Citizens Theatre
How Theatre Trust's expert advice and support helped the Citizens Theatre through a major redevelopment
Glasgow’s Citizens Theatre reopened in August 2025 after a decade long major capital project, which Theatres Trust has been involved in from the beginning.
A renowned venue and theatre company in the Gorbals area of Glasgow, Citizens Theatre began life as a working theatre in 1878, but by the 2010s it was falling into disrepair and in dire need of modernisation. Citizens Theatre was restricted by poor access and circulation and by a lack of street presence. There was also a real need to update the theatre’s technical abilities to enable it to support and present modern theatrical performances and grow its community education programmes.
Back in 2015, Citizens Theatre commissioned Theatres Trust to carry out an Advisory Review before submitting planning and major funding applications for the redevelopment project. Bringing together Theatres Trust’s in-house experts with experienced theatre industry professionals and conservation specialists, the Advisory Review examined whether the proposed scheme would meet the organisation’s aspirations to create a more welcoming, inclusive and environmentally sustainable space with improved facilities. Feedback from the review helped inform and refine plans, and we were happy to endorse the subsequent planning application.
It has been a long journey for the Citizens Theatre since the Advisory Review and along the way, we’ve provided further advice as the plans continued to evolve.
We have also awarded Citizens Theatre two small, but significant grants. In 2017, we awarded £4,320 from our UK Theatres Small Grants Scheme for essential work to clear the ceiling void, a vital step before other works could progress, and in 2022 we awarded it £5,000 from our Small Grants Programme with The Linbury Trust to fund the installation of a Changing Places toilet, which is best practice in accessible design.
The Citz, as it’s affectionately known by many, was much missed during its closure, by the theatre sector and by its loyal audience members. It is great to see the six iconic statues of Burns, Shakespeare and the Muses back in their rightful place on top of the theatre, and the Citizens Theatre back in its rightful place at the heart of its community and the theatre ecosystem.
This case study was produced as part of our Fifty@50 campaign to mark our 50th anniversary in 2026.
Photo credit: Hufton + Crow