. The redevelopment of the Citizens Theatre in the Gorbals has been plagued by funding issues and delays over the years. The project in 2018 was initially projected to cost £20m, which has since increased to £30m.
In June, an extra £2m in funding was pledged by Glasgow City Council amid fears the building works would not be finished. The B-listed theatre, known affectionately as The Citz, is set to reopen in summer 2025. The theatre’s refurbishment is the first in 140 years, with new historical features discovered during the renovations.
Artistic director Dominic Hill told STV News: “We’re doing an incredibly complicated job here of knitting an old building and a new building together. “One of the things that’ll have the biggest impact for our visitors in the future is the fact you’ll go through modern doors and the first thing you’ll see if this really beautiful Victorian sandstone building. “We’ve uncovered all that and found these beautiful arches that’ll take visitors into the stalls.
” There were 451 seats in the theatre but after the redesign it will hold 654. Spectators will have an improved view but also retain the intimate feeling between audience and actors that the Citz is renowned for. Considered a home base for the Scottish theatre industry, there will be new studios and spaces for fostering young talent in the city and beyond.
Local creatives say the reopening of the Citz is bringing hope to a sector “clinging on by its fingernails.” Theatre Director Lauren Mitchell said: “Within the first six months of this year, there’s been a boom in ‘scratch nights’, of work in progress, where young people like myself, off their own back and money, are having to create nights and spaces just to get their work shown. “There’s that deep despair of ‘how are we going to move forward and get to new stages?’ and that’s exciting about the Citz reopening.
You can tangibly see spaces that are open to us.” Playwright and Citizens Theatre veteran Douglas Maxwell said the loss of the space is felt throughout the Scottish theatre scene. He said: “We can feel the loss of it.
We can feel the Citz hasn’t been there it’s been a tough time for Scottish theatre, we’re clinging on by our fingernails. This place, traditionally, does shows that are quite difficult to sell. “A Citz show is a show that people will argue about.
They’ll get excited about. It’ll cause a bit of a stir. And they can do that alongside the community work and the new work.
So, this is hope.” Get all the latest news from around the country Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country.
