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Nevertheless, given the long term competition from the growth of film as a popular medium, the theatre had to be re-equipped to present bigger and more spectacular shows. Reusing some of
Matcham's original design concepts, the theatre reopened on 1 October 1928 with the first production, the musical
314:
In addition to the music hall and popular entertainers who appeared at the Empire, the theatre became a principal venue of the
Edinburgh International Festival between 1947 and 1963. It was particularly associated with international ballet and, during the first Festival in 1947,
366:
was appointed to shape the rejuvenated venue's future. With the restoration of the Empire
Theatre's former 1928 glory, plus a dramatic mix of art nouveau, beaux arts and neo-classicism, and including adequate acoustics, the new theatre serves the artistic needs of the community.
248:
For the following twenty years all the top artists of the day played at the Empire Palace until, on 9 May 1911, there was a disastrous fire on stage. While all 3000 theatre goers escaped safely in about 2.5 minutes, there were eleven backstage deaths, including illusionist
358:(11 May 1973) were among the acts appearing. Finally, after its third major remodeling, the Empire Theatre reopened in June 1994 with a glass-fronted structure for the new entrance (created by Law & Dunbar-Nasmith Architects), as the now-renamed
253:, who was then taking his final bow as The Great Lafayette; his body double; and the lion from his act. Film of the aftermath of the fire is held by the National Library of Scotland. The theatre reopened three months after the fire.
219:
The present theatre's location is
Edinburgh's longest continuous theatre site, for there has been a theatre in that location since 1830. From being Dunedin Hall, the Royal Amphitheatre, Alhambra Music Hall, the Queen's Theatre,
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607:
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However, for nearly thirty years after 1963 the theatre became a bingo hall, only temporarily serving as a
Festival venue. In the early 1970s the venue shortened its name to simply the
702:
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240:, among others) its décor was lavish, with elephants with Nubian riders, nymphs and cherubs in abundance on the plasterwork, and it seated 3000 people on four levels.
615:
199:, large-scale musical events, and touring groups. After its most recent renovation in 1994, it seats 1,915. It is one of the major venues of the annual summer
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1005:
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387:, Chief Executive of Festival City Theatres Trust, which later became Capital Theatres, from 2012 to 2019, brought
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and hosted live music events. Bands did not appear until after 11pm - once the bingo players had gone.
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276:. Between 1928 and 1963 the Empire was a variety, musical and opera house, often including ice shows.
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The theatre is said to be haunted by a tall, dark stranger rumoured to be the famous illusionist
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639:"Duncan Hendry reveals the 10 Best Things about running Edinburgh's Festival and King's theatre"
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232:’ chain, opening on 7 November 1892. Designed by the great British theatre architect,
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608:"Tributes paid to former Aberdeen Performing Arts chief executive Duncan Hendry"
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Front of house and orchestra pit of the
Edinburgh Festival Theatre
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224:'s Amphitheatre, and Newsome's Circus, the site became the
187:) is a performing arts venue located on Nicolson Street in
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to the
Festival Theatre for the first time. He persuaded
484:
Theatre Fire in
Edinburgh, National Library of Scotland
362:. In 1997, the theatre manager and artistic director
191:, Scotland. It is used primarily for performances of
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The
Festival Theatre building on Nicolson Street in
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323:, while in subsequent years, performances by the
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690:The Festival Theatre on Arthur Lloyd website
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685:Edinburgh Festival Theatre Official Website
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1559:Reportedly haunted locations in Edinburgh
787:Edinburgh International Conference Centre
1554:Category B listed buildings in Edinburgh
996:Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art
446:
1047:Edinburgh International Climbing Arena
311:established themselves at the Empire.
374:The theatre prior to a production of
7:
203:and is the Edinburgh venue for the
1001:Scottish National Portrait Gallery
726:Culture and leisure facilities in
569:"Focus The Band Of Thijs Van Leer"
299:appeared, while English comedians
16:Theatre in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
14:
1506:
1124:
637:Rudden, Liam (6 December 2019).
201:Edinburgh International Festival
1569:1830 establishments in Scotland
986:Royal Scottish Academy Building
606:Drysdale, Neil (3 March 2023).
546:"Classic Wishbone Ash History"
215:Theatre background and history
1:
1479:Palladium Theatre, Edinburgh
1006:Scottish Storytelling Centre
903:National Library of Scotland
888:Edinburgh University Library
971:National Museum of Scotland
526:. The Edinburgh Gig Archive
1585:
1564:Theatres completed in 1892
1516:
1474:Gateway Theatre, Edinburgh
1469:The Glasgow Gaiety Theatre
1398:Pitlochry Festival Theatre
1373:King's Theatre (Edinburgh)
1353:Edinburgh Festival Theatre
918:Stockbridge Public Library
782:Edinburgh Festival Theatre
360:Edinburgh Festival Theatre
344:Emerson, Lake & Palmer
228:, the first of the famous
177:Edinburgh Festival Theatre
22:Edinburgh Festival Theatre
1502:
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1072:Meggetland Sports Complex
991:Scottish National Gallery
524:"Empire/Festival Theatre"
158:
42:
26:
1539:Opera houses in Scotland
1484:Theatre Royal, Edinburgh
1464:Royalty Theatre, Glasgow
1454:Alhambra Theatre Glasgow
1418:Tivoli Theatre, Aberdeen
1378:King's Theatre (Glasgow)
1338:Dundee Repertory Theatre
1062:Inverleith Sports Ground
1057:Goldenacre Sports Ground
591:Stephen Barry (obituary)
455:"History of Fire Safety"
99:55.9467000°N 3.1861778°W
1459:Queens Theatre, Glasgow
1408:Theatre Royal, Dumfries
1097:Royal Commonwealth Pool
1052:Edinburgh Rugby Stadium
913:Scottish Poetry Library
777:Edinburgh Corn Exchange
596:London, 9 November 2000
407:to bring shows such as
183:and later shortened to
1449:Glasgow Empire Theatre
1413:Theatre Royal, Glasgow
1239:Royal Gymnasium Ground
381:
354:(9 December 1972) and
266:
104:55.9467000; -3.1861778
1549:Theatres in Edinburgh
1489:The Metropole Theatre
1383:Macrobert Arts Centre
1368:His Majesty's Theatre
1363:George Square Theatre
898:McDonald Road Library
664:"News - The Scotsman"
612:The Press and Journal
373:
350:(14 September 1972),
327:theatre company, the
264:
226:Empire Palace Theatre
181:Empire Palace Theatre
60:13/29 Nicolson Street
50:Empire Palace Theatre
1494:Alexandra Music Hall
1403:Royal Lyceum Theatre
1303:Aberdeen Arts Centre
1077:Murrayfield Ice Rink
817:Royal Lyceum Theatre
425:to the theatre too.
391:productions such as
346:(18 December 1971),
1544:Theatre in Scotland
1519:Culture of Scotland
1513:Scotland portal
1348:Edinburgh Playhouse
1328:Church Hill Theatre
1308:Barrfields Pavilion
1148:Edinburgh Filmhouse
1082:Murrayfield Stadium
976:National War Museum
966:Museum of Edinburgh
961:Museum of Childhood
951:Fruitmarket Gallery
792:Edinburgh Playhouse
759:Church Hill Theatre
548:. Wishboneash.co.uk
465:on 15 December 2010
321:The Sleeping Beauty
95: /
23:
1343:Eden Court Theatre
1313:Beacon Arts Centre
1234:Powderhall Stadium
1067:Meadowbank Stadium
908:Portobello Library
571:. Focustheband.com
504:. 27 November 1971
405:Cameron Mackintosh
382:
305:Morecambe and Wise
267:
257:Popular performers
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1525:
1358:Fullarton Theatre
1251:
1250:
1247:
1246:
1163:The George Cinema
1120:
1119:
981:Our Dynamic Earth
878:Advocates Library
822:St Cecilia's Hall
807:Reid Concert Hall
668:news.scotsman.com
435:Sigmund Neuberger
251:Sigmund Neuberger
236:, (who built the
173:
172:
1576:
1511:
1510:
1509:
1433:Websters Theatre
1423:Traverse Theatre
1388:Pavilion Theatre
1333:Cottiers Theatre
1323:Citizens Theatre
1278:
1271:
1264:
1255:
1138:
1128:
1087:Myreside Stadium
941:City Observatory
852:Traverse Theatre
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614:. Archived from
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461:. Archived from
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335:were presented.
297:Laurel and Hardy
285:Charles Laughton
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163:.capitaltheatres
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118:Capital Theatres
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1224:Old Logie Green
1214:New Logie Green
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1158:Gateway Theatre
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1112:Warrender Baths
1107:Tynecastle Park
1102:The Grange Club
1020:
1016:Writers' Museum
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883:Central Library
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771:
769:Edinburgh Arena
764:Dominion Cinema
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618:on 3 March 2023
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496:"Concert dates"
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279:Big names like
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317:Margot Fonteyn
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185:Empire Theatre
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1428:Tron Theatre
1352:
1318:Byre Theatre
1032:Ainslie Park
946:Dean Gallery
812:Rose Theatre
802:Queen's Hall
781:
667:
658:
646:. Retrieved
642:
632:
620:. Retrieved
616:the original
611:
601:
594:The Guardian
593:
589:Allen, Paul
585:
573:. Retrieved
562:
550:. Retrieved
540:
528:. Retrieved
518:
506:. Retrieved
501:Melody Maker
499:
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467:. Retrieved
463:the original
458:
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416:Mary Poppins
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383:
376:
359:
352:Wishbone Ash
339:
337:
329:Royal Ballet
320:
313:
281:Harry Lauder
278:
271:
268:
247:
230:Moss Empires
225:
222:Pablo Fanque
218:
184:
180:
179:(originally
176:
174:
133:Construction
90:3°11′10.24″W
47:Former names
18:
1042:Easter Road
927:Museums and
459:fire.org.uk
410:Miss Saigon
333:Royal Opera
309:Harry Worth
289:Fats Waller
102: /
77:Coordinates
1533:Categories
1517:See also:
862:Usher Hall
857:Underbelly
847:Summerhall
772:(proposed)
575:1 November
552:1 November
530:1 November
441:References
319:danced in
149:1911, 1994
1199:City Park
929:galleries
871:Libraries
827:The Cameo
730:Edinburgh
394:War Horse
273:Show Boat
244:1911 fire
189:Edinburgh
167:/festival
69:Edinburgh
35:Edinburgh
1289:Scotland
1285:Theatres
1204:Hawkhill
567:Alquin.
400:Hamilton
389:West End
331:and the
301:Max Wall
293:Joe Loss
207:and the
146:Reopened
124:Capacity
115:Operator
65:Location
1296:Current
1141:Culture
832:The Hub
738:Current
648:4 March
622:4 March
508:8 March
469:29 July
325:Old Vic
154:Website
57:Address
1442:Former
1134:Former
747:venues
429:Legend
419:, and
295:, and
197:ballet
138:Opened
1182:Sport
1092:Oriam
1025:Sport
356:Focus
193:opera
128:1,915
650:2023
624:2023
577:2017
554:2017
532:2017
510:2020
471:2015
397:and
348:Free
307:and
195:and
175:The
165:.com
1287:of
161:www
1535::
666:.
641:.
610:.
498:.
457:.
413:,
303:,
291:,
287:,
283:,
211:.
1277:e
1270:t
1263:v
718:e
711:t
704:v
670:.
652:.
626:.
579:.
556:.
534:.
512:.
473:.
380:.
37:.
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