The Playhouse and other Edinburgh theatres

The Playhouse is one of Edinburgh's chief venues. At just five minutes' walk from the Ballantrae Hotel, it offers an unparalleled range of productions, with a wide choice of ticket prices. It particularly caters for light entertainment and accessible drama and musicals. It regularly hosts large touring productions of national and international reputation, as well as providing a venue during the Edinburgh Festival every August. In the past, the Playhouse has hosted productions on the scale of "Les Miserables" or "Riverdance", but it is also the ideal venue for smaller productions at all times of the year.

The Playhouse was designed as a variety theatre, but when it opened in 1929 it was used as a huge cinema, with some stage events, for forty years. It was saved from demolition in the 1970's only after much popular activism and two petitions (each garnering several thousand signatures). It was then given the status of a listed historic building, and was re-opened as a theatre. In 1993 it underwent an extensive refurbishment, and is now one of Britain's most successful theatres.

Other theatres in Edinburgh

There are several other theatres in Edinburgh, and full details are available from the comprehensive Edinburgh Theatres website. A short summary is offered below.

The newest of the theatres, the Edinburgh Festival Theatre, is centrally situated in Nicolson Street, and opened only in 1994 on the site of the former Empire Theatre. Its striking modern entrance lobby forms a sharp contrast to the auditorium, which is a full restoration of the Empire Theatre's 1928 design, with a rich mix of art nouveau and neo-classicism.

The King's Theatre in Leven Streeet hosts visits by the Royal National Theatre and other major touring productions. It opened in 1906, and originally had stalls and three circles: Dress, Family and Gallery Circles. Following the removal of the Gallery Circle on safety grounds in the 1950's, the King's Theatre now has three levels, with additional seating at the back of the Upper Circle.

The Royal Lyceum Theatre in Grindlay Street has formed the home to a permanent drama company, the Royal Lyceum Theatre Company, since 1965. The theatre is an elegant Victorian building, built in 1883. Throughout its history, the building has remained a theatre space, and has seen performances by many famous actors and actresses.

The Traverse Theatre is renowned for its innovative and experimental productions. It was built to provide a permanent home for Scotland's first studio theatre company, the Traverse Theatre Company, which was founded to allow the experimental productions of the Edinburgh Festival to be performed throughout the year. The theatre began in 1963 in premises on the Royal Mile. Initially it was established as a club and so avoided the censorship laws of the time. It rapidly became the most notable venue for new dramas in Scotland. After many years of financial difficulties, the company is now located in a brand new building by the Usher Hall, in the city centre.

The Brunton Theatre, although less well-known, performs a role for the wider community. Situated on the edge of Edinburgh, it forms the venue for a mixed range of productions, aimed at a broad audience. It was opened in 1971 and has formed the venue for the resident company, Catherine Wheels Theatre Company, as well as for many amateur and community productions.