The Curtain Rises Again: Citizens Theatre reopens, reigniting Glasgow's stage
Glasgow’s iconic Citizens Theatre, which has been a cornerstone of Glasgow’s cultural landscape since 1878, has finally reopened its doors following an extensive redevelopment project which lasted seven years.
Photo by John Bowden
By Mikael Phillips | Photos by John Bowden
The Citizens Theatre is finally back! After closing its doors in 2018 to undergo a major redevelopment project which was only meant to last two-to-three-years, but had been massively delayed due to the pandemic and rising costs from inflation. The seven year journey is finally complete and Glasgow’s largest theatrical hub is open to the public once again.
‘The Citz’ has always been more than a theatre – it’s been a vital, beating heart of Glasgow’s community and a crucial asset for accessible art in the city. Over the years they have championed accessibility and challenged the notion that theatre is only for the privileged few, ensuring world-class productions are within reach for Glasgows audiences. Although there are no current plans for their infamous 50p ticket initiative to return, they have created new membership passes granting discounts to key groups in the community, as well as reduced ticket pricing for under 30s, five pound tickets for Gorbals residents & low income households, and a set standard price range which will vary with each performance.
We went along to have look at the new building during their open day on Saturday 23 August and were blown away by the scale of the redevelopment, breathing new life into the cherished victorian playhouse. Driven by necessity, the building needed significant structural work carried out to ensure the future of the theatre, but it also gave the theatre time to modernise its facilities whilst simultaneously preserving the unique heritage of the building.
With the new building, there is a clear effort to enhance accessibility with new lifts, large ground level doors, and a beautifully wide bright pink stairwell and landing which connects all aspects of the building. There are new seats in the theatre which are comfortable, ventilated, and with plenty of leg room. And to top it all off, there is now an incredible state-of-the-art upgrade to their technical facilities allowing for more grander & magical productions to take the stage. Take a look at the new building:
For Glasgows thriving new and emerging theatre scene, the new building offers exciting opportunities to experiment and stage your work with a new flexible studio theatre offering a dedicated space where new works can be developed and tested, dedicating space within its well-known institution to uplift and support Glasgow’s artists and theatre makers.
The Citz being back isn’t just a return to ‘business as usual’, it’s a powerful statement about the resilience of art, the importance of shared cultural experiences, and a renewed commitment to community in a post-pandemic world.
What are your thoughts on this exciting return? Have you made plans to visit, or do you have fond memories of past performances? We'd love to hear from you! Let us know at: newsroom@greatergovanhill.com
