LEITH THEATRE IS 91!
This week we celebrate 91 years since opening for the first time in 1932..
To toast to our 91st birthday, we’ve looked at the first half of the year and highlighted some of our numbers for you to enjoy.
And here’s how those numbers breakdown:
60 - The year began with operational questions about how the building might function in future, as well as conversations starting about its immediate health. The investigative and exploratory works that have commenced so far this year have started an ongoing journey and will help us gain new knowledge and get repairs made to key areas in the main auditorium.
716 - These are the photos saved between us showing the development of building investigative works and ongoing maintenance, as well as of the public, community and cultural events we squeeze in. We strongly suspect this is a drop in the ocean as we each have phones full of Leith Theatre!
5 - Getting your governance right is the most important step in a charity’s make up, especially if there is a big capital project on the cards. Our Board is robust and full of extraordinarily talented people, committed to steering HMS Leith Theatre into safe port! We’re really lucky to have such a breadth of experience to tap into as we navigate this building’s long-term journey.
131 - The last few months have seen increased works across many areas, including damp and timber health, IT provision, electrics, lighting and plumbing, with further investigative works including utilities, HVAC, fire safety and grid improvements. Everyone loves to work in this grand old dame because they get a warm welcome and can see what a massive difference they can each make.
15 - We are a small team but we are always up for a celebration, having seen 3 human and 1 building (hurrah) birthdays so far. Of course, the main bulk of our cake enjoyment is due to our wonderful volunteers, who help us tend the wild garden. We all pitch in for a couple of hours under the watchful eye of an expert (otherwise our weeding might get out of control!) and afterwards share chat, tea and cake.
9 - These free but ticketed events have followed a format of welcoming groups in to the Thomas Morton Hall, plying them with tea, coffee and biscuits before giving a contextual presentation with some old archive photos and more recent music gig and film location imagery, followed by a guided tour through our spaces.
138 - We love to meet people who are interested in the building and who want to hear us talk about some of our history – basically, you can’t shut us up about this place! We have more in the calendar for August; hi-vis and Tunnocks supplied, curiosity and enthusiasm most welcome! They will be available via Eventbrite and we’ll announce more across social media soon.
10 - Ranging from a student documentary to shoots across multiple days, we have remained in touch with our film and creative communities to host productions alongside building works, quite a feat when the dust level is so high! It’s really important to us to still offer a space for creative and cultural activity, no matter what building improvements we’re undertaking!
91 - Happy Birthday to the wonderful building that is Leith Theatre - raise a glass with us!