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Traverse Theatre 1
MacLean, Kevin, 2012, Digital image
Traverse Theatre 1
Traverse Theatre 1
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About this image
Related
Location
Category
Library Item
Item no
27665
Title
Traverse Theatre 1
Description
Traverse Theatre 1 being fitted out for a new production.
Traverse Theatre 1 being fitted out for a new production.
Artist / maker
MacLean, Kevin
Engraver
Date
2012
Size
Type
Digital image
Location
Edinburgh and Scottish Collection
Accession number
Copyright
In 1982, the <a href="http://www.traverse.co.uk/">Traverse Theatre</a> started theatre hunting, when that year's Festival programme drew attention to the limited space available in the former Grassmarket building. In 1983 a proposal to move to the empty Argyle Brewery in the Cowgate was considered and abandoned. But a solution was not far away in Castle Terrace, in the guise of the notorious "hole in the ground", long seen as a site for Edinburgh's proposed opera house. The opera house was never built, but in December 1987 Edinburgh District Council adopted the proposal by Metropolitan Property and Noble & Co. to build an office complex on the site, a new purpose built theatre being part of the design brief. This soon led to a submissions war between the Traverse and Royal Lyceum to become tenants of the new theatre, the Traverse eventually being given the honour in June 1988. The Council contributed £3 million for equipping and fitting out the new space, and gave the Traverse removal expenses of £150,000. They were also to be given a lease of 150 years. In return the ownership of the Grassmarket building was transferred to the Council. Design was entrusted to Nicholas Groves-Raines and Limma Hannesdottir. The new theatre had two performance spaces, both of which were very adaptable. Theatre one could seat 250, and Theatre two, a mirror to the Grassmarket venue, up to 100. The new Traverse opened on 3 July 1992. It was the first theatre to be built in Britain specifically for the showing of new plays. That first new play was Michele Celeste's Columbus: Blooding the Ocean.
In 1982, the
Traverse Theatre
started theatre hunting, when that year's Festival programme drew attention to the limited space available in the former Grassmarket building. In 1983 a proposal to move to the empty Argyle Brewery in the Cowgate was considered and abandoned. But a solution was not far away in Castle Terrace, in the guise of the notorious "hole in the ground", long seen as a site for Edinburgh's proposed opera house.
The opera house was never built, but in December 1987 Edinburgh District Council adopted the proposal by Metropolitan Property and Noble & Co. to build an office complex on the site, a new purpose built theatre being part of the design brief. This soon led to a submissions war between the Traverse and Royal Lyceum to become tenants of the new theatre, the Traverse eventually being given the honour in June 1988.
The Council contributed £3 million for equipping and fitting out the new space, and gave the Traverse removal expenses of £150,000. They were also to be given a lease of 150 years. In return the ownership of the Grassmarket building was transferred to the Council.
Design was entrusted to Nicholas Groves-Raines and Limma Hannesdottir. The new theatre had two performance spaces, both of which were very adaptable. Theatre one could seat 250, and Theatre two, a mirror to the Grassmarket venue, up to 100.
The new Traverse opened on 3 July 1992. It was the first theatre to be built in Britain specifically for the showing of new plays. That first new play was Michele Celeste's Columbus: Blooding the Ocean.
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