Theater rebirth as a locale for radical social interactions: Citizens Theatre reemerges
The Renovated Citizens Theatre in Glasgow: A Beacon of Cultural History
The Citizens Theatre in Glasgow, a landmark with a rich cultural history, has reopened its doors to the public after a six-year renovation project. This iconic theatre, known as the Citz, has been associated with many scandals, daring productions, and the launch of several British talents.
Built in 1878, the theatre initially resided at the former Royal Princess's Theatre, located within a compact, handsome city block owned and developed by John Morrison. The building, part of a lively, almost theatrical scene known as Gorbals Cross, once had a European flavour. Before the clearances, Gorbals Cross was a dense, urban quarter with sandstone tenements, shops, businesses, tramlines, and public buildings, giving it the air of a European city.
The Citz was first founded and based at the Athenaeum Theatre on Buchanan Street in 1943 under the direction of James Bridie. Over the years, the theatre struggled due to issues like extreme cold in winter and extreme heat in summer, poor ventilation, leaks, and cramped spaces. Despite these challenges, the theatre persevered and became more than just a building—it became a place, a hub of cultural activity in Glasgow.
The theatre district was a beacon of aspiration, offering spectacle and refinement at the edge of one of Europe's toughest slums. The Citz, open to the public not just for ticketed events, provided learning spaces for school groups, windows into workshops, and a sense of permeability between front and back of house. In the 1970s, the theatre even served as home to Glasgow's first gay bar.
The Citizens Theatre renovation, a project that took over ten years in planning, was carried out by the architect group Page\Park Architects. The retrofit included a new flytower and a floating Brutalist box in black brick, with the theatre's name spelled out in giant, elegant, san-serif neon. The old tower blocks across the road from the theatre, built in the 1980s, already looked battered and worn by 1985. Unfortunately, the Palace, the theatre next door, was demolished in 1977, along with much of the surrounding city fabric.
The Citz reopened to the public in the 2020s, boasting a new 150-seat studio theatre. This flexible space features retractable seating, rigging grids, and adaptable surfaces, allowing for a variety of productions. The theatre's auditorium was set back from the street, reached only by a low corridor leading to the stage.
Rory Olcayto, a visiting architect, praised the renovated Citizens Theatre, stating that it has managed to maintain its charming character while addressing the issues that had plagued it for years. The theatre, once again, stands tall in Glasgow, a testament to its rich cultural history.
The Citizens Theatre has survived the mass clearances in the 1960s and '70s and now stands as a symbol of resilience and cultural continuity in Glasgow. It continues to be a vital part of the city's cultural landscape, offering a stage for daring productions, nurturing British talent, and providing a space for the community to come together and share in the magic of live theatre.
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