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 Interactive map of Royal Lyceum Theatre | |
| Address | 30B Grindlay Street |
|---|---|
| Location | Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Coordinates | 55°56′49″N03°12′16″W / 55.94694°N 3.20444°W /55.94694; -3.20444 |
| Owner | City of Edinburgh Council |
| Designation | Category A Listed building |
| Capacity | 658 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 10 September 1883 |
| Architect | C. J. Phipps |
| Tenants | |
| Royal Lyceum Theatre Company | |
| Website | |
| www | |
TheRoyal Lyceum Theatre is atheatre inEdinburgh, Scotland, named after theTheatre Royal Lyceum and English Opera House, the residence at the time of legendaryShakespearean actorHenry Irving. It was built in 1883 byarchitectC. J. Phipps at a cost of £17,000 on behalf of James B. Howard and Fred. W. P. Wyndham,[1] two theatrical managers and performers whose partnership became the renownedHoward & Wyndham Ltd created in 1895 by Michael Simons of Glasgow.[2][3][4][5]
With only four minor refurbishments, in 1929, 1977, 1991 and 1996, the Royal Lyceum remains one of the most original and unaltered of the architect's works.[6]
Opening night was 10 September 1883[7] with a performance ofMuch Ado About Nothing by the company of the London Lyceum Theatre, and starring Henry Irving andEllen Terry.[8]
In 1965, the building was purchased by the Edinburgh Corporation fromMeyer Oppenheim to house the newly formedRoyal Lyceum Theatre Company, who are now the permanent residents, leasing it from theCity of Edinburgh Council.[9]
The Royal Lyceum has been one of the principal venues for theEdinburgh International Festival since the festival's inception in 1947, its owners renting out the building for three weeks every August for visiting companies, and often for a further week toFringe companies.[9]
The Royal Lyceum has primarily been known for its provision of drama. It has also presented some significant opera, from the first tours ofCarl Rosa in the latter part of the 19th century, through to the early decades ofScottish Opera in the 1960s and 1970s. Some important operas received their first Scottish performance at the Lyceum, includingMadam Butterfly,Manon andDie Meistersinger.[10]
The theatre was the first in Britain to be fitted with an iron safety curtain, and the first in Scotland to use electricity for house lighting.[11]
David Greig took over from Mark Thomson as artistic director in 2016.[12] James Brining became artistic director in 2025.[13]
The theatre is believed to be haunted, and there have been sightings of a blue lady who is believed to beEllen Terry, the actress who performed at the Lyceum's first show. In addition, a shadowy figure has been reportedly seen high above the stage in the lighting rig.[14] Many sightings have been reported to have been accompanied by a ringing noise.
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