New lease of life for neglected theatre

A neglected theatre where AC/DC, Thin Lizzy, Slade, Kraftwerk and Mott the Hoople once played will be reborn as year-round live music venue for Edinburgh under plans for a £7 million makeover to secure its long-term future.

Leith Theatre is being lined up to reopen for regular events within months under a vision aimed at transforming it into one of Scotland’s leading indoor concert halls.

Work is already underway on the transformation of the venue which dates back to 1933, survived a bomb blast in the Second World War and was closed 30 years ago due to its declining condition.

The Heritage Lottery Fund will be asked to help bankroll the rebirth of the venue after the Scottish Government pledged £190,000 to improve the condition of the building in time for its return to the Edinburgh International Festival line-up in August.

The city council has also ringfenced £1 million for the refurbishment. Frank Ross, Edinburgh’s Lord Provost, said: “Originally, the theatre was built as a gift from the people of Edinburgh to the people of Leith. While it is incredible to think the two districts were so separate, I hope its use during the Edinburgh International Festival this summer will in some way bring that gift full circle.”