Leith Theatre Secures Potential £4.5M from The National Lottery Heritage Fund
📸 Captured by Craig McIntosh, the joyful moment in Leith Theatre’s Main Auditorium shows Lynn Morrison (Chief Executive), Aisha Fatunmbi-Randall (Marketing & Digital Coordinator), Douglas Frost (Programme Coordinator) and Anna Higham (Funding Manager) celebrating in style - setting off a ticker tape cannon as shimmering gold confetti rains down around them. A warm and sparkling celebration of a huge milestone for Leith Theatre!
We can hardly believe it ourselves, but here we are again with yet another amazing announcement!
Leith Theatre has secured a potential £4.5 million funding package from The National Lottery Heritage Fund! After years of hard work, setbacks and sheer determination, this marks a huge breakthrough in bringing our much-loved venue back to life.
Leith Theatre isn’t just a building; it’s part of Leith’s DNA. Originally gifted to the people of Leith after amalgamation with the City of Edinburgh in 1920, the theatre first opened its doors in 1932. It quickly became a hub for cultural and civic life, hosting everything from local events to world-renowned performances.
Throughout the decades, Leith Theatre has witnessed both triumphs and challenges. Lengthy periods of closure have preserved many original features, making the theatre a distinctive and valuable heritage site. It suffered bomb damage during World War II, leading to a 20-year closure, but was later revived as a key venue for the Edinburgh International Festival between 1961 and 1988. In the 1970s, it became a hotspot for live music, welcoming legendary artists such as AC/DC, Kraftwerk, and Thin Lizzy. However, financial difficulties led to its closure in the late 1980s, and it remained largely dormant for nearly 30 years.
In 2016, after extensive community campaigning, the Leith Theatre Trust was formed to save and restore the venue. Since then, it has hosted a series of pop-up events, proving its immense value as a cultural space. The theatre’s unique blend of faded grandeur and historical significance has made it a beloved landmark in Leith, and now, thanks to this funding, we are one step closer to securing its long-term future.
Lynn Morrison (Chief Executive), Anna Higham (Funding & Finance Manager), Bob Last (Chair), Caroline Clark (Fund Director for Scotland at The National Lottery Heritage Fund), Dr Lizzie Swarbrick (Committee Member of The National Lottery Heritage Fund). By Chris Scott
Lynn Morrison, Chief Executive from Leith Theatre Trust said: “We are delighted with this initial support from The National Lottery Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players we can continue to progress our strategic plans to revitalise and reimagine this beautiful heritage building. This is a significant milestone, and I am very proud of the team that has helped realise this ambition, which is one that I have been aiming for since appointment. It will be invigorating working in partnership with the Heritage Fund to develop and bring visibility of such an exciting lottery project to the heart of Leith.”
Anna Higham, Funding and Finance Manager from Leith Theatre Trust, said: “This project to bring Leith Theatre back to life really shines a spotlight on heritage and how important it is for communities to retain buildings of local value. Although this feels like the culmination of lots of hard work, it is really just the beginning, and we are excited to continue our next step development plans and launch our full capital fundraising campaign.”
Caroline Clark, The National Lottery Heritage Fund Director for Scotland said: ”We are thrilled to be able to help make plans for a restored and revitalised Leith Theatre a reality. As a historic theatre with nearly a hundred years of stories, creativity and characters there is so much to celebrate and explore in its heritage. Thanks to National Lottery players, Leith Theatre Trust’s plans for the future will be developed with the community ensuring this wonderful theatre has a bright future as a lively venue and as a place for local people to experience and be involved in the arts, culture and creativity.
What This Funding Means for the Future
Securing a 50-year lease from the City of Edinburgh Council recently gave us the stability to push ahead with our plans. With this new funding, we can now develop a blueprint for restoring and reviving the space while keeping its original charm intact.
The first step is an initial £247,947 grant, which will help us refine our refurbishment plans and put our vision into action. We want this to be a space for everyone - whether you’re here for live music, theatre, film or just to soak up the history.
Beyond the bricks and mortar, this funding represents a chance to breathe new life into the theatre. It means we can expand our community engagement programmes, create more opportunities for local talent and finally establish Leith Theatre as a fully functioning, world-class venue. The journey hasn’t been easy, but this moment signals a new era - one where the theatre can finally fulfil its potential as a creative and cultural hub.
Our vision is to blend heritage with modern sustainability, ensuring that the theatre not only retains its historical character but also meets contemporary standards. This investment will help us transform Leith Theatre into a dynamic, welcoming space that can host an exciting range of events all year round.
2025 is shaping up to be an incredibly exciting year for Leith Theatre! Not only do will we get to focus on our future ambitions with the backing from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, but we’ll be doing that alongside a vibrant Summer 2025 programme. This pop-up season begins in June with the highly anticipated Restless Natives: The Musical setting the stage before a 3-month long electrifying summer of theatre, music and film.
Be Part of It
Thanks to National Lottery players.
This isn’t just our journey - it’s yours too! Everyone will be able to take part in the refurbishment project through events and heritage opportunities, allowing many people to access the venue and play their part in preserving and creating Leith and the City of Edinburgh’s history.
This is just the beginning, and we can’t wait to welcome you through our doors once again. 💙