-old venue, much-loved and equally neglected in recent years, has become something of a money pit for its Edinburgh City Council owners and its operators, the Festival City Theatre Trust (FCTT).

In need of major structural repair and cosmetic refurbishment for decades, significant work has repeatedly been delayed due to a lack of funds, with stop-gap measures keeping the theatre open and living a hand-to-mouth existence between health and safety inspections.

The matter came to a head in 2007, when reports that the theatre was facing the prospect of a slow decline towards closure galvanised local businesspeople into taking action, with a campaign and petition launched to convey local residents’ displeasure.

As local butcher and chairman of the Tollcross Traders John Saunderson told the Edinburgh Evening News: “It is a focal point in Tollcross and it would have a drastic effect if it disappeared. The pubs and restaurants get a lot of business out of it.”

Saunderson needn’t have worried; a combination of grass-root campaign efforts, crisis-level funding talks and good luck seem to have come to the aid of the King’s.

Recent inspections have reported that the theatre’s electrics post “no imminent threat,” although fire protection and sanitation facilities remained a cause for concern.

A total refurbishment costing £14 million, involving the installation of lifts, modern backstage facilities and a new front-of-house cafe, was originally planned for the theatre’s centenary year in 2005.

Plans were stalled indefinitely when £2 million in aid from the Scottish Arts Council was withheld due to a lack of a funding commitment from Edinburgh City Council.

Liberal Democrat Council Leader Jenny Dawe said: “Nobody wants to see the King's close down but that is the reality of the situation unless refurbishments can be carried out.”

It now seems likely that some degree of refurbishment work will be secured by 2011 along the lines of the original 2002 redevelopment plan.

Rami Okasha, co-ordinator of the Save the King’s campaign, said: “These are grand plans indeed, requiring vision, money, and political leadership. As a city, Edinburgh has never lacked vision.”

Comment on this article

	You need to have an account to post comments.
	Enter your login details below to post, or sign up for an account
User name:
Password:
Comment: