Edinburgh Playhouse facts for kids
Edinburgh Playhouse in 2009
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| Address | 18-22 Greenside Place |
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| Location | Edinburgh, Scotland, UK |
| Owner | Ambassador Theatre Group |
| Designation | Listed Building Category A |
| Capacity | 3,059 |
| Current use | Theatre |
| Production | Touring Productions |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1929 |
| Reopened | 1980 |
| Architect | John Fairweather |
The Edinburgh Playhouse is a famous theatre in Edinburgh, Scotland. It has 3,059 seats, making it the biggest theatre in Scotland. It's also the second largest theatre in the whole United Kingdom, right after the Hammersmith Apollo. The theatre is currently owned by a company called Ambassador Theatre Group.
Contents
History of the Building
The Edinburgh Playhouse first opened its doors on August 12, 1929. It wasn't a theatre back then, but a huge cinema! It was designed to look like the famous Roxy Cinema in New York. The architect who designed it was John Fairweather, who was well-known for building cinemas.
When it first opened, the inside of the cinema was very fancy. The walls were mostly light colors like ivory and stone. The ceiling had pretty patterns of pale green leaves and gold. Even the seats were chosen to match the beautiful decoration.
The cinema closed down in the early 1970s. People worried it might be torn down, so they started a big campaign to save it. They gathered 15,000 signatures on a petition! This helped protect the building, and it was officially listed as a special building in 1974.
Between 1978 and 1980, the old cinema was changed into the theatre we know today. In 1983, the city council sold the theatre to private owners. Over the years, it had a few different owners before the Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) took over in 2009. In 2008, the building's special status was upgraded, meaning it's now even more protected because of its important history and design.
What Happens at the Playhouse
The Playhouse is a very busy place! It hosts many different kinds of shows and artists. You can see big touring musicals, concerts, and other performances here.
It's also a great place for young people who love theatre. Children as young as 10 and young adults up to 21 can join special projects. These projects let them perform on the big stage, which is a fantastic experience!
Every August, the Playhouse becomes a key venue for two huge festivals: the Edinburgh International Festival and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. These festivals bring performers and audiences from all over the world to Edinburgh. The theatre was even used for wrestling and weightlifting events during the 1986 Commonwealth Games.
Behind the Scenes
The Edinburgh Playhouse has some interesting technical features. For example, the sound control area for shows is in a unique spot at the back of the Dress Circle (a seating area). There's also a special lift that can bring large trucks and their trailers right up to the stage level. This is very helpful because the stage is actually three floors below street level at the back of the theatre!
The Playhouse Ghost
Like many old buildings, the Edinburgh Playhouse is said to have a ghost! His name is Albert, and people say he wears a grey coat. He's often seen on level six, and when he appears, the air supposedly gets very cold.
There are different stories about who Albert was. Some say he was a stagehand who died in an accident at the theatre. Others believe he was a night-watchman who sadly took his own life. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, it's a fun story that adds to the theatre's mystery!
