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Traverse main theatre, West bow
McGarry, Paul, 1992, Photograph
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Traverse main theatre, West bow
Traverse main theatre, West bow
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Item no
27532
Title
Traverse main theatre, West bow
Artist / maker
McGarry, Paul
Date
1992
Size
17.8 x 23.8 cm
Type
Photograph
Location
Edinburgh and Scottish Collection
The original
Traverse Theatre
building was in the Lawnmarket, and although much loved by many (and hated by a few), could not be said to be an ideal space. By 1968 the owner, Tom Mitchell had agreed to renovate the building, sweetened by an Arts Council capital grant. The survey report was alarming however. It stated the floors were unsafe, and the premises were unfit for its purpose of a theatre and club.
The Traverse Committee acted quickly and by March 1969 a new property had been found at 112 West Bow, in the Grassmarket. This was an old warehouse and sailmaker's loft. The owner was prepared to help with conversion costs, so it was decided to go ahead and prepare the new theatre for the Festival of August that year.
A theatre with flexible seating for 120 was created on the third floor of the premises, with a bar, box office, dressing rooms and other facilities on the second floor. The cost came to £19,000: £11,000 from Dr Butterworth the owner, £3,000 from the Scottish Arts Council for lighting and sound equipment, and £5,000 raised through an appeal. Gaining a performance licence by the skin of its teeth, the new theatre was opened by Jennie Lee, Minister for the Arts, on 24 August, 1969. The Traverse Theatre remained in the Grassmarket, until it moved to the current purpose-built building on Cambridge Street in 1992.
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