Category: Arts News!

***** 5 Stars

“Edinburgh’s People’s Theatre Reopens in Spectacular Style“

After a four year long closure, exacerbated by the covid pandemic and scary moments were it seemed the curtain may never rise again, and an injection of over £41 million pounds the Grand Old Lady of Leven Street has opened her doors once more and her curtain has risen following a spectacular revamp that sees one of Scotland’s most beloved theatres now able to meet the needs of modern audiences, theatrical  community and its community whilst keeping its heart and history very much at the centre of this crown Jewel of a theatre.

Scotsgay Arts was honoured to be invited to the gala opening celebration on Friday 31^st July to see for ourselves the King’s spectacular transformation and my word what a transformation it is. From arriving at the front door of the Historic King’s in its 120^th year, the newly remodelled pavements makes the building accessible for all for the first time from Street to Auditorium to the fourth-floor community engagement space the King’s can now be accessed regardless of physical ability thanks to the two new lifts amongst the many sympathetic changes that brought the Grand lady into the modern era.

A new Box office, Café, Stalls Bar, a mini museum plus reinvented Dress and Upper Circle Bars now span the breath of the building in a breath taking and dazzling transformation that channels the buildings incredible history. The Colour Palettes used are taken from the stain glass original doors. Toilets have been increased from 32 to 48 and access needs are at the fore front. The venue now also hosts a fully accessible toilet and wet room with winch system on the top floor that’s hoped not by just audiences but by the wider Tollcross and Edinburgh community. The King’s has now mirrored its bigger sister, The Festival Theatre where New meets the old meets the New in buildings that put the theatres history at its heart.

Walking into the Kings it all feels so familiar, this is still the people’s theatre and everything we remember it being, but it also feels new, open and most importantly that life has returned to the King’s in a simply spectacular way.

The team at The King’s were determined to open the Old Lady in Style as champagne corks popped and bag pipers played, we made our way into the sparkling auditorium where John Bryne’s incredible dome shines down once more on the new 1125 capacity auditorium, which has never been more comfortable especially the Upper Circle with brand new high backed seats to enjoy, there isn’t a bad seat in the house.

The curtain rose with a spectacular Audio Visual show designed by Ross Blair (there was also a spectacular Projection show on the Front of the building too!) then stepping into the spotlight to deliver an extract from Chaconne from Partita No.2 in D Minor for Violin Solo is the great Nicola Benedetti representing the Edinburgh International Festival  which will once again call the King’s one of its homes. A truly special and spine tingling moment beautifully lit by the shows lighting designer James Gow whose work across the night was a triumph and brought the entire auditorium to life.

Who better to host the evening than the “Panto Boys” Allan Stewart, Grant Stott and Jordan Young have come home at last and alongside promising a very special Pantomime at the end of the year with “Pinocchio” they delivered some blistering comedy as well as sharing their passion for the building they have called home for decades every Christmas, even Aunty May popped in to say hello!

What followed were performances from Scottish Ballet, Scottish Opera and the National Theatre of Scotland alongside speeches from invited guests including First Minister John Swinney and specially commissioned poetry that expressed the wish that the King’s can now host the entire spectrum of the arts thanks to its new flat stage and revamped backstage facilities including accessible dressing room.

How to bring the curtain down on such a special evening in the King’s History? It was the simple realisation that the King’s has always been about people, an ideal that was threaded throughout the evening thanks to the discovery of a hidden bottle behind the crown high above the proscenium arch during the renovations.

The King’s belongs to Edinburgh, and its people has it has for generations from Grandparents taking Grandkids to the panto, to festival goers enjoying culture from across the world, to the many Local Theatre Companies who take to the historic stage year after year. Therefore, it was emotional and fitting to see company members from Edinburgh Gang Show, Edinburgh University Savoy Opera Company, Bohemians Lyric Opera Company, Southern Light, Edinburgh Gilbert and Sullivan Society, Edinburgh Music Theatre and Showcase join together for heart touching performance of the Proclaimers “Streets of Edinburgh” to bring the curtain down on an epic Re-opening night for the Kings.

120 year since the doors first open the King’s is back and is welcoming the people of Edinburgh and beyond once more and the biggest thrill for all of us is seeing the stories that are to be written in the years ahead as new generations discover both theatre and to inescapable magic that is the Grand Old lady of Leven Street!

Long may her crown shine across the city! Welcome back To The King’s  oh how we have missed you!

The King’s Theatre Opening Celebration, King’s Theatre Edinburgh. For more information on The King’s revamp and the Programme of shows for the season ahead and beyond head to : https://www.capitaltheatres.com/our-venues/kings-theatre/

Scotsgayarts.com is deeply saddened to learn of the death of the great Tony Challis at the age of 80 at his home in Nottingham. Tony was a long-term contributor to our predecessor Scotsgay Magazine and was a respected reviewer of nearly 20 years’ service to SGFringe.com writing close to 1000 reviews for the site and the hard copy magazine all of which explored LGBTQIA+ Themes.

Scotsgay magazines former editor Taylor Hunter spoke to Scotsgay Arts saying, “Tony Challis was far more than a reviewer, to me he was a mentor, a champion of the arts and a passionate advocate for Scotland’s LGBT community.”

“When I took the reigns as Editor of Scotsgay magazine, Tony was already a respected and long serving writer renowned for his Edinburgh Fringe reviews of Gay focused performances. He welcomed me with generosity, offering advice, encouragement and the benefit of his experience at a time it was needed most.”

“Beyond Journalism, Tony Played an instrumental role in the development of the Scotsgay Awards, Tony highlighted excellence in the arts and several of the productions he gave awards too would develop into both West End transfer’s and National UK Tours. Tony’s legacy will live on through the artists whose work he championed and the wider community he helped strengthen in a plethora of ways, Rest in Peace Tony”

Tony Challis was also a lifelong humanist alongside being a former wedding celebrant, he was a passionate and dedicated gay rights pioneer and a published poet. A warm, passionate, and steadfast activist, Tony spent over half a century fighting for equality. He was a long-time supporter of Humanists UK and a co-founder of LGBT+ Humanists.

Tony’s journey in activism began in the early 1970s. After becoming involved with the Campaign for Homosexual Equality (CHE), he joined the Bath Gay Awareness Group in 1972. He was among the brave cohort who marched in London’s second-ever Pride march in 1973.  Speaking on a recorded oral history interview for the Humanist Heritage project, Tony recalled:

“I went on the [Pride] march in ’73, which was only the second London one. And at that time, it was much smaller, and you had police all the way along both sides, and you did have people, both National Front types and religious extremists, sort of abusing you and shouting at you.”

For the last 36 years Tony called Nottingham his home having moved there in 1990. He would continue to make his annual pilgrimage to Edinburgh every August writing for Scotsgay Magazine, SGfringe.com and latterly Broadway Baby but Nottingham was always home where he founded Pink Ink, a gay writing group that nurtured local creative talent. He was a dedicated poet, which culminated in the publication of his debut chapbook, Rainbow Candles, by Five Leaves in 2025. His poetry reflected on his life as a gay man during eras of profound social change with a trademark wit, optimism and hope.

Tony Challis was a joy to know, to work with and leaves a legacy of love for both the written word and the arts. He is indeed one of the giant’s today’s LGBTQIA+ community stands on the shoulders of. We are all better for having known Tony and Scotsgayarts.com sends our love to his family and loved ones. May he rest in peace.

“My My Here We Go Again!”

Its remarkable to say that the global phenomenon of musical theatre, Mamma Mia is celebrating its 25^th Anniversary, yes, a quarter of century! With a new International Tour that will criss cross the United Kingdom and its spending Christmas 2025 in Edinburgh at the Edinburgh Playhouse!

Having been seen by over 70 million! People in every corner of the world and spawning two motion pictures the show continues to wow audiences in London’s west end at the Novello Theatre and a New Tour is underway to mark the special anniversary.

The fable of mother and daughter versus three potential dads in the sun-drenched Greek islands featuring the classic hits of ABBA continues to delight theatre goers and brings the perfect sun filled treat on these cold Christmas nights.

The Edinburgh Playhouse once again plays host for this run which is packing the greenside theatre to capacity, and they guarantee a fun night of festive frolics and musical theatre joy!

So if you want to add a little Greek sunshine to your festive celebrations head to the Playhouse and grab what few tickets remain!

Mamma Mia, The International Tour, The Edinburgh Playhouse runs until Sunday 4^th January 2026 for more information and tickets go to: MAMMA MIA! Tickets | Edinburgh Playhouse in Edinburgh | ATG Tickets