Photography exhibition celebrates Tollcross community ahead of King’s Theatre reopening

Capital Theatres invites the public to discover The Grand Old Lady and Her Neighbours, a free pop-up photography exhibition opening today that celebrates the people, places and stories of Tollcross ahead of the reopening of the King’s Theatre this summer.

Taking place at Barclay Viewforth Church 15-19 June, the exhibition has been curated by the King’s Theatre Community Panel and features work by photographer, Anneleen Lindsay.

To mark the reopening of the King’s Theatre, the Community Panel members selected streets, spaces and landmarks in Tollcross that hold particular significance for them. Through photography and their personal reflections, the exhibition explores the connection between the local community and the historic theatre affectionately known as the Grand Old Lady of Leven Street.

The King’s Theatre Community Panel brings together a diverse group of local people who help to shape plans for the theatre’s future community programme and play an important role in ensuring local voices remain at the heart of the King’s Theatre.

Fiona Gibson, Chief Executive of Capital Theatres, said:

“The Grand Old Lady and Her Neighbours exhibition is such a beautiful and heartwarming celebration of the wonderful community that surrounds the King’s Theatre. As we prepare to reopen our doors, it feels especially important to recognise the people, stories and places that make Tollcross such a vibrant and distinctive part of Edinburgh.

“The Community Panel has been instrumental in helping us reimagine the future of the King’s Theatre, and this exhibition offers a fascinating insight into the neighbourhood through their experiences and memories. We hope visitors will enjoy discovering their stories and seeing familiar faces and places in a new light.”

Photographer Anneleen Lindsay said:

“I’m always interested in how people interact with the places they inhabit and move through, particularly from an emotional perspective. The memories that these specific places in Tollcross invoke for the Community Panel members are vivid and often formative. Many of them told me stories from their childhood, both distinct moments – first experiences of live theatre and special treats of ice-creams from Mr Boni’s – and more general, accumulated memories of how living or working in Tollcross gave them confidence and cultural passions that they carried throughout their lives. 

“Throughout the past four years photographing the King’s pre, during and soon-to-be post redevelopment, I have always wanted to convey the marks that The People’s Theatre has made on the people of Edinburgh. This exhibition feels like a meaningful way to honour the local community within that story. I hope that those visiting the exhibition will connect to the Panel’s recollections and that it sparks their own memories of the area or helps them to think about the places that were formative for them.”

The Grand Old Lady and Her Neighbours is free to visit at Barclay Viewforth Church from 15 to 19 June 10am-5pm. Further information is available at capitaltheatres.com.

On 1 August, the King’s Theatre reopens as a world-class venue at the centre of Edinburgh’s cultural life and will be one of the most accessible heritage buildings in the UK.

Since construction began in February 2023, the building has been transformed by dramatic structural improvements.  These include a raised fly tower (extended by 4.5 metres) to accommodate larger, more ambitious productions, and the replacement of the old, raked stage with a new level stage able to accommodate a wider range of performances.

Accessibility is at the heart of the redevelopment, with a step-free journey from street to seat and stage for the first time in the theatre’s history. Improvements include:

• Two front-of-house lifts serving all levels of the building, plus one back of house.

• Increased wheelchair spaces, new end of row seats with transfer arms and the addition of some wider seats available in the Stalls.
• New accessible toilets on every floor and a Changing Places toilet facility open to all.

The King’s Theatre will offer welcoming new public spaces, including a street-level café, a Creative Engagement Studio for workshops, community projects and events, and a range of heritage displays and artefacts bringing the venue’s rich history to life.

Alongside the physical transformation, the King’s remarkable story is celebrated by  The People’s Archive  – a digital archive, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic Environment Scotland. It contains more than 3,000 items contributed by audiences, performers and staff to ensure the theatre’s rich history continues to inspire many generations to come.

To learn more about the King’s Theatre redevelopment, visit www.capitaltheatres.com/kings-future.