King's Theatre to reopen for Edinburgh's festival season

The historic King's Theatre in Edinburgh will fully reopen to audiences in time for the city's festival season.

The 120-year-old Tollcross venue closed in 2022 to undergo a refurbishment and modernisation project aimed at securing it for future generations.

Its future was plunged into doubt when operator Capital Theatres came close to running out of money due to the soaring cost of its renovation.

But it will now reopen on 1 August after three "test performances" in July.

It is hoped the work will allow the theatre to attract larger, more ambitious productions.

Increased capacity for wheelchair users, the installation of accessible toilets and two new front-of-house lifts serving all levels of the building have also been included in the project.

Fiona Gibson, chief executive of Capital Theatres, said: "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.

"We can't wait to see the King's Theatre full of art, people and life once more."

Other additions to the venue - which opened its doors in 1906 - include new public spaces, a street-level café, a Creative Engagement Studio for workshops, community projects and events, and a range of heritage displays and artefacts.

A special "opening weekend" will allow members of the public to take behind-the-scenes tours to explore the refurbished interior.

Plans for the renovation were first announced in 2018 and initial designs suggested removing nearly 200 seats to provide more hospitality.

Since then, the theatre has survived two serious threats to its existence.

In 2020, Succession star Brian Cox appealed to then-first minister Nicola Sturgeon after the theatre failed to secure emergency funding during the Covid pandemic.

Two years later redevelopment costs, driven by inflation, soared by 20% to 30%.

City of Edinburgh Council and the Scottish and UK governments later contributed about £8.85m to ensure the work was able to be completed.

During the renovation, a slip of paper containing the names of architects and plasters responsible for building the theatre was discovered in a glass bottle hidden behind a crown decoration.

Test events, including a Frozen singalong for children and a joint show by ex-MP turned comedian Mhairi Black and magician Kevin Quantum are due to take place in late July.

The theatre's full summer programme will play host to certain events in the Edinburgh International Festival from 11-30 August.