Skip to content
Home
Favourites
0
Advanced search
Shopping cart
0
Register
Log in
Images of Edinburgh
Browse map
Area A - Z
Browse by date
Exhibitions
Current exhibition
All exhibitions
Collections
About the collections
Browse by theme
Subject A - Z
The image library for the collections of Edinburgh Libraries and Museums and Galleries
Images of Edinburgh
Browse map
Area A - Z
Browse by date
Exhibitions
Current exhibition
All exhibitions
Collections
About the collections
Browse by theme
Subject A - Z
Subject matches "Lighting" or its children
Back to search results
Traverse little theatre, West Bow
McGarry, Paul, 1992, Photograph
Item
of 508
Traverse little theatre, West Bow
Traverse little theatre, West Bow
Add to favourites
Share
Item record
About this image
Related
Location
Category
Library Item
Item no
27535
Title
Traverse little 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.
Exhibitions with this item
The Traverse Theatre at 50
Other views of this item
Related images
Related subjects
Places
>
Edinburgh Landmarks
>
Traverse Theatre
Places
>
Scotland
>
Edinburgh
Sport and leisure
>
Culture
>
Lighting
Sport and leisure
>
Culture
>
Stage
Sport and leisure
>
Culture
>
Theatres
More like this
Rights and purchasing
Option
Price
Digital File
Electronic file 72 dpi JPEG
£7.32
(inc. VAT 20%)
Add
Digital File
Electronic File 300 dpi TIFF
£37.20
(inc. VAT 20%)
Add
You can view and use digital images for personal and educational use. For more information, read our
policy on image use
.
If you wish to use our images for commercial use, please
contact us
.
The image library for the collections of Edinburgh Libraries and Museums and Galleries The image library for the collections of Edinburgh Libraries and Museums and Galleries