Spotlight on Perth Theatre

Perth Theatre reopened its doors last December, following an impressive three-year restoration project.

Lions and elephants kept below the stage, actors sleeping in the dress circle and a tobacconist in the theatre wall – these are just a few of the intriguing glimpses into Perth Theatre’s rich history since it first opened in 1900.

With a B-listed auditorium once described as “the finest in Scotland”, the Edwardian theatre is one of the country’s oldest and best-loved playhouses. Since its very first production on September 6 1900 – Maritana, an opera by Irish composer William Vincent Wallace – it has been at the heart of cultural life in Perth for more than a century and many famous actors, including Rikki Fulton, Roy Kinnear, Donald Sutherland and Kevin Whately, have trodden its boards.

Do you have any memories of trips to Perth Theatre, school trips or Christmas pantos? If so, we’d love to hear – just get in touch at

John Lawrie portrays McGonagall in 1937.

Donald Sutherland stands stage right in a 1960 production.

The one-time exterior of the theatre, date unknown.

Liza Goddard, left, stars in The Little Foxes in 1971.