Citizens Theatre reopens

Theatres Trust is delighted to see the Citizens Theatre in Glasgow reopened following its major redevelopment.

It is a significant project in which Theatres Trust has been closely involved over the past decade, with our support including detailed design feedback, planning application support and grant funding.

A renowned venue and theatre company in the Gorbals area of Glasgow, Citizens Theatre began life as a working theatre in 1878, but 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 looked at the overall scheme design and provided a constructive critique.

The Advisory Review considered how the proposed scheme would improve the building’s presence and how it functions as a theatre, while preserving the original Victorian auditorium. The panel examined whether the design would allow the theatre company to meet its aspirations of removing barriers and improving inclusion throughout the building, making the building more environmentally sustainable in the face of the climate emergency and creating more welcoming spaces and improved facilities.

The feedback from the Advisory Review helped inform and refine the plans. A planning application was submitted in late 2015 which Theatres Trust was happy to support in our role as Statutory Consultee in the planning system.

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 supported by The Linbury Trust to fund the installation of a Changing Places toilet, which is best practice in accessible design.

The six iconic statues of Burns, Shakespeare and the Muses are now back in the rightful place on top of the theatre, and the Citizens Theatre is also back in its rightful place at the heart of its community and the theatre ecosystem.

Image credit: Bennetts Associates