The Citizens Theatre in Glasgow is set to reopen its doors after a £30m transformation.
Its doors shut seven years ago, but on Saturday, the iconic theatre will welcome back audiences once more following a transformational refurbishment.
Bosses say the redevelopment has brought the building into the 21st century while carefully preserving its unique Victorian heritage.
The project’s original cost when it began in 2019 was estimated at £20m, but it ended up going through the most extensive refurbishment in its history for £30m.
It comes after the project was impacted by Covid, structural issues, and skyrocketing costs.
However, bosses describe it as a “special moment” for the Gorbals’ community with upgrades including new performance spaces, expanded bar areas, and improved accessibility to ‘bring theatre into the 21st century’.
STV NewsKate Denby has described the reopening as a ‘special moment’. STV News
Kate Denby, executive director of the theatre, said: “I speak to many people who are retired now who recall really vividly coming to this theatre when they were children, and now they’re really looking forward to bringing back their grandchildren.
“It does feel like it’s a special moment to give the building back to the people of Glasgow.”
‘Everything has changed’
“It’ll feel like the same auditorium that they left seven years ago, but actually everything has changed here over the years”, Kate said.
“The whole place has been literally stripped down to the foundations.
“We’ve now got better air circulation so whereas it used to be really hot in the summers and really cold in the winters, we can now get ambient temperature all year round.
“We’ve got two extra rows in the stalls and about 150 extra seats in the upper circle, which is now a brilliant view and very, very comfortable seats.”
STV NewsChiefs estimate audiences of around 75,000 will attend the theatre every year. STV News
Starting tomorrow, the theatre will host events celebrating its past, present and future – as part of a “homecoming festival”
The first show back, which will be about the Lockerbie Bombing, will debut on September 9.
Small Acts of Love focuses on the people of the town in Dumfries and Galloway who washed, ironed, and repaired the belongings of the passengers and crew who died when a bomb destroyed the flight in 1988.
The production will be the first onstage work at the historic theatre in seven years.
Other productions include So Young, The Glass Menagerie, and an all-new Christmas show, Beauty and the Beast.
Chiefs estimate audiences of around 75,000 will attend the theatre every year after it fully reopens, with artists and creative teams bringing the expected annual footfall to over 100,000.
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