Leith Theatre

Leith Theatre (also known as Leith Town Hall and alternatively, in 1975 and 1976, Citadel Theatre)[1] is a theatre located on Ferry Road in Edinburgh, Scotland. It opened in 1932 and ceased operation in 1988. Following the efforts of Leith Theatre Trust, fundraising and campaigning is currently underway to support Leith Theatre's redevelopment and eventual full reopening as an arts and community venue.

Leith Theatre was a gift from the people of Edinburgh to the people of Leith, following the forced merger of the burgh of Leith into the larger city in 1920.[2]

The theatre was used by the Edinburgh International Festival from 1961 to 1968.[2] Over the years the theatre hosted a wide variety of famous artists and bands, including Mott the Hoople, Thin Lizzy and AC/DC.[1][2] The stage was also used by legendary director Yuri Lyubimov.

The Town Hall building, which houses the Leith Theatre in its East Wing and the Thomas Morton Hall in its West Wing, stands adjacent to the Leith Library.[3] The smaller Thomas Morton Hall portion of the complex is still in use, for receptions and parties.[4][5]

The Leith Theatre Trust was organized in 2004 to "facilitate the refurbishment of Leith Theatre, it’s [sic] reopening and ongoing management."[6] In May 2017, the Leith Theatre was used for the first time in 25 years, when the public was welcomed to the Hidden Door arts festival.[7] The Hidden Door, which is a volunteer-run arts collective that exposes the hidden spaces of derelict buildings by using them as temporary performance venues, returned to the Leith Theatre for its May 2018 event.[8][9]. Various community fundraisers have been hosted at the Theatre during 2018 and activity during the Edinburgh International Festival and EH6 Festival have further raised visibility for the venue.