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 Interactive map of Gordon Aikman Lecture Theatre | |
| Full name | Gordon Aikman Lecture Theatre |
|---|---|
| Former names | George Square Theatre |
| Address | 32George Square |
| Location | Edinburgh, Scotland, UK |
| Coordinates | 55°56′34″N3°11′18″W / 55.9429°N 3.1882°W /55.9429; -3.1882 |
| Owner | University of Edinburgh |
| Type | Theatre |
| Capacity | 481[1] |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1970 |
| Architect | Robert Matthew, Johnson-Marshall and Partners |
| Structural engineer | Blyth & Blyth |
TheGordon Aikman Lecture Theatre is a category Blistedperforming arts andlecture theatre located in the historicGeorge Square inEdinburgh. Primarily operated as a lecture theatre for theUniversity of Edinburgh, it is also used for general theatre performances, as well as being a designatedEdinburgh Fringe Festival venue.
In 2018 the university changed the name of the theatre—previously known as George Square Theatre—in memory ofGordon Aikman, a graduate of the university'sbusiness school who raised more than £500,000 for research funding intomotor neurone disease.[2][3]
Construction of themodernist style theatre was completed in 1970, and it opened to the general public the same year. Its seating capacity of 481 makes it the university's largest lecture facility and an asset to the busyEdinburgh Festival Fringe. Since 2011, and while a venue for the Fringe, the theatre was under the branding ofAssembly Group, an events promotion company responsible for the operation of Edinburgh's main Fringe venues, which had moved from their original base at George Street in the city. Subsequently, during the Festival the theatre was branded Assembly George Square Theatre.[4]
The theatre's location has allowed its use and popularity to increase, being situated near theQuartermile district development in the grounds of the oldEdinburgh Royal Infirmary, along with the building and development of new University of Edinburgh facilities. The theatre can also be seen and accessed fromthe Meadows, a large park popular with tourists and students.
Due to the building's striking standalone appearance, it has been a popular location for filming and productions, with thefacade often changed to suit different purposes.[5]
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