Edinburgh Theatres and Festivals - Nightlife Activities
It's easy for the history of Scottish theatre to get lost when the grand works of Shakespeare and Marlowe flowed from London. But with six major Edinburgh theatres routinely putting on quality programmes today, it shouldn't surprise anyone to learn that Scotland has a rich history of theatre appreciation.
The first documented production, a royal court masque, was presented to King Alexander III in 1285. The Scottish Royal Court became a fan of chivalric tournaments in the early 16th century and lured actors over from Europe to participate. Playwright George Buchanan wrote his successful Latin plays until his death in 1582. Theatre was typically reserved for royalty until 1599 when James VI opened the country's first public playhouse. And today? There are plenty of Edinburgh theatres to choose from, no matter what your fancy.
Edinburgh Playhouse
The Edinburgh Playhouse's reputation for elaborate West End productions is well deserved; the Playhouse is No 1 of all the Edinburgh theatres for impressive, big name shows. Visit them for every big show out of London. Located at 18/22 Greenside Place ; more information is available through TicketMaster.com.
The King's Theatre
Built in 1905 with Andrew Carnegie laying the foundation stone, the King's Theatre opened in 1906 and has been supplying Edinburgh with quality theatre ever since. Go to the King's Theatre for professional dance, drama and comedy theatre as well as local amateur productions; their annual Pantomime is a traditional Edinburgh event. Located at 2 Leven Street. Visit them at www.eft.co.uk to book tickets.
The Festival Theatre
Built in 1994, the Festival Theatre is home to the Scottish Opera and Scottish Ballet. The theatre features most prominently of all the Edinburgh theatres during the Edinburgh International Festival. The theatre, a reincarnation of the 1892 Empire Palace Theatre, stands at 13/29 Nicolson Street. Visit for contemporary dance and ballet; a listing of shows is available at www.eft.co.uk.
Royal Lyceum Theatre
The Royal Lyceum Theatre Company opened in 1883 to become one of Scotland's largest and most prominent companies. Visit the Royal Lyceum for classic productions and modern shows as well as plays by new Scottish writers. Located at 30B Grindlay Street ; visit www.lyceum.org.uk for more information.
The Traverse Theatre
Since 1963 the Traverse Theatre has been dedicated to putting on contemporary theatre productions penned by new writers from the UK and abroad. Such devotion to new writing makes the Traverse stand out from its fellow Edinburgh theatres. Located at 10 Cambridge Street. Visit www.traverse.co.uk for a schedule of programming.
Book Online at:
Theatre Breaks Ltd - www.theatrebreaks.com
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Edinburgh - Weekend Breaks
