Act now to help save the King's

IN her time, legendary names such as Sir Noel Coward, Dame Maggie Smith and Sir Sean Connery all trod the boards of the Old Lady of Leven Street. Yes, back in its heyday, the King's Theatre was the place to be seen. Back then it was an emporium of music, drama and comedy, and a bustling testament to the magical nature of live entertainment.

Today, outwith the always-busy panto season, full-house signs are rare at theatres – especially in Edinburgh, where the sheer number of venues competing for "bums on seats" means there just aren't enough theatre-goers to go round.

This is one of the reasons that the King's, which once operated throughout the year, now lies dark for months at a time.

Indeed, since 2002, when it was estimated that a massive £14 million overhaul would be required just to bring the fabric of the building up to scratch, flagging audiences and a lack of investment have seen the much-loved venue slip into what has been described by some as "terminal decline".

That the end could be near for the venue known as The People's Theatre was first highlighted six years ago in a report by architect Colin Ross. It identified problems such as poor disabled access, sub-standard dressing rooms, cramped seating and ill-equipped catering facilities.

Then, the plan was for an initial refurbishment to address these issues in time for the venue's 100th birthday in 2006. But when the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Scottish Arts Council turned down an £8m funding bid, that plan was put on hold, where it has remained ever since.

But just when it appeared time was finally running out for the 102-year-old venue, today's welcome news that the building has met with safety regulations has thrown the theatre a much-needed lifeline just when it needed the most.

Last month, the building's owners, Edinburgh City Council, revealed that money for any upgrade could not be spent until at least 2010-2011, despite fears that the condition of the building's electrics may force it to close within the next two years on safety grounds. Those serious concerns have now been put to rest after the survey carried out by engineering consultancy Irons Foulner found the electrical equipment poses "no imminent threat" over the next couple of years.

But while it may grant The King's a stay of execution, it changes little in the long term. Without available funding, perhaps the time has come for the council to consider seriously one of the more drastic alternatives suggested in the Edinburgh Theatre Strategy report, out in 2004.

The report cautioned: "It may be necessary to consider radical options, including negotiating an arrangement with a commercial promoter, such as Ambassadors Theatre Group (ATG) although such an arrangement would certainly need to be underpinned by a subsidy."

That is exactly what Glasgow City Council (GCC) did when faced with a similar dilemma with its own King's Theatre, at the start of the new millennium. The deal struck in that case, in which the GCC pays ATG an annual subsidy of £400,000 as part of a 21-year management contract, saw audiences increase by 20 per cent in the first year under ATG management and a further 17 per cent in 2003/4. The number of weeks the theatre is open has also increased – up from 35 in 2001/2 to the current 48.

So successful was the arrangement that ATG was also granted a lease to operate the nearby Theatre Royal. Audience figures soared there too – from around 90,000 in 2004/5, when it was operated by Scottish Opera, to 136,000 in 2006/7.

Handing over the running of the Glasgow King's also allowed for the exterior of the building to be fully cleaned and repaired, and for the installation of external floodlighting. A major programme to completely restore the interior of the building is also planned.

Is it time our own city council cut its losses and followed suit? The Edinburgh King's would surely be an asset to any theatre group, whether it be ATG, or Live Nation, which owns the Playhouse.

Then there's Andrew Lloyd Webber. He once spoke of expanding his own Really Useful Theatre Group outside of London's West End. If he ever revisits that notion, the King's could be perfect for him.

Situated on the site of the old Drumdryan Brewery and Leven House, the King's Theatre was initially commissioned by the Edinburgh Building Company, but the firm failed during construction and the project was finished by developers WS Cruickshank.

On completion in 1906, the theatre was advertised as a House of Variety, with no fewer than 2500 seats. In 1950, that capacity was reduced to 1530 when structural alterations saw the removal of the top balcony – the Gallery.

The theatre was bought by Edinburgh Corporation in 1969, and 16 years later a £1.25m refurbishment further reduced seating to 1350. Thirteen years on, in 1998, operation of the venue was handed over to the newly formed Festival City Theatres Trust, which continues to run the venue for the council.

Whatever course of action the council chooses, it must decide soon. Once the curtain has fallen on the King's stage for the last time, it will be even more difficult to resurrect the once great venue.