Home / Arts and Entertainment / Citizens Theatre Secures Vital Funding
Citizens Theatre Secures Vital Funding
25 Mar
Summary
- Additional £3.5m funding aids theatre's seven-year redevelopment.
- Total government contribution now stands at £17.5m.
- The historic theatre reopened in August 2025 after extensive refurbishment.
The Citizens Theatre in Glasgow has secured further financial support from the Scottish government to finalize a seven-year redevelopment project. An additional £3.5 million has been awarded, increasing the total government contribution to £17.5 million for the significant national asset.
This latest funding addresses the remaining costs of an extensive refurbishment for the Gorbals-based theatre, which has been its home since 1945. The venue officially reopened in August 2025 after modernization efforts.
The refurbishment project, initially planned for three years, faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic and escalating costs. The overall expenses are now nearing double the initial £20 million estimate.
Culture Secretary Angus Robertson highlighted the theatre's importance as a key producing venue for western Scotland and a national asset employing around 120 staff. The chairwoman of the Citizens Theatre Board expressed deep gratitude for the funding, emphasizing the delivery of a transformed and accessible building.
Since its reopening last year, the theatre has welcomed over 50,000 visitors. The restoration preserved the historic auditorium and the UK's oldest surviving Victorian stage equipment, integrating it into a new three-storey structure featuring improved accessibility and backstage facilities.
