Major refurbishment introduces new public spaces and accessibility upgrades
Bennetts Associates has completed the refurbishment of the Citizens Theatre in Glasgow. The practice first won the commission in 2012.
The scheme seeks to conserve the heritage of the grade B listed building in the Gorbals, while opening it up to the community through new entrances, circulation routes and public-facing areas.
A central feature of the redevelopment is a reconfigured court and close. This element is designed as a contemporary reinterpretation of the original passageways and courtyards, and seeks to create a visual and physical connection from the street to the back of house and production areas.
Windows have been introduced to provide views into the fly tower and historic stage machinery, including one of the last operational Victorian paint frames in a working theatre.
The 19th-century auditorium remains largely unchanged in appearance. The design aims to maintain its scale and atmosphere while providing technical upgrades.
History of the Citizens Theatre
The Citizens Theatre first opened in 1878 as His Majesty’s Theatre and Opera House, later becoming the Royal Princess’s Theatre. Its rubble stone-built auditorium has survived major shifts in the Gorbals, from Victorian prosperity through the clearances and tower blocks of the mid-20th century to later residential redevelopment. In 1945 the Citizens Theatre repertory company took up residence and the building was renamed. Since then the company and theatre have become synonymous, widely referred to simply as “the Citz”.
During the 1970s and early 1980s the theatre gained a reputation for bold productions in a part of Glasgow undergoing rapid change. A fire in 1977 destroyed the neighbouring Palace Theatre, with fittings salvaged by the Citizens team, while the original foyer and bars were replaced in 1989. Following a seven-year closure for redevelopment, the theatre’s reopening marks a new chapter in the long-running relationship between building, company and city.
James Nelmes, director at Bennetts Associates, said: “It’s rare for a project to maintain such conceptual integrity over more than a decade. From our earliest sketches to the final built form, we’ve remained committed to honouring the heritage of this beloved landmark, while making the theatre more open and accessible to the public.
“We’ve not just created new spaces, we’ve revealed and enhanced what was always there, letting the building’s rich history speak to future generations of visitors, performers, and workers.”
A new 150-seat studio theatre and rehearsal room has been added. Other interventions include a new street frontage, foyer spaces, and improvements to accessibility, such as level floors and step-free circulation.
During construction, sections of the building’s original sandstone walls and structural details were left exposed to highlight the history of the site.
Six restored statues have also been reinstated above the theatre’s entrance on Gorbals Street. The figures, representing Greek goddesses of tragedy, comedy, poetry and song, and dance, along with Robert Burns and William Shakespeare, were restored by sculptor David J. Mitchell.
Dominic Hill, artistic director at Citizens Theatre, said: “The redevelopment of the Citizens Theatre has been transformative in every way. The design by Bennetts Associates has delivered a building that allows us to return as a creative powerhouse that is accessible, welcoming and inclusive for all of our community.
“The theatre has stood on Gorbals Street in Glasgow for more than 150 years, and thanks to the incredible work put into this project, it will continue to stand proudly in that community for many years to come.”
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Project team:
Architect – Bennetts Associates
Main contractor – Kier Group plc
Theatre Consultant - Theatreplan
Acoustics Consultant – Sandy Brown
Structural Engineer – Struer Consulting Engineers Ltd
Mechanical and Engineering Consultant - Max Fordham
Fire Consultant – Atelier 10
Conservation Architect – Ian Parsons
Cost Consultant – Turner and Townsend
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