Public invited to help shape the next chapter of the King’s Theatre in preparation for August reopening celebrations

7 May, Edinburgh:  Today marks the start of the King’s Theatre reopening celebrations, as people from across Scotland and beyond are invited to share what the historic Edinburgh theatre means to them.

Long known as the People’s Theatre, the King’s has been shaped by generations of audiences who have filled its seats. Now, as it enters a new era following its major redevelopment, Capital Theatres, the charity which manages the King’s, is calling on the public to take part in a unique storytelling project celebrating the King’s past, present and future.

The initiative follows a remarkable discovery in December 2024, when theatre photographer and historian Mike Hume uncovered a glass bottle hidden in plain sight above the stage. Sealed in October 1906, just before the King’s opened its doors for the first time, the bottle contained the names of the architects, plasterers and apprentices who built the theatre.

Inspired by this discovery, Capital Theatres invites the people of Edinburgh and beyond to contribute to a new message in a bottle for future generations. Members of the public are encouraged to share what the King’s means to them, the memories that have stayed with them and what they hope the theatre will become in the years ahead. Messages will also be captured through creative workshops with local community and arts groups.

Submissions can be made online until 6 June via capitaltheatres.com/hope-in-a-bottle, with contributions welcomed in written, image or video form. People can also take part in person by visiting the Festival Theatre foyer, where a glass bottle installation will collect messages.

Selected contributions may be featured online, displayed in venues or included as part of the King’s reopening celebrations in August – further details of which will be announced closer to the time.

Capital Theatres is working with theatre company Slung Low to develop the King’s reopening celebrations.

Fiona Gibson, Chief Executive of Capital Theatres, said: “The King’s Theatre, known as the People’s Theatre, has always held a special place in the hearts of all of us who visit, and this new project is a wonderful way to celebrate that. As we prepare to reopen the doors to the public in August this year, we’re inviting everyone to be part of our next chapter by sharing what the King’s means to you. Whether it’s a favourite show, a special time you stepped on stage yourself, a first visit that sparked a love of theatre, or even a hope for what the King’s could be in the future – every story matters. It’s a chance to leave your message for generations to come, just like those who helped build the theatre did for us over a century ago. We’d love as many people as possible from across Edinburgh, Scotland and beyond to take part and add their voice to this very special moment.”

Alan Lane and Kully Thiarai of Slung Low said: “Slung Low are delighted to be supporting the King’s Theatre in this moment of transformation. At every moment of the process it’s been clear that the King’s truly deserves and lives its reputation as the people’s theatre. It’s been such a privilege to work with an organisation with whom we have so many shared values and it’s been delightful to discover so many of the stories of the theatre’s past and hopes for their future. We can’t wait to see the public once again at the heart of the King’s auditorium.”

Since its inception, community engagement has been key to the King’s Theatre redevelopment project with Community Engagement and Access Panels, made up of Tollcross business owners, neighbours, theatre patrons, teachers, carers and people living with dementia, helping to shape the future of the King’s Theatre. So far, the panels have influenced design decisions on accessible lifts, washrooms and level access to the King’s main entrance, and helped shape the type of daytime events available once the King’s reopens in August this year.

The King’s Theatre is just months away from reopening as a world-class venue at the centre of Edinburgh’s cultural life with accessibility at its heart; it 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, including 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 better suited for genres such as dance and circus.

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 serving the
• 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 and a Changing Places toilet facility open to the public.

The re-opened 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 story to life.

Alongside the physical transformations, the King’s remarkable history is celebrated by  The People’s Archive – a digital archive, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, of 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.

Image: Fiona Gibson, Chief Executive of Capital Theatres (left) and King’s panto villain Grant Stott (right) are among the first to share their messages to the King’s Theatre. Photo: Neil Hanna