2024 Reflections: Legacy & Memories
As we wrap up the end of a year, it’s natural to reflect. For many of us, it’s the step before you set yourself your New Year goals and ambitions. At Leith Theatre, it’s no different.
2024 marked our CEO Lynn’s 6 year Leith Theatre anniversary and as we look back on the year, we acknowledge that this year has been a pivotal one, maybe even one of the most important years we have had. It’s been a year of getting the business ready for the future and a key theme throughout has been looking to the past to retrieve and celebrate our memories. Why? Because the stories we gather help build a foundation for our future.
Why Gathering Memories Matters
We are building our story and valuing our heritage
We are increasing our knowledge and understanding of the venue’s journey and its value in the community
Through archival research, our Leith Theatre Memory Bank and collaborations, we’re preserving the legacy of Leith Theatre. By connecting the dots between historical records, media coverage and personal experiences, we’re creating a fuller picture of the theatre’s life that underscores the importance of archival research in preserving and sharing stories that might otherwise be lost to time. This way, we get to ensure the theatre’s history can be known by current and future generations, not just the past.
Highlights From Our 2024 Memory Projects
Archival Research
Through meticulous efforts - combing newspaper archives and exploring city records - we’ve uncovered pivotal moments in Leith Theatre’s history, from its origins to its many transformations over the decades. These discoveries paint a vivid picture of the theatre’s role as a cultural and community hub, its perseverance in the face of adversity and its survival through challenges, including threats of closure. We’re still in the process of sorting and organising some of our findings and look forward to when we can share them so you too can see a piece of our history brought to life.
This year we discovered a treasure after years of searching: Bolton Council had retained some of the original plans from our architect’s Bradshaw, Gass and Hope, who designed the Leith Theatre complex. To our absolute delight, we found 14 folders with detailed plans for the complex, covering the Theatre, Library, and Caretakers Cottage. Douglas’ visit to the Bolton Library and Museums' archives was a step back in time, uncovering nearly 100-year-old hand-drawn plans, unseen by Leith Theatre staff!
The University of Strathclyde Architecture Collaboration
In collaboration with University of Strathclyde Architecture and Design, Year 4 students have delved into questions about the theatre’s past, helping us uncover new insights. Their curiosity has propelled deeper research and sparked fresh enthusiasm for preserving our heritage. This partnership continues into its second year, with a visit to Glasgow planned for the beginning of next year. We cannot wait to see their new work.
Thank you to Susan for sharing these mid-1960s images and allowing us to share them with our community.
Oral History Archive
With funding from Creative Informatics and Theatres Trust, we launched our Oral History Archive project this year. Since launching the Leith Theatre Memory Bank, we’ve spoken to lots of you in the Leith community and beyond, and we look forward to more in 2025.
Recently, we were delighted to receive a collection of photographs capturing a ballet school’s annual show at Leith Theatre in the mid-1960s. These beautiful images paint a picture of the vibrant history of the theatre and the countless performers who have shared space on its stage. These stories are already shaping our understanding of Leith Theatre’s impact on the community.
This personal project has been heartwarming - visiting homes, hosting people at the theatre and sharing a cuppa over Leith Theatre tales and memories.
2024 has been a year of immense progress. These efforts not only honour our past but also fuel our future ambitions. We can’t wait to see what lies ahead in 2025.
In the meantime, if you have a memory of Leith Theatre to share, we’d love to hear it. Get in touch and help us continue building this incredible story by emailing memories@leiththeatre.co.uk 💙