In the Glow of The Bidding Room

After months of recce visits and venue introductions, where we spent many a morning touring an eclectic mix of magnificent people through all the wee nooks and crannies of the building, we can’t believe that they are finally here and this is actually happening!

More than happening in fact: we are in full production mode and timetabled to within a minute of our week. Not to speak too soon, but it’s a well-oiled and warm-hearted machine so far.

They - ‘The Bidding Room’ - are now individual people with names, personalities and responsibilities. We are all on first-name terms and meet in the mornings; sharing coffees, enjoying the snack tables, sitting out soaking up Leith sunshine and telling tales of where everyone ate dinner the night before.

We are on Shoot Day 6, Block 2 and boy we seem to have found our groove… the venue is even feeling warm (yes, honestly!) as the sunlight floods in and crew work away in short sleeves, filling water bottles instead of hot water bottles.

Set-build week is always a joy and brings the creative wizards and designers back, along with their banter.  Despite watching the BBC 1 programme, it hasn’t been until we opened our doors to them and experienced their revelry in Leith Theatre’s unique history that we realised how much we have in common with this merry bunch.

We delight in old things - it seems to be part of the job description. We love to salvage and reclaim, to preserve and appreciate beauty and craftsmanship, be it in one of the many unusual trinkets and bewilderingly mysterious items or the flaws of the theatre wall, the naturally-distressed paint and the weight of those 1930’s doors!

Reflecting on heritage, history and precious items is something that we will all share and enjoy for the coming weeks into July, and it is part of the reason we are so thrilled that we are the home for Series 4 and 5 of this hugely successful show.

Importantly for us, we are able to continue to tell our venue’s story, as we strive to bring this treasure of a building back into full-time use. Helping to do so are lovely cast, crew and contributors from all corners of the UK, both near and far.

Eventually, this will put Leith Theatre on the telly screen again but, for now, we are relishing the ride. There’s a constant warm glow radiating; from the sun, the dealers posting social media gold, local cafes and taxi drivers recounting film crew coffee visits and rides and the camera crew enjoying music events across the city in their downtime.

Nigel Havers and ‘The Bidding Room’ team have made such a lovely impression so far - we are delighted to be the centre of their stage.