Councillors will meet to accept plans for the renovation of Perth Theatre.
The venue is set to close its doors for two years in January for a £14.5 million upgrade. When the theatre reopens in 2016, its B-listed Edwardian auditorium will have been returned to its former glory.
The transformation of the 114-year-old building will see the period features restored and offer improved visitor access throughout.
Additional creative learning and youth spaces will boost the theatre’s already thriving community programme. And it’s hoped the creation of a studio theatre will bring a new range of drama and music events to the city.
While the interior will be restored, the exterior will change drastically, adding to the regeneration of Mill Street.
The building will be spun around 180-degress with a new entrance and extension created at what is currently the rear of the theatre.
The structure will provide new space and help create a greater link between the theatre and Perth Concert Hall. The scheme has the backing of The Theatre Trust, which was set up to preserve the UK’s theatres.
In a letter to Perth and Kinross Council, the society said theatres across the country need substantial development if they are to keep pace with the public’s expectations and the needs of performers and producers.
It said the new facilities would enable Perth Theatre to reach out to wider audiences and provide a broader range of performance and events, including community-based work and educational activities.
Just one letter of objection to the plans has been submitted to the council, citing construction dust and noise and overlooking, but council officers are recommending approval of the works.
Perth Theatre is one of Scotland’s oldest and most respected theatres, with an important place in the history of Scottish theatre, becoming home to Scotland’s first repertory theatre company in 1935 and playing a leading role in the development of staging, makeup and costumery.