Grant Stott goes behind the scenes of the King’s Theatre redevelopment project
King’s Theatre redevelopment project nears the 50% mark with demolition work soon to finish . The ambitious capital project will conserve this precious theatre and see the venue’s accessibility significantly improved
King’s Theatre redevelopment project nears the 50% mark with demolition work soon to finish . The ambitious capital project will conserve this precious theatre and see the venue’s accessibility significantly improved
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00:00 [MUSIC]
00:10 All right, so did you guess it was me, Marcel and I?
00:14 And no, this isn't my costume for this year's Panto.
00:17 I've actually popped back to the King's Theatre to get a sneak peek
00:20 at the huge building project that started last year.
00:23 So I'm all geared up to enter the site in safety and comfort.
00:27 And thanks to the amazing generosity of thousands of people who, like me,
00:30 hold this wonderful theatre dear to their hearts,
00:32 the redevelopment is well underway.
00:34 So, shall we head in?
00:36 I hope they've made a wee start on my dress.
00:38 Believe it or not, this is the beautiful foyer of the King's.
00:48 And these stairs here take you up to the dress circle and the bar.
00:51 But don't worry, all this plywood, it's only temporary.
00:55 The original marble floors, stunning mahogany panelling
00:58 and intricate moulded ceiling have all been covered up
01:00 to protect them during the project.
01:02 And they're going to be restored to their full glory
01:04 when the theatre reopens to the public in 2025.
01:07 The circle. You'd go up there to take your seats.
01:12 You'd go through there to take a drink.
01:14 You know where you are?
01:15 Well, remember those beautiful oak doors with that stunning stained glass?
01:20 Well, they were taken out, but now they are back
01:22 after being restored by skilled master craftspeople
01:25 to ensure that the history of this magnificent Edwardian building
01:29 is preserved and celebrated for generations to come.
01:32 Quite a job.
01:34 Now, shall we head to the auditorium?
01:36 Now, it doesn't look like it, but I'm now in the stalls.
01:42 And as you can see, all the seats have been taken out
01:44 and we're now digging deep.
01:46 And what we're doing here is we're moving that back wall,
01:49 which is the back wall of the pit bar, out
01:52 to give us more space in the bar once the redevelopment is finished.
01:56 And then when you get here, you really get an idea
01:58 of the scale of the job that is underway
02:01 with the scaffolding that's here from the ground right up to the ceiling.
02:05 What this does, it allows us access so we can restore and preserve
02:08 that amazing dome by the late John Byrne.
02:11 [Music]
02:19 Now, I want to get upstairs, but it doesn't look like
02:23 I'll be heading up this way any time soon.
02:26 Now, this space once held a double helix staircase,
02:29 which simply put means two spiral staircases that wound around each other.
02:33 Before they were demolished, people sitting in the upper circle
02:36 came up the grand alabaster staircase
02:38 before being siphoned off into a fire exit to get access to the seats.
02:42 This demolition has made way for new staircases and two new lifts,
02:46 which will serve all levels and dramatically improve the accessibility of the King's.
02:51 Now, how do I get upstairs?
02:54 Seriously, anyone?
02:56 [Music]
03:00 Now, this really is exciting.
03:03 A brand new feature for the King's Theatre,
03:05 this beautiful attic space is going to be transformed into a creative engagement suite,
03:11 which is for local schools and communities to use for workshops and all kinds of projects.
03:17 Also up here, there's going to be a quiet zone to chill out in,
03:20 and there's going to be a new fully flexible field kitchen
03:23 to cater for new hospitality spaces around the building.
03:26 And the theatre will also feature a brand new street level cafe,
03:30 which is going to provide a thriving daytime community hub
03:32 for local residents and visitors alike.
03:35 Right, where am I going now?
03:38 Oh, what a view.
03:42 Now, I have braved these heights,
03:46 not just to drink in the phenomenal views of the Edinburgh skyline,
03:49 but to take a closer look at the work that's been taking place on the roof.
03:54 Four huge steel legs have been carefully flown in by a crane
03:58 and threaded through the fabric of the building.
04:00 Now, they're going to support a whole new roof,
04:02 which is four and a half metres higher than the current one.
04:05 This new roof means that the height of the theatre's fly tower is going to be increased,
04:08 creating more space above the stage to fly twice the weight of scenery in and out of the audience's sight.
04:13 This ultimately means more opportunities for big productions to visit the King's.
04:18 And this is one of the four steel legs that I mentioned.
04:21 And below my feet right now is the scaffolding that we saw earlier.
04:24 The raked stage has been demolished to make way for a new level stage.
04:28 Along with the upgraded fly system,
04:30 these updates will attract different types of productions to the King's,
04:33 like dance, which was virtually impossible on the old sloped stage.
04:37 Tell me about it.
04:39 Now, all that climbing has made me a wee bit thirsty.
04:42 I wonder if I can get a wee drink in the bar.
04:47 Well, I am now in what was the Upper Circle Bar.
04:52 Service.
04:56 Now, I'm sure many of you, like me, miss popping in the bar pre-show for a wee drink.
05:00 However, the bars were often cramped with pokey corners and limited space for staff behind the counters.
05:05 Where we are now has been completely stripped out to allow you all the space and the comfort that you need
05:11 to meet with your friends, to have that wee drink before the show or at the interval.
05:15 Actually, the tables and chairs have been re-homed in bars and venues across the city.
05:20 In fact, so far, Capital Theatres have sold, donated and repurposed over 450 items from the King's,
05:27 generating additional income for the project and sharing our beloved theatre's history through Edinburgh and beyond.
05:34 Cheers.
05:39 And as we all know, one or two drinks at the bar can often lead to a call of nature being required,
05:44 which is why the new toilets that are going to be built here in this new space in the Upper Circle
05:49 are going to be so welcome. Extra lavatories is going to mean less queuing time,
05:53 which means you've got more chance of catching the start of the second half.
06:03 Thank you for joining me today amongst the scaffolding, the rubble and all the noise.
06:06 It's been a real treat to take a sneak peek around the King's and share the progress of the restoration with you.
06:12 This project means that this magnificent theatre can continue to support the cultural life of Edinburgh all year round.
06:18 The vital upgrades, including those new lifts and wide staircases,
06:22 will allow better access for audiences and artists, whatever their needs, for the first time in the building's history.
06:28 And in turn, the new state-of-the-art backstage areas will attract a greater variety of productions than ever before.
06:34 And most importantly, the theatre's precious history and heritage are being preserved to inspire a lifelong love of theatre
06:41 across the generations, as it has done for many years.
06:45 Now there are lots of ways that you can help support the King's future.
06:48 Visit the King's future section of Capital Theatre's website or call Capital Theatre's to make a donation today.
06:54 Please help make sure that together we can toast another 100 years of the King's Theatre.
07:07 And now the bit I've been looking forward to the most, the piece de resistance.
07:12 It's been created as Grant's new dressing room.
07:15 What have...
07:16 (PANTING)
07:19 # #
07:22 (upbeat music)
07:24 [MUSIC]