Perth Theatre to close in January for £14.5m redevelopment

Perth Theatre has passed the final hurdle for a £14.5 million, two year, renovation, which will see the 460-seat Edwardian auditorium go dark in January.

The local council last week approved minor amendments to the existing planning consent for the theatre, which includes demolishing much of the ancillary building and creating a new 225-capacity studio performance space.

Welcoming the news, Iain M Halliday, Chairman of Horsecross Arts which operates the theatre, told The Stage: “We have taken a significant step in our journey towards a revitalised theatre for Perth, a theatre with its historic auditorium restored, with ease of access for all and with the new space needed for our growing creative learning activities for young people.”

A total of £13.5 million has already been pledged for the redevelopment with support from Perth and Kinross Council, Gannochy Trust, Heritage Lottery Foundation and Creative Scotland. Horsecross Arts are to raise a further £1 million from business and public initiatives.

No specific date has been set for completion of the project. The Stage has been told that a precise timeline will become clearer once the project has reached RIBA stage E – the technical design stage – and contractors are in place for construction.

The full programme of work includes restoring and conserving the B-listed auditorium, reintroducing the orchestra pit and upper circle. Circulation and disabled access, including ground level access, will be improved, largely by moving the public entrance to what is now the rear of the building.

The new-build elements include a new extension that will provide three new creative learning spaces for education and community activities and a home for Perth Youth Theatre. It will also create a flexible 225-capacity performance space, suitable for more intimate, small scale music and drama and low cost community hire.

Further details and plans for the redevelopment are on http://www.transformperththeatre.co.uk/