Citizens Theatre's future secured with £4.8m grant

One of Glasgow's best-known theatres has received a grant for £4.8m.

The Citizens Theatre Company was awarded the cash to help transform its landmark venue in the Gorbals area over the next two years.

The Heritage Lottery Fund has handed over the grant for the theatre's "transformational redevelopment" project.

New learning spaces, rehearsal rooms, front-of-house areas and a 152-seat studio theatre will be built.

The £4.8m funding is be used to "protect the physical asset for future generations" while preserving and revealing the most significant parts of its heritage.

The project, being led by architectural practice Bennetts Associates, will ensure "The Citz", as it is affectionately known, continues to deliver world-class theatre for the benefit of local, national and international audiences.

It is part of a wider £19.4m project which will take two years to complete.

Judith Kilvington, executive director of the Citizens Theatre, said: "This critical funding will allow us not only to preserve our Victorian theatre but also to tell stories which help to uncover and communicate the physical, architectural, social and cultural heritage of the Citizens Theatre to many future generations of theatre goers, participants, and visitors.

"With our increased heritage engagement plans, we will be able to attract new audiences and participants to the theatre for the first time and encourage a deeper level of engagement amongst our existing audiences by offering a variety of ways to explore the Citizens Theatre's rich and multi-faceted heritage.

"Our redevelopment project is at the heart of the regeneration of the Gorbals and Laurieston and will create a vital cultural landmark and community hub for all the people who use the building."

It also promises improved working conditions for staff and the transformation of front-of-house spaces to enable greater use by audiences and the local community.

The project will be underpinned by 12 creative heritage-focused activities including the creation of a "heritage hub" on the company's website which will help people to share their stories about the theatre.

Lucy Casot, head of the heritage lottery fund in Scotland, said: "We are delighted to bring some Christmas cheer to one of Scotland's oldest and best-loved theatres.

"Thanks to players of the National Lottery, the Citizens Theatre will undergo a transformation which shines a light on its incredible Victorian heritage while providing the modern facilities expected today.

"After 139 years of entertaining audiences, her future as one of the country's outstanding production theatres is rosy."

In June 2018, the Citizens Theatre Company will move out of the Category B listed building, which it leases from Glasgow City Council, for more than two years.

It will continue to produce its work at Tramway and provide its Citizens Learning activities at Scotland Street School Museum.

The company will move back into its Gorbals home in autumn 2020.