Glasgow's Theatre Royal in line for multi-million pound refurbishment

Aug 6 2012 By Joe McGuire

Theatre Royal Glasgow Image 2

WORK to transform a historic theatre into a "world-class venue" will begin today.

The £11.5m redevelopment project at the Theatre Royal in Glasgow will create a new entrance, spacious foyer and roof garden.

Scottish Opera, which has owned the theatre since 1974, has been leading the campaign to find the funding needed to carry out the work.

The Heritage Lottery Fund announced yesterday that it was awarding a grant of £850,000.

The project will be complete by the time the city hosts the Commonwealth Games in 2014.

Built in 1867, the theatre will be transformed with a new entrance on the corner of Cowcaddens Road and Hope Street.

This will accommodate new bars, a box office, cloakrooms, toilet facilities, hospitality suites and an education suite, while lifts will be installed for the first time.

Alex Reedijk, general director of Scottish Opera, said: "Our vision is to open up the theatre to become a social hub - somewhere people can gather with friends for great coffee during the day, enjoy outstanding performances, learn about the performing arts, and discover the wonderful heritage of this beautiful theatre."

So far 85 per cent of the funds needed have been raised, including £3.96 million of capital funding from the Scottish Government alongside funding from Creative Scotland, Glasgow City Council, The Heritage Lottery Fund and an array of Scottish and UK trusts and foundations, as well as support from individual donors.

A public fund-raising campaign to raise the remaining funds will begin later this year.
The construction programme will take around 18 months, however the theatre will close only for a three-month period in early 2014.