Reviews of Festival Theatre. (Other) in Edinburgh (Edinburgh).
Festival Theatre
13-29 Nicolson St, Edinburgh EH8 9FT, United Kingdom
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Information of Festival Theatre, Other in Edinburgh (Edinburgh)
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Reviews of Festival Theatre
S. A.Fantastic night out watching....Remembering the Oscars. Amazing dancing, great music, what a show.
Lovely theatre, drinks at the bars are very reasonable priced and all the staff were friendly and helpful.
K. B.Amazing place, brilliant shows, must visit if you stay in Edinburgh!
T. M.Excellent theatre, been here a few times most recently for the Nut Cracker. Whilst beautiful inside, the seats themselves aren't too conformable and a bit small.
E. B.Great seeing Sarah Millican but extortionate drinks!!!
£12 for a wine and coke, come ok folks. Good staff though
G. J.Very well organised venue. Smaller stage means your right in the thick of the action. This was Stricky come dancing the professionals.
Ps the never checked my tickets before entry Very trust worthy?
M. B.We had a lovely evening at the Festival Theatre for a performance of Everybody's Talking About Jamie. A special mention goes to Susan who greeted us most delightfully as we entered and helped us get boosters for the girls seats.
i. m.Great theatre. Staff are lovely. Good combination of modern exterior, and lovely, old fashioned, traditional theatre space. We saw Beautiful. It was great
H. T.Really nice venue, friendly staff and a nice red wine on offer, booking top ups for half time great idea, really nice theatre
R. M.Great theatre and so happy to finally see Fascinating Aida. Will be back for other shows. Staff are always helpful.
G. S.An awesome theatre to perform in - such a pleasure to be a part of the 2022 Edinburgh Fringe!
L. S.Went to see The Osmonds story this afternoon. Enjoyed the show and the venue
C. P.First night of the Gang Show. Staff were all very helpful and place was clean and tidy throughout. Expensive for beverage. Toilets clean and tidy but as usual some punters do not wash their hands. No wonder germs thrive because of people's poor hygiene. Great show though. Kids put some effort in. We'll done to the cast and crew.
F. M.Beautiful traditional theatre with a very modern exterior. The staff are very helpful and the seating is typically good.
c. m.Went to watch Sarah Millican tonight. Great show and the venue was lovely . Helpful staff on hand .
M. R.Went to see the Osmonds musical it was amazing so good everyone in it was fantastic
G. B.Caught the final performance of Scottish Ballet's homage to Gene Kelly, 'Starstruck '. A fabulous show in this beautiful theatre. Staff are so helpful, facilities are top class and there's a lovely cafe/coffee Dock in the foyer where you can chat and chill before or after the show.
S. N.A beautiful theatre, great place for a classical concert.
P. G.Lovely theatre inside. Staff were friendly and polite. Plenty toilets too. Saw Six the musical, brilliant
T. C.A wonderful theatre, we love every performance we have been to over the years. It's always got a great buzz about it.
H. D.Second visit here on our holiday. Once to see a valentines musical extravaganza and a Morecambe and Wise show. Easy enough to find, comfortable, good view, great sounds, will return when I'm on my next holiday
S. M.Went and seen the Oti Mabuse ( l am here tour) absolutely brilliant 👏
Staff were great very friendly 👍
The only disappointment was the fact you couldn't use money to buy anything!! This is not great IMO you should be able to pay anyway you like!!!
M. M.Have visited the festival theatre many times but this was the first time since covid. We came out to see Jim Eoin stand up but I was surprised there were no distancing measures in the seating. I expected some empty seats between patrons. Having strangers sitting beside me with no mask on was a bit unsettling. Sure enough, my friends and I tested positive a few days later. This is the first bigger event I've been at in two years and I think it was a mistake. If I'd known how busy it was going to get I would have walked out earlier.
O. V.Went there to watch A Little Life play. Had a great time. The theatre is pretty nice.
N. S. (.Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake - outstanding production in a fabulous venue. Sat in the upper circle, seats comfortable, good sight lines. Looking forward to being back
C. S.Great theatre . First time there and will not be my last . Staff all pleasant and accomodating . Seating comfortable . No long waits at bar or for soft drinks and sweets . Toilet's clean and well kept . All in all a really good experience and great day spent here . Would highly recommend .
s. c.Beautiful theatre. Les Miserables was fantastic great staging good venue.
A. M.We attended the theatre to see Grease the Musical for a matinée performace. Our original seats were excellent. However, as the seats around us filled up it became clear that most people were not interested in wearing face masks. We approached a member of staff about the situation, and what they advised was move to another row that had vacant seats surrounding it. We did this but details issued by the theatre states that face masks should be worn within the building. This rule is not being adhered to or monitored and we found it quite frightening within this setting.
The show itself was brilliant and we all thoroughly enjoyed it, but it was marred by this one detail.
A. M.Good view. Easy access
s. k.Lovely theatre. Great atmosphere. Saw Les Miserables for the first time ever. I wasn't disappointed.
G. W.Great show tonight, Simon and Garfunkel through the years. Fabulous music played expertly. Stopped off at the cafe in the foyer first, very busy but service is quick and friendly, prices reasonable so no complaints. The auditorium is spacious as is the stage so despite seating almost 2000 people there's a feeling of space around you. Very good acoustics and comfy seats made for a good evening.
Z. O.Went to see the Rambert Aisha and Abhaya, and it was the first show I saw in the last 2 years! Every second of it was worth it! It is indeed an intense and intoxicating theatrical performance.
A. A.What an excellent well produced show Hamlet was amazing technically it was almost flawless it was quite an experience
A. M.Saw the musical Anything Goes here absolutely fantastic show lovely theatre had a wonderful time
C. M.Great shows. Seating is comfy enough with good visibility of the stage. There is a cafe, although it wasn't serving food when we got there and a bar. Prices for shows are reasonable.
J. E.This is a brilliant venue with lots of space for wheelchairs.
J. G.Wonderful theatre with a wonderful panto show
R. S.Panto visit it great and easy to navigate around building
R. P.Attended last night 18/03/2022 - To see Six the musical
Premises spotless
Hand gel avail on walking in
Staff all wearing masks
Staff all very helpful
Could not fault the visit
One wee gripe £2.50 for a can of cola
A. G.Love this theater it's so beautiful inside
R. L.One of Edinburgh’s great theatres. Try and get a back stage tour if you can. The stage is huge!
M. “. G.Fantastic place to visit . Such nice cultural events in Edinburgh lovely old building.
A. A.Went to see the Gang Show here and it was AMAZING!!
D. L.Lovely cafe. We popped in for lunch and had soup and a salad. Hearty and healthy food at reasonable prices. Definitely recommend a visit here.
c. g.Fabulous shows, brilliant , helpful , cheery staff
S. M.Just bought tickets in advance & ate in cafe. Ticket purchase very easy & efficient. Cafe has a limited snack menu. Had croissant with ham & cheese, toasted. Croissant was burnt on outside & cheese was cold inside!! Staff were very friendly & helpful just a poor toasted croissant! Shame! Otherwise its a pleasant cafe for coffee & buns!!
E. S.Absolutely packed out,Six was fantastic, but I was deeply disappointed at many of the audience who were not wearing masks despite the announcement that it's still guidelines in Scotland, no wonder the numbers are so high.
M. H.Great night & lovely place. Staff very friendly, couldn't do more.
P. T.Enjoyed the place, the atmosphere, the care taken by the staff in welcoming and in serving refreshments, let alone the rich music and drama of the ballet itself.
L. S.Absolutely wonderful enjoyed my night
J. S.The staff are friendly and the theatre is good. Prices for snacks and such can be costly, but that’s expected.
d. d.A smart modern front to the building with some outdoor seating; inside a nice ground floor bar area. Inside is an old theatre which has reasonably comfortable seat with a good view of the stage. What made it for me were the staff who were efficient, polite and helpful. Would I return, oh yes loved it. The music was great too.
M. V.Great theatre, with good views (no pillars). A good place to see local or national shows.
O.Excellent theatre, but the drinks were extortionate!!
A. B.First time here. Really friendly chatty staff. Beautiful inside, great sound acoustics. Very good bar prices. Will definitely come again.
8.Cracking venue good views good seats nice bar.
E. C.A lovely place - modern on the outside, Vintage on the inside, the best of both worlds. As you enter the building you truly are with each step you take stepping back into a different era where glamour and class and craftsmanship was in buildings like this in abundance. A lovely night out.
M. B.Lovely a delight to go to shows here
C. F.Great theatre if a little expensive for drinks, but The Crucible was a fantastic show!
C. P.Attended to see "Six" last night. A very novel concept in the wives of Henry V111. The singing was impressive but spoken words a bit unclear. Enjoyable
C. C.Great venue, loads of leg room in the seats. Everything was clean. Staff very friendly.
K. P.Great place , lovely for family adventures ,
A. M.Best musical I have ever seen. The Carol King Story. Amazingly talented actors and musicians. Thank you.
A. 8.Great venue to go to, worth a show to see
N. F.Love this theatre. It always has a personal and friendly atmosphere. My husband and I went to see The Last Ship and we had a brilliant night. The cast, the staging and the musical were excellent. Never seen a bad show there yet.
A. N.Been here a few times now and every time has been brilliant. Even with a technical hutch in the first half of our performance did not dampen our enjoyment.
We saw Ghost the Musical which was good but the location helped us enjoy it with the atmosphere.
Went to see Everybodys Talking About Jamie #JamieTour 31/03/2022 brilliant performance and still a great venue.
S. P.Great fun plenty to see and do very welcoming people.
h. b.Yet another great visit to see another amazing production . However not able to give my usual 5 stars for a visit as once production ended went to use the ladies rest room only to be told were closed as water supply issue and the only alternative the staff could suggest was to use one off the toilets at an eatery across road which I found totally unacceptable as did not wish to buy and food or drink to be able to use such as had a time line to get down for tram to pick up car at ingilston Park n ride to get home in time to Fife so wasn't a comfortable travel home .
D. D.Great modern theatre converted from old bingo Hall which was old theatre before that. Good size but not too big. Stalls are best for good view I think.
C. K.Brilliant night at strictly, loved the festival theatre, great seats.
f. l.Brilliant evening. Very organised and calm environment.
M. A.Loved it. Great panto as always
E. B.Nice theatre went and see dirty dancing here
C. M.Absolutely wonderful, show was great and staff were very helpful. Only thing I would say is drinks are very expensive, 1 coffee and prosecco was over 10 00 but it was lovely 😄
m.Excellent theatre, value for money.,
P. G.this was my wife and i fourth visit to this fabulous venue since it's glass frontage was installed. the staff are very friendly and extremely helpful. the way the seating is laid out helps to create a great atmosphere in the auditorium. this is definitely one of the best venues Edinburgh has to offer.
B. F.Wonderful show last night,24/01/20,Simon and Garfunkel Through the years. Very talented musicians and a fabulous show,a wonderful journey with some of S&G best songs. Lucky enough to meet the guys after the show and bought some merchandise. Very nice modest guys. Great talent.
R. F.I just loved this place! It's a perfect sized theatre that provides a lovely experience for watching a performance
L. B.Friends reunion to The Osmonds! Loved the show, seats in the stalls were great. Lovely bar, fast moving toilet queue, clean and bright. Fantastic atmosphere.
G. W.Very nice. Loads of space in the foyer, easy access, seat are uncomfortable but they're no more uncomfortable than any other theatre seats.
We sat in they top section and still got a great view of the show. It's not too high.
P. G.Another excellent production by Scottish Ballet.
W. L.Fabulous show (Grease) but moreover thank you to the wonderful staff who looked after us (my wife is in a wheelchair), from booking to arrival through to leaving, we were very well catered for by a really friendly team - thank you!
G.Went to see Miss Saigon yesterday and was brilliant! The best show I’ve ever seen with such a big production and talented cast. Traveled with my grandma who is in a wheelchair and the theatre staff were so great helping us to our seats. Theatre is also beautiful. Would recommend this theatre and show to anyone.
S. D.Lovely theatre. Great shows.
F. R.Wonderful performance . Relaxed but efficient and helpful Front of House team. Due to arthritis I do need some assistance, which was given immediately and in a friendly, natural manner. Very positive experience.
J. R.Just took the whole family, us plus kids 6-16, to see Singin in the Rain...it was fabulous!
J. F. H. C. -. 4.Not as uncomfortable as people make out! Could have a little more leg room, but really far from the worst theatre I have been to. From reviews I had read I was dreading sitting here. Seats are perfectly comfortable. Now for a brilliant show.🎭
S. W.Offers the best views and has the most generous leg room than any other theatre I've been to in Edinburgh.
J.A fantastic venue, with friendly staff and great shows. We saw Six there and thoroughly enjoyed the amazing show. Seems like a popular venue as it was very busy when we were there. Feels quite modern in the atrium and it's nice all the way to the upper floors too.
F. M.Excellent performance by The National Theatre of Scotland of Rhona Munro's James IV - Queen of the Fight. Great theatre with good staff and lovely cafe and bars.
M. P.Was at Saturday evening show of Ghost & was delighted with everything from booking to theatre & staff. The performance was incredible. Was keen to see show but couldn't think how the movie would translate to live show: It did, amazingly so. The singing, acting, set & acoustics were fantastic. Loved theatre & will definitely be back.
S. W.Great theatre. Nice to hear a proper orchestra and not just playback.
Gents toilets a bit smelly, but nothing a few channel blocks couldn't fix.
Good sight lines to stage. Will be back.
L. C.Went to see Jimmy Carr here,seats were great, unobstructed view. Lovely place, recommend!
R. C.WOW ... A very beautiful and elegant location. Dream atmosphere.
S. C.Attended here with my son to see The Nutcracker ballet. My first ever ballet performance and I wasn't disappointed. I hope to return again next year.
N. R.Great night. Love the festival theatre, it's a great venue and easy to get to
A. L.Amazing theater with first class staff.
Went to see the CBBC show for the kids. Right in the heart of the city centre.
Nothing was too much trouble for the staff, place was very nice.
Only gripe is the Theater were supposed to validate our car parking ticket so we got a discounted rate on parking, which is expensive in the centre. They said they couldn't do it as ran out of allowance?
P. N.Great venue helpful staff no masks wine sauvignon blanc very pleasant but expensive .You pay £1 for each recycle cup return and get money back at the end
M. B.Great place to watch theatre; fantastic staff and just general good vibes. Six was AMAZING.
D. H.Great venue for many types of show. We went to see The Nutcracker this time, but we have seen modern dance and dramas here in the past.
Although the frontage is of a modern glass design, the interior is very traditional. The seating for the upstairs bars overlooks the street below - for people watchers it's a great viewpoint!
In summary, if you get the chance go to see a show here, you won't be disappointed!
S. Z.Lovely venue , all seats I've taken even restricted view have been more than worth the view. Sound system sometimes a little different for bass singers .
F. R.The Festival Theatre has a very wide spacious foyer and equally spacious areas on each floor. The staff are pleasant and welcoming. Perhaps the first row of the gallery is not as good a choice having limited visibility due to the metal bar running across the front.
A.Staff were very helpful. Show we saw was amazing! Aways a great night out
A. T.Excellent theatre, lovely staff who were friendly and helpful and the theatre itself was impressive.
We went to see Dirty Dancing, which is superb.
P. B.Still some aspects of Don Giovanni
need to be tidied up, but overall very convincing
E. A.Went to see Ghost! Absolutely fantastic show, definitely recommend
M. F.I come very often to the theatre as they have some really nice shows and concerts that I truly enjoy going to. The staff is very friendly and keen to help and the theatre inside is beautiful and you can take really nice pictures and selfies! They have two bars in defence laws where you can enjoy a glass of wine and many other different drinks, including coffee! There is a restaurant in the ground floor in which you can definitely have dinner before your show :-) enjoy!
i. c.Went to see Caberet and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Great show in a super venue with good views of the stage, clear sound quality and a great atmosphere. The bar staff were friendly and very efficient, as were all the other staff. Great night out!
W. D. B.Great family show. 🥳🥳
J. B.Just been to see Les Miserables at the festival theatre. What a show! The whole ensemble were fantastic, night and day compared to the last time I went to see it in Edinburgh many moons ago.
The theatre was clean and tidy as usual and the staff always helpful in getting everyone seated as quickly as possible. Although being an Ayrshire boy I don't appreciate being charged nearly a tenner for 2 rum and coke.
Overall a great night though.
T.The ushers are incredibly helpful and friendly. The theatre is beautiful and very well laid out.
M. Z.It is very nice venue. Really proper theater. Lovely coffee shop, comfortable seats, very friendly staff.
C. k.Can't fault this place, went to see Jimeoin, an Irish comedian, very funny, seats were perfect, clean toilets, 2 large bars, had a great night. The outside of the building is glass, so quite modern in its surroundings. Easy to find.
k. p.The auditorium feels like a beautiful, traditional theatre but with a modern foyer and toilets!
m. p.What a brilliant night ,staff are amazing dirty dancing was amazing, the only down side was they don’t sell irn bru I had to take another kind of juice for my vodka that was disappointing ,other than that such a great night.
B. H.The place is big , beautiful old theater. Nice and friendly personnel, very beautiful place. The seats are very old, old style theater. You'll find all the facilities inside, including the bar to eat or drink something. We found a good price as well for the show, buying the group on coupon, so it was also cheap. There are many shows of movies, very good and rich timetable.
R. B.Great atmosphere, well maintained and good facilities. This all means your focus is on the show and there are no distractions or irritants. Staff were all friendly helpful and polite from the booking office, bar, programme seller, ice cream vendor, or merchandise stands. I have been to a few shows now and this has been a consistent experience every time.
J. M.Great show and very helpful staff in cafe as we had a mix up with tickets...
I.Went to the Festival theatre to see Ghost the musical and loved the show!
The theatre itself was well laid out with access for disabled visitors too.
Our experience at the theatre was disrupted however from start to finish by another member of the audience who seemed intoxicated and started rolling on the floor. Even though the staff walked this individual out of the theatre, they were allowed back in and unfortunately their behaviour did not improve. So hope that stricter rules are applied to disruptive theatre goers in the future.
E. C.Went to see silent film original Nosferatu accompanied with piano. Great night. Pianist brill makes up music as he goes to suit film. Seats not very comfy. Check out brochure, not just a theatre for big shows there are other things being shown.
s. s.Great venue - even thought it's large there are so many good seats and you never feel too far from the stage. Bit of a rammy on the lower floors before a show but head up to the upper floors and there is more space to hang about before the show starts. There are sometimes some temporary exhibitions up there too so worth a look as well as an excuse to stretch your legs!
T. P.Lovely theatre and great staff. The only problem I have is there isn't enough female toilets. My friend and I went to the bathroom during the break, as does most people, but we didn't get in as the queue for the female toilets was too long.
H. M. L.Great place for entertainment lovely venue staff friendly.
e.There for the annual family panto, which is usually at the Kings.
Larger and, frankly, better theatre.
Enjoyed immensely. Bar area larger and modern.
E. S.Fantastic night. Great atmosphere. Staff were well prepared for the large crowd. They were very helpful and polite.
J. D.Beautiful old theatre, comfortable seats with plenty leg room.
M. A.Always love going to this theatre. Seats are not the best but It wouldn't have the same feel if they were brand-new. Just make sure if you need leg room you pick your seats carefully.
K. F.Lovely theatre. Unfortunately we were in the nose-bleeds which made it difficult to see anything clearly. You were just too far away. Best to get seats lowers down I think. Also not many toilets per level. Always a queue & they didn't flush well. Not a huge problem, just a point.
T. M.Visited the Festival Theatre on 2nd March with 3 friends for the evening performance of Ghost.
We were really impressed by the theatre, the staff, both front of house and bar staff.
Beautiful theatre and wonderful production of Ghost. First class settings and acting. Fabulous overall
C. H.Lovely theatre, very sensibly had coffee and water available by the bar saving the usual long wait for a drink. Very clean theatre, sound is very good too. I really enjoy visiting the Festival Theatre.
M. C.Been to see Six today, lovely theatre and great view from most seats.
T. V.Large theatre with a real buzz. Saw the recent MACBETH production there and loved it. Don't believe the negative reviews. This was adventurous theatre with a modern dystopian twist on the Scottish Play. Like this venue for the atmosphere and the obviously quite discerning patrons who know what they like but will take occasional risks.
A. L.I always enjoy my visit to the Festival Theatre. The staff are always so welcoming and helpful. This visit I'd my two nieces with me who'd never been there before and they said the same thing and now want to go back. Another 2 theatre goers!!
K. F.Another fabulous show in the bag
S. V.Saw Snow Queen for Xmas - good seating, good crowd flow and bar/icecream/hang out area downstairs. All round a nice, festive experience!
W. B.Nice venue and we had a great time but be prepared to take out s second mortgage if you plan to get a round of drinks in.
D. Y.This is an absolutely stunning theatre to visit, from the very entrance through the glass fascade to the beautiful classically designed theatre in the inside. I've been to corporate events hosted in the lobby upstairs, to which the fabulous view of outside through the wall of window was incredible and there was plenty of space for guests.
I've also been to visit the opera perform here too. Easily kept up with the plot with subtitles and enjoyed the performances immensely in comfortable surroundings.
M. K.Went to see the Grinch musical, it was amazing! Great vibe, only thing is if your sitting in the front there is very little leg space! So definitely go for a stretch during the interval!
D. K.Great venue, staff fabulous facilities excellent
C. R.Great theatre with fantastic performances. Very smooth from entry to performance to exit.
A. R.Fantastic theatre. I had the privilege of seeing Richard Alston ballet's last performance. Truly breathtaking. Very lucky to have this amazing venue on our doorstep!
S. E.Very spacious. Clean facilities. Went to see the Cbeebies kids show with the wee one. Although the lines seemed really long, the staff was very efficient and processing was quick. Also has an electronic bus schedule inside so you can know when your next bus is approaching without going outside.
p. f.Great venue. Reasonable drink prices - very helpful staff
M. S.Well organised staff pleasant and helpful was my first night out after covid and we felt safe and a had a great night
C. E.Great theatre in Edinburgh. Looks like the original theatre with a new front on it but just guessing at this. Reasonably priced if you leave it until the day you want to go before booking. Helpful booking assistant. Drinks reasonably priced. Good time had by all. Ps we went to see the nativity 😊
I. F.A great night at the Scottish Ballet production of The Snow Queen.
w.Festival Theatre is a lovely venue. The Cafe Bar is really good as well.
S. F.Saw the Simon and Garfunkel tribute act recently, and they were really very good. I do have issues though with people filming everything on their phones. It's very annoying for anyone sitting behind them, and my experience would have been better if this wasn't allowed. Also people were getting up and leaving their seats all the time, literally every minute. What was that all about? First time I've ever noticed that. Sorry, doing my Victor Meldrew impersonation here...!
c. P.Fabulous ballet so enjoyable with talented dancers
Bar was fast at service
Bathrooms really clean.
Checking in was friendly amd fast
S. C.Great productions (I see a lot of ballets and they're almost always here) and a big range of facilities - a number of bars and toilets means few queues. It can be tricky finding parking nearby but you're in the city centre so it's no surprise and the bus links are great.
T. P.Great theatre good cafe downstairs great variety of shows well worth a visit
S. V.Saw the Greatest Showman here it was amazing
D. C.Comfortable venue with a great wee cafe/bar.
D. l.Ross Noble show as always brilliantly funny. Great venue with comfy seats and affordable drinks
a. D.Scottish Ballet new Coppelia - breathtaking!
K. C.Great theatre and shows.
B. L.Went with my wife , Daughter, son-in-law and 2 Grandsons we all had a great time at the pantomime It was brilliant and I would recommend the festival theatre.
T. W.As you come through the front door , to the left of the main stairs there are stairs going down. That's were the coat check is. Free. Nice bar , food over priced but hey what do you expect. If you go to the theatre alot , I would recommend becoming a friend , you get discounts.
H. M.Very pleasant experience in this theatre. The Willows maybe wasn't our type of musical but it was very well acted, danced, and sung. The theatre itself was very welcoming.
A. S.Took my 5 year old daughter. Staff were super nice and offered us better seats as tickets were returned on the day.
Great facilities, clean. Pricey but worth it on those special family occasions.
S. m.Excellent !!! we arrived early had something to eat not much choice for coeliac but the little we had was good. Glass if pasecco also v good and it was time to get out seats. The Ballet
Was good the second half the best captivating and memorable.
If you like the ballet it one to see (nutctacker)
C. R.We we're quite far back and could still see the stage perfectly well. Staff were extremely friendly.
s. k.The Edinburgh Festival Theatre (originally Empire Palace Theatre and later shortened to Empire Theatre) is a performing arts venue located on Nicolson Street in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is used primarily for performances of opera and ballet, large-scale musical events, and touring groups. After its most recent renovation in 1994, it seats 1,915. It is one of the major venues of the annual summer Edinburgh International Festival and is the Edinburgh venue for the Scottish Opera and the Scottish Ballet.
Nevertheless, given the long term competition from the growth of film as a popular medium, the theatre had to be re-equipped to present bigger and more spectacular shows. Reusing some of Matcham’s original design concepts, the theatre reopened on 1 October 1928 with the first production, the musical Show Boat. Between 1928 and 1963 the Empire was a variety, musical and opera house, often including ice shows.
Big names like Harry Lauder, Charles Laughton, Fats Waller, Joe Loss, and Laurel and Hardy appeared, while English comedians Max Wall, Morecambe and Wise and Harry Worth established themselves at the Empire.
In addition to the music hall and popular entertainers who appeared at the Empire, the theatre became a principal venue of the Edinburgh International Festival between 1947 and 1963. It was particularly associated with international ballet and, during the first Festival in 1947, Margot Fonteyn danced in The Sleeping Beauty, while in subsequent years, performances by the Old Vic theatre company, the Royal Ballet and the Royal Opera were presented.
However, for nearly thirty years after 1963 the theatre became a bingo hall, only temporarily serving as a Festival venue. In the early 1970s the venue shortened its name to simply the Empire Theatre and hosted live music events. Bands did not appear until after 11pm - once the bingo players had gone. Emerson, Lake & Palmer (December 18, 1971), Free (September 14, 1972), Wishbone Ash (December 9, 1972) and Focus (May 11, 1973) were among the acts appearing. Finally, after its third major remodeling, the Empire Theatre reopened in June 1994 with a glass-fronted structure for the new entrance (created by Law & Dunbar-Nasmith Architects), as the now-renamed Edinburgh Festival Theatre. In 1997, the theatre manager and artistic director Stephen Barry was appointed to shape the rejuvenated venue's future. With the restoration of the Empire Theatre’s former 1928 glory, plus a dramatic mix of art nouveau, beaux arts and neo-classicism, and including adequate acoustics, the new theatre serves the artistic needs of the community.
The theatre is said to be haunted by a tall, dark stranger rumoured to be the famous illusionist Sigmund Neuberger, a.k.a. The Great Lafayette, who was one of those who burned to death in the fire at the Empire in 1911.
G. D.The was a very good experience. Staff were very helpful and Ben when busy had time for customers. Little time before start of theatre staff made sure food was prepared in time but with same quality. Well done that lady who made it work.
R. F.Excellent restored theatre presenting major musicals, dance and opera. Originally named the Empire Palace Theatre built in 1892 (on site of former theatre) then following a fire in 1911 rebuilt and re-opened in 1928, and restored with new frontage and re-opened in 1994. Theatre hosts main Edinburgh International Theatre events and now also hosts Edinburgh International Film Festival Galas.
Theatre has great amenities and though seating can be slightly uncomfortable and film sound acoustic has been problematic, these are minor blemishes in what is otherwise a first rate venue.
One point to note: seats AA, BB & CC in stalls are raked in wrong direction and are higher than row A behind. Thus making sight lines slightly problematic for those in row A and possibly B. This is due to rows AA etc resting on the covered up pit which has a higher floor. No problem if orchestra pit is in and these seats removed.
S. R.The Festival Theatre is a beautiful building which hosts ballets, musicals, shows and plays.
There is a really decent amount of legroom even for tall people.
Easy to get to toilet and bar when there is an interlude and the bar offers ☕ tea and coffee, wine or beer and champagne or prosecco.
Love coming here. Last time visited we came to see Hansel and Gretel ballet which was amazing.
J. L.Visited here with my son to see ZOG, super impressed with how they have adapted to be covid safe. Can't wait to get back for another show soon.
K. G.Went to see the snow queen. Lovely event well organised. Seats were slightly uncomfortable for tall or larger people.
C.I am a wheelchair/motorised scooter user who loves going to the theatre. I have been to all the theatre in Edinburgh but I have to say that The Festival Theatre surpasses all of them for their Customer Service for everyone but especially for those with additional needs. From the moment you reach the front door they are on hand to help. I have been there many many times and no matter which staff are on duty the level of care is outstanding from taking you to your seats to bringing drinks to your seats at half time, to making sure you can get to the disabled access toilets, which a very roomy, I can not think of enough superlatives to give them. Suffice to say if you do go there you will be treated with great respect and have a most enjoyable visit not forgetting the excellent shows they put on. Wish I could give them a 6 star revue :D
C. D.The glass facade shows the care and attention this thearte has had. Once inside the decor is breathe taking, seats and views have always been excellent & the acoustics make any show a delight.. However the Scottish ballet productions are the best. I love this theatre hands down best in Edinburgh.
D. S.Excellent venue. Massive stage but still feels intimate. Good surtitles for operas. Very good sound system. Should be 6 out of 5.
However a significant negative issue is to do with getting refreshments. There is no point in trying to queue, (as many do), because the staff serve whoever shouts or pushes forwards. Since many of the audience are fairly elderly this was obviously very distressing for some people. Always stand at the front, even if the crowd us thickest there. It's as if nobody's told them that their professionalism is also part of the customer experience.
I complained but the staff, including one whi seened like a supervisor, did not accept what I said and actually ganged up on me, ignoring the queue. I'm 6'3" and 15 stone so I'm not easily intimidated but I imagine that a majority of the audience are fairly genteel and would be upset by such staff reactions to criticism.
Pity. This spoiled a good, and expensive, evening for a number of people there. (Oddly, the staff with vending trays only began appearing about 5 minutes after the big queue formed.)
J. C.Brilliant 👏 performance from cast of Beautiful ,lead singer was outstanding great show
C. W.Just had a lovely evening with my sister and Stephen fry great atmosphere clean and fresh. would have been nice if there was somewhere we could have got a coffee or tea, not everyone wants alcohol.
G. H.We enjoyed both the show we had booked see, but the seating was cramped, with ourselves and people around all saying the same. The staff were all helpful and friendly and we would defiantly return there.
J. v. R.The customer service was great. We missed the matinee as we thought the tickets we had were for the evening. We then phoned and asked if they would swap the tickets for evening tickets and they obliged. Thanks Festival Theatre Staff. Much appreciated.
K. C.Saw SIX here and loved it. It's surprising that its such an old theatre as from the outside it looks so new. Bars were efficient and the toilets were actually pretty good for a theatre!
F. C. H.Nice place, well organized. Great atmosphere!
G. C.A great theatre, easily accessible, and with helpful friendly staff.
M. H.Lovely atmosphere and beautiful ballet...BUT...whole theatre completely cashless including buying interval ice cream...bah humbug
C. C.Had a great time at Miss Saigon. The seats are small but no smaller than any other theatre. Could do with more tables and chairs in the bar areas. Other than that it is a great theatre
C. B.Spotlessly clean theatre, we ordered an interval drink via the app and there was a member of staff there to ensure that your drink wasn't picked up by someone else in error . Loads of ladies toilets which were also very clean
F. M.I have been to The Festival Theatre numerous times to watch the ballet and it is always so much fun.
A modern exterior hides the traditional theatre that it houses. Great facilities and top quality productions.
H. G.Saw Opera North perform Kiss Me Kate here on Saturday. Fabulous venue, handy box office, plenty of toilets to cope with the half time rush. A large glass of wine starts at £7 at the bar which is par for Edinburgh.
N. S.Beautiful theatre with lovely polite and friendly staff. The foyer is lovely and big and easily accommodates everyone for interval. Drinks were reasonably priced.
A. C.Very welcoming staff and a lovely theatre. Great seats four rows back and a fantastic concert by Russell Watson and company. We had a great time.
M. L.Excellent modern theatre in walking distance of the Royal mile and central Edinburgh. Bright spacious lobby with several bars and function rooms. Staff always helpful and plenty of them. This is one of the venues which puts on larger productions in Edinburgh. Has a "Friends" membership programme with its sister theatre (the King's theatre) with good offers including 50% off some performances.
L.Good venue, excellent accessibility, easy to find,lots of nearby cafes and bars for a pre show drink, reasonable toilets (not bad for such a large pkace) and good views from all areas of the auditorium Be warned though,don't go upstairs if you can't do heights and precipitous stairs!!
S. C.Always an enjoyable experience going to a performance at the Festival Theatre. In this case, Opera of the North's production of Kiss Me Kate. The seats are comfortable and the view of the stage excellent.
M. W.Great staff good show
c. e.Great show...Snow White and the seven dwarves
M. M.Very upscale building on the outside but inside there is a very 'traditional' theatre feel to it. Like the red carpets and the golden banisters. The size of the theatre is amazing also! :)
S. L.Saw Miss Saigon here on Friday 16th. I thought the quality of the production was on par with the West End of London. The theatre staff were really friendly and helpful, and there was a great selection of restaurants within easy walking distance.
B. B.Visited to see Sarah Millican, beautiful theatre with plenty of top class facilities. Amazingly efficient bar staff and all other staff only too happy to help. Will definately be checking out another show here soon.
A. M.Love the festival theatre. Went to see SIX brilliant show
A. P.Took in a blues gig recently and thoroughly enjoyed it. Staff are usually busy but are always professional and friendly. Been to few gigs here, usually a great sound too!!
J. H.Edinburgh Festival Theatre is a great venue that from looking at the forthcoming program whilst there to see the Slava Snow Show, provides an amazing cross section of shows and events. The facilities are modern and well looked after, the seating is comfortable and has provision for wheelchairs. The Cafe, open to the public, has a reasonable array of hot & cold drinks as well as beers & wines. Food is available ranging from nibbles & snacks to more substantial salads, filled rolls and soup of the day, which is available throughout the day not only pre-performance
W. J.This is one of Edinburgh's finest theatres, I have attended networking events here and also seen numerous shows and have always been impressed by the level of service you receive. The theatre hall itself is stunning and if you are attending a music show the acoustics are pretty good! There is always an array of events that take place here from Children's shows to ballets or the Jazz Festival. I subscribe to their newsletter and must admit that I always read it when it pops through my Gmail account unlike most other newsletters I subscribe to.
Top quality venue with top quality entertainment.
L. G.I went to miss Saigon last night and I thought that it was so good and I would see it again any day the seniory was so good and the acting was amazing where we were sitting on level 4 it was such a good area to sit well done to all that were in the show you all done amazing.
L. K.Fabulous theatre, very clean and accessible for all. We sat in row p8, 9 and 10 and they were fabulous seats. This is my second visit to this theatre and I will definitely return
S. S.Snow White panto brilliant
D. S.Went to see the Panto. More stage room than the Kings, so it was a better set, great fun, seats are a bit cramped though.
A. M.Excellent ballet good comfortable seats friendly staff and efficient service at the bar. Toilets were bright and clean. Found a parking space only one street away
S. F.Fabulous. I go, at this time, every year to the ballet. The seating ensures a clear view of the stage. Acoustics are great. Will be back next year.
E. C.I'm disabled and in a wheelchair,this is a great place to go to.very good disabled access.has a lift unfortunately only one disabled toilet,and the loo is very low.so people with limited mobility would struggle to use.the theatre has a lift a cafe on the ground floor.i think 8 or 9 wheelchair platforms.so great seats.staff are very helpful.booking disabled seats Is no problem,you have to book at the box office over the phone.this building is 127 yrs old but they have made it very disabled friendly.i would not hesitate to recommend the festival theatre to anyone.👍 10/10
m. s.This is my favourite theatre in Edinburgh. With a bar on every floor it's easy to get a drink.
I always do the £10 on the day ticket for under 25's and end up in the best seats in the house!
j. l.Went to see Stephen Fry's MYthos. If you get the chance, catch it, what a great show. Festival theatre is nice, wine is expensive and seats not particularly comfortable but it's convenient anď lots of restaurants around it.
Y. W.Fantastic time. Staff very helpful
A. P.Went to see Les Mis and every aspect of the visit was great EXCEPT the toilet facilities! For a theatre of this size the toilet situation is abominable. With a sold out production - twice a day for weeks - the queue at the interval meant that for nany this took up the entire break. At the 3 minute call people were still queuing. One disabled toilet!! Get this sorted.
ツ.Beautiful place ! Beautiful show ! The Festival Theatre is next to the Surgeon Hall Museum so it's easier for the tourists I think 😊. this place is modern, charismatic and the team is very helpful! when at the Scottish ballet, it's genal.
S. H.The stàff are most helpful and polite - I saw the new musical Six and the sound system was outstanding 👏
I. M.Was there a few years ago to see The Hobbit. The modern architecture is very impressive and due to it being a modern theatre there is plenty of leg room in the auditorium itself. Even in the cheaper seats you have a good viewpoint.
H. J.First time ever going bit expensive staff were polite very helpful went to see snow White it was amazing l have never laughed so much in all my life day out to forget for a while all that's going on in the world most definitely go again.
M. F.Amazing theatre first time ,it won't be my last
A. R.Gorgeous theatre. Great venue.
I. R.I went here with my girlfriend to watch the Scottish ballet perform Hansel and Gretel. Very good show in a good theatre. We had great views from the circle. Very enjoyable night
S. T.Lovely theatre and the staff are the best.
K. B.Auditorium excellent. Like the old style. Really enjoyed On Your Feet. Downside drinks here dearer than any theatre that I have been in London.
K. B.Saw Six here a few weeks ago, incredible show!
I. W.Large capacity theatre with a big stage, ideal for dance, musicals and opera. Auditorium is traditional style and contrasts with the bright and airy foyers. No parking onsite. Loads of bus routes stop outside.
C. P.Excellent theatre. All modern and up to date at front with old style auditorium and new seats. Very comfortable and good view from everywhere.
B. C.A great spot with interesting seating arrangements. Coffee was good most of the time although not always at a level I would recommend. Fluctuated between great and bad nothing in between.
e. w.Very good venue suitable for everyone.
H. J.Went to see snow White and the seven dwarfs it was amazing l have never laughed so much in all my life under the situation we all live with cost of living ect if you want to forget your worries for a while l recommend you go see a show.
L. M.Lovely theatre with excellent quality sound. Only negative is that there was no water in the bathroom taps and queues for the bar etc were very long.
We sat in the gods, which isn’t great for vertigo or anyone with access requirements but I was impressed that the quality of sound was still so good
D. M.Saw Snow Queen ballet; wonderful performance! 👍 scenery, music and costumes was wonderful. Would def. see again. Legroom is good.
S. K.Edinburgh's Festival theatre is a lovely place to catch what's going on in the world of performance arts. It has a wonderfully varied selection of shows and performers. Definitely worth a visit if coming to (or living in) Edinburgh. They also serve Mackie's ice-cream during the interval. 😉
c. e.Love the festival theatre so glad to be back seeing shows
N. M.With only 25 minutes to curtain up we arrived hopefully at the Festival Theatre Cafe in the foyer asking if there was anyway they'd be able to feed and water us pre-show. No problem was the reply with advice to go for the light dishes as they'd be quickest. We decided almost instantly and as our pints of lager and pots of tea hit our table they were taking the food order and assuring us we'd be sorted out in time.
I love Festival Theatre, the cafe looks right out onto the South Bridge and the bustle of Edinburgh walks by right there in front of you. The Big Red Tour Buses full of tourists waving into the crowds will paint a smile on the face of even the sternest coffee drinker. It is simply a magical place.
The food arrived and we were pleasantly surprised at how good it was; we'd chosen to eat there purely for convenience as we were running late for our matinee but this was bistro lunch at its very best. I had the pitta and homemade hummus and RG had the salmon brioche. It was all fresh, tasty and well priced at about £16 for both of us.
True to their word we were paying the bill as last call outs came out over the foyer and we made our way up the stairs and into our seats for Singing Into The Rain. Although a modern theatre (signs celebrating 20 years hung outside in the March rain), there is an old world class to the red and gold decor of the main auditorium. The bonus is though, that the seating is comfortable and well spaced. We were last minute stalls, and from the online booking I thought we were going to be in a neck-craning corner position. Not so, we had an amazing view of the stage and from where I was sitting it looked like you'd have been happy wherever you were.
Singing in the Rain was outstanding. It is a long time since I've seen musical theatre of this standard. We'd been to Priscilla at the Playhouse which I loved, but this was another level altogether. The clever set design and wonderfully authentic costumes were surpassed only by the talent of the cast. This production is proof that you do not need to travel to London to enjoy a top-notch West End Show. The atmosphere was bright and all encompassing; for me, Cosmo stole the show but its fair to say that each and everyone of the cast was worth the £50 ticket price.
I have signed up to the Festival Theatre mailing list on the strength of the cafe's homemade hummus and Cosmo's tap dancing. A perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon.
b. s.Nice theatre with a (albeit over-priced cafe.) I went here during EIFF and while service was good the seats don't have much legroom and it is pretty cramped and stuffy. However the theatre itself is beautiful and the films were good.
A. S.Great theatre space and wonderful production of Mozart's 'Magic Flute' by Scottish Opera to an amazingly full house. Well done Derek Clark and all of SO!!
l. b.Great place to go for all types of entertainment
M. D.Very pleasant environment. Great show. View and access are first rate. Staff are extremely friendly, helpful and efficient. Highly recommend this venue
R. G.Lovely theatre, great venue, very central!! Modern fell to the outside with all the glass but still the old fashioned theatre at the back!! Les Mis amazing!!
A. P.One of the loveliest theatres in the UK to sing in. Yes, it's a huge barn of a venue but I've done several Scottish Opera tours here and the audiences are very responsive.
P. M.Another great show there. Most people complying with covid-19 requirements. Bedknobs And Broomsticks was superb. The staging work for each scene really added to the enjoyment, breathtaking at times.
G. M.I saw the Hansel and Gretel ballet here and although the seats were quite far back they were so steep that the view was still great! Nice building in a neat area
M. G.Great Theatre, well organised and laid out with a wide selection of shows. Drinks and food a bit pricey but nothing out of the norm for a theatre. Only complaint, not the most comfortable seats!
L. L.Spacious seats , beautiful theatre. Great from from stalls in front
S. D.Really lovely atmosphere and easy access to all sections. Spacious stairs. A bit old school men's toilets. People just urinate on your feet!
C. S.Les Miserables was awesome. What a great cast and production show. If there was one little nigly bit, I would liked the singing a bit louder
S. L.Rite of Spring was the best thing I've seen this week. Stunning choreography. The way the dancers moved their bodies moved between control that seemed super human and crazy!
E. M.Striking modernist look to the exterior with a number of floors tol take in the view. Traditional theatre inside, excellent choice of performances and helpful friendly atmosphere
M. H.Beautiful listed auditorium behind a series of modern, spacious bars and foyers.
Go for world class opera, dance and theatre. Also host to EIFF, The Jazz Festival, EIF and more.
Great customer service.
m. m.It was GR8. Comfortable good view of action on stage. Had difficulty following script at times because of accents or lines so quietly/quickly spoken. Loved changing background ' banner'.
F. E.Excellent Theatre venue, pulls in the best shows from across the globe.
Staff are very professional, extremely helpful and show great knowledge about the theatre.
Would recommend highly!
R. M.A lovely theatre to go to, and fairly central as well. Watching the pantomime was a bonus . Really enjoyed it
E. D.First time for me and my daughter at the theatre. Enjoyed watching Cinderella ballet. Lovely venue and friendly staff. Would recommend to others.
M. T. L.Such a nice theatre. Seats could be a little bit more comfortable, but had an excellent night and staff were helpful.
J. S.The theatre is lovely and it's comfortable enough when you're sitting for a while. I also found that the view of the stage was very good for everyone
D. G.We'll orgainised and polite staff,really enjoyed the show as well. Dirty Dancing
M. E.Red wine not a bad price, but recommend bringing your own from sainsburys local at half the price (small bottles easier for the pocket) also the show was v enjoyable.
S. R.Great theatre. But no checks on tickets, vacc passport and just a quick glance in bags
S. G.Seen Bedknobs and Broomsticks, the cast earned their money, it was a fantastic show.
D. L.Lovely theater more comfortable and well maintained than some others, great show, drinks on the expensive side as to be expected.
a. m.Great venue, great show. (ISIHAC).
A. R.Favourite venue in Edinburgh. The theatre is beautiful, the seats are spacious and reasonably priced unlike the Edinburgh Playhouse. It is near some great restaurants such as Bansai or The Apiary and they host some really amazing productions. It is also worth going to the ballet at Christmas time as its not Christmas without this wonderful experience. In my opinion its the best venue in Edinburgh and if yiur stuck betweeb visiting a show at the Playhouse or Festival Theatre then choose Festival Theatre as you wont be disappointed and you will have an amazing experience.
Y. U.Went here to see Scandal at Mayerling. Beautiful venue with comfortable seats. Will definitely return the next time in Edinburgh.
L. A.Cheap seats have a hard back. V.uncomforable and no space to cross legs. Queue for womens toilet longer than minutes available at the interval. Otherwise a fab theatre.
V. E.I saw a really nice musical there. The place in which took place the musical was huge with clear sound and amazing actors. Finally, there were some mini bars in order to buy whatever you want.
R. H.I wouldn't say I am a regular goer to the Festival Theatre, but the play I saw there last, I really enjoyed. Cafe, Lift and Toilet Facilities, all great.
V. S.Sarah at her best ,fab show
S. w.Brilliant show, staff are very helpful and friendly
A. B.Magnificent show. Theatre was beautiful. Lovely staff. Very friendly. Unlike other theatres in the city this one offers everything.
G. S.Faultless. Went to see Les miserables. Simply breathtaking. Would go again tonight if tickets were available. Excellent theatre and staff
T. A.Great venue. Very friendly, helpful staff
R.Went to see War Horse and the theatre was great nice and warm and I had a great view for the top. Staff were friendly and helped us move seats for a more enjoyable view
I. O.Flagship Edinburgh theatre with mostly mainstream shows. Saw Les Miserables, which was an amazing creation. They offer disabled parking if you phone well ahead.
S. G.Fantastic venue. We watched Dirty Dancing. It was brilliant the casting was amazing. Great nite out, beautiful theatre
B. P.Absolutly amazing. I went to see 'war horse' the whole experince in this thearter was great. I was very happy to be able to the stage and this shocked me because i am a very small person. Over all great time here!
M. H. T.Great place, i have enjoyed here
G. I.Great staff and service. The show dorty dancing was awesome
L. R.Looks really modern from the outside but the theatre itself is still a gorgeous old victorian style theatre. The staff were very friendly and helpful and the facilities are better than a lot of other theatres I've visited.
R. T.Lovely old theatre, seating is comfortable and there is plenty of room leg wise.
Very friendly staff - plenty of facilities ...... a very pleasurable experience.
A. C.The building is atmospheric and contributes to your theatre experience. Minimal ques at the bar and large hallways with plenty space to enjoy interval drinks.
K. F.Great location right in the city centre. Saw Peter Gynt which was really impressive staging. Food and drinks were reasonably priced and the service was polite and friendly.
C. W.Clean & tidy, friendly & efficient staff, welcoming, nice cafe which sells soft & alcoholic drinks, coffee/tea, cakes/biscuits. Nice clean premises, great shows - what is there NOT to like?
G. R.Beautiful theatre on the inside, very spacious in the waiting areas so didn't feel cramped. Made Les Miserables very enjoyable!
L. A.We had a great experience going to see Swimming Wiith Men at the Festival Theatre Edinburgh, thanks to manager Ythan Baird. We phoned the same day as my son could only mobilise on crutches. Ythan couldn't have been more helpful, accommodating us in a VIP box and meeting us in the foyer on arrival. The film got 5 stars from us too. A feelgood evening all round!
F. H.Beautiful venue and stunning experience seeing The Snow Queen by The Scottish Ballet. We had a box and the view was perfect! Everyone we came into contact with, the lift girl, the ushers and the ice cream lady, all so helpful and smiley. Have been before and will be back again.
T. L.Wonderful theatre, excellent staff who all had broad smiles. Les Miserables production was amazing. Thank you Festival theatre.
L. L.The Festival Theatre has a broad range of shows throughout the year. It's the place to go in Edinburgh for ballet, and regularly plays host to the Christmas classic, The Nutcracker. It's my favourite theatre in the city because it balances the new with the traditional, and the range of shows is great.
K. M.James iv play was fabulous
M. K.Great view even from cheap seats at the back. Great sound everywhere. Loads of bars and efficient staff made drinks service quick.
j. b.Great theatre, modern exterior leads into a traditional old theatre. Great variety of top quality shows. Helpful friendly staff.
S. b. t.Attended the EFF gala evening even the later showing us good for rubbing elbows with the stars. A great building tastefully renovated outside and left as is on the inside.
A. B.Staff were very helpful, toilets were clean, seats were not crammed in, bar had a lot of selection, the stage was easy to see, the sound and visual effects were amazing.
H. Q.It was wonderful lovely place
S. T.I attended a couple of events at this venue when I was there for the Ed Fringe. It is pretty spacious and well designed. Just go inside with your own drinks though.
E. M.We seen Sarah millican here last week....Lovely little theatre despite being slightly dated. Seemed well run and seats had ample space.
F.Great place,busy, plenty of shows, always buy a programme when there😁 plenty of restaurants nearby
G. W. T.Excellent venue. Watched a first class production of Warhorse. A must visit place in Edinburgh and one of the most haunted places in the City.
d. R.Went to watch grease, Great show just disappointed we were not allowed to take pics. Although people clearly were
C. S.Good production values on the shows here, I wish they would upgrade the seating though, by the time you get up to leave it feels like you've been sitting on concrete.
s. l.This is a review for a performance I saw there, it's moved on now, but they are touring and if you get the chance - go and see it!
INSTITUTE
Gecko
Fri 24 & Sat 25 October 2014
Festival Theatre
7.30pm
Multi-award winning physical dance theatre company Gecko, made their debut visit to the Festival Theatre with an intimate, amusing and enlightening examination of what it means to care. Gecko's performance 'Institute' is their sixth piece in ten years. Gecko have established a good reputation for generating visual, intuitive and motivated theatre. The company's artistic director Amit Lahav is also the director, co-designer and one of the performers of this four man creative and powerfully physical performance. Having spending two years investigating the concept of care with various people, Lahav selected a team of inspirational support workers, artist and carers to discuss care and nurture, the ideas of which created 75 minutes of thought provoking, appealing and captivating physical theatre. As Amit Lahav delved into this exploration, he asked, "When the time comes, will anyone really care?"
After leaving the auditorium I felt I had observed something very complex with multiple layers of intricate connotations. I could not begin to understand it all. Gecko had created a white canvas to allow patrons to superimpose their own interpretation of the story. Martin (Amit Lahav) and Daniel (Chris Evans) were mental hospital patients enduring treatment from French psychologist Louis (Francois Testory) and his German assistant, Karl (Ryen Perkins-Gagnes). However, none of this is entirely clear during the performance. Institute explores personal relationships, ones natural impulse to care and dependence on one another. We follow the journey of love-struck Martin reminiscing over his past relationship with Margaret, unable to deal with rejection, while award-winning architect Daniel is plagued by a project that never came to fruition. Martin and Daniel establish a supportive relationship for on another through tender and hypnotic choreography.
Chris Swain's dim lighting and Rhys Jarman's smoky set (both with Lahav's input) creates an atmospheric visual explosion. Rows of over-sized filing cabinets towering over the performers could represent either an office or psychiatric institution. File drawers open to reveal haunted memories and secrets, which are in turn locked and compartmentalised or pulled out and transformed into surprisingly versatile mini-sets. This along with a marvelous soundtrack, sound design by Nathan Johnson and music by Dave Price, some of which is partially created by the performers themselves producing primal grunts and sighs during their choreography makes for a captivating, heart-wrenching and dramatic performance theatre.
Primarily the plot is rife with suffering and emotional struggles, yet there are moments of delightful humour, such as in an opening scene where a Martin is having a romantic meal with Margaret, symbolised solely by a pair of hands. However Martin's mental stability soon decays, as we see him transformed into a human puppet. Long wooden crutches are attached to his limbs and operated by the other performers/carers, demonstrating his loss of control and internal resistance to accept support.
The performance was mesmerising and filled with energy and emotion, so much so, that the audience could not fail to enjoy the visual excitement before them. It does not matter if you understand it all, it's very accessible, just take from it what you will. Genuinely highly recommended, memories of the performance will be everlasting.
A. W.Was here for a concert and really enjoyed my time here, seats were comfy, food and drink were good, although slightly more expensive than you would expect, but still enjoyed the experience here.
G. A.A beautiful theatre, great staff and a magical performance of The Nutcracker.
J. R.Much better theatre to see a show than Edinburgh playhouse as more leg room even in the back row of the upper circle. Great view from here as well.
F. W.Scottish ballet were fantastic in The Scandal at Mayerling
P. M.Lovely modern theatre. Went to see les miserables. Great views from 3 rd level up live band was great too.
H. C.Nice theatre, plenty leg room.
L.Went to see snow white and the seven dwarfs. Plenty of room in the seats for us over 6ft!
R. M.First visit to the ballet. Excellent all round. The theatre itself is lovely. Modern exterior with modern and historic interior. Loved it
R. '. S.Went to Jools Holland & Jazz festival, Superb, Theatre itself is excellent, lot's of toilets, access through rising large open staircase, which is bright & airy, great for those feel claustrophobic in crowds, Seat's comfortable, but not so much that you feel asleep, bar on ground & first floor, can't take glass into theatre, but there were plastic tumblers beside entrance to theatre itself.
D. A.Visited during Edinburgh festival to see Stephen Fry performing his Greek myth show. Extremely entertaining
Theatre very good and surprisingly cheap for interval drinks.
M. M.Saw Miss Siagon on the 10th of Feb, theatre staff were very helpful and the theatre is amazing. Was surprised to see the old theatre behind a modern facade but it is truly beautiful.
K. S.Seeing the musical "Six" was an uplifting experience to put it mildly. Extremely enjoyable evening out and deserves 6 stars.
J. C.Went for a cinema screening and sat at the very back of 3rd dress circle still got a clear view. Toilets are on every floor so quite convenient.
P. G.Plenty of bars so no queues, but not enough ladies loos! Modern front, old inside. Upper circle not good if you have vertigo.
P. C.Easy to get around with helpful staff. Beautiful theatre bt was a bit cold during the performance.
R. B.Brilliant show, perfect seat, will definitely return.
T. K.Interesting theatre, contemporary from the outside but old fashioned inside. The seats could be a bit more comfortable but I guess it makes sense to keep them original
L. R.Great place. Not the first time I have been there. Have been there twice to see the amazingly funny Sarah Millican 😂 brilliant show last night.
The place is clean, and staff are friendly, seats are comfy, but 2 cans of coke and a share bag of Maltesers £8!and you can't take you're own treats in, ripped off there, but it's still a good place to go.
C. A.Great theatre. Came here to see The Snowman in 2012, and still one of the best venues I've been to in Edinburgh. Staff were excellent as well.
M. A.Really nice theatre, the slop of seating is good so you don't get blocked by people in front much, really small though!
a. b.The festival theatre is really getting its act together ... the cafe is less formal and more staff around and it seems more cared for .. no fluff on the stairs...
Staff were attentive but also efficient given the numbers in rhe audience ... toilets still not very practocal with sinks etc that always end up swimming with water.... they shouls look at the theatres trust toilet fund to see if they can get funding to support enhancing the toilet experience.
J. K.Marti Pellow was absolutely amazing but our enjoyment of the concert was spoiled by theatre staff constantly telling people to turn off there phones and not to dance it was utterly ridiculous the whole point of going to see one of your favourite artists is to take photos and videos of them shame on you Festival Theatre 😠
T. P.Very good access into theatre all the staff were friendly and welcoming
Looking forward to going back beginning of next year to see Les mis
Local amenities were very accessible both before and after the show
Theatre catered for everyone's tastes that I could see
Only drawback was there was no local parking
But using Google maps locating a car park with 15 mins wasn't an issue
M. R.Former Empire Palace and cornerstone of Edinburgh entertainment. The Great Lafayette perished here in 1911 when a fire broke out during a performance. The safety curtain (or 'iron') failed to close completely, allowing the fire to move into the auditorium. Fire regulations today still refer back to this incident.
S. H.Kenny Wayne Shepherd was absolutely brilliant. No words can describe it. Best concert I've been in a long time.
A. M.Very nice, airy cafe at ground level with great views of the street through the glass wall. Worth a visit, as is the theatre itself!
I. M.Great venue, clean, comfortable and good staff. If there is a show your interested in, this is the perfect venue.
G.Once again bar staff struggle to differentiate between customers waiting 5 seconds and 5 minutes at the bar.
Forget what i said above, ultimately you are only there to enjoy the show you paid for.
D. E.We enjoyed Curtis Stigers as part of the Jazz n Blues Festival. Great venue (one of my favourite in the capital) for his powerful voice and enigmatic presence.
If you've not done it yet, get yourself a Friends of Capital Theatres membership. At the very least you'll get 10% off at the bar🍸 🙃
K. L.Large but quite intimate venue, hosting a variety of shows and concerts. Friendly, helpful staff. Very good cafe and bar facilities.
t. m.Lost In Music was Fabulous
A. W.Excellent facilities and great legroom in stall seats and no pillars blocking views
d.Brilliant and merciful! Despite our delay they took us to nice empty seats until break time and showed us to the right ones when the time came joyfully. Very cozy and clean and accomodating overall. Great for a day out with the kids 🥰
P. M.Great venue!
Great show! Nice cafe with helpful staff!
D. M.Been here several times. Recently to see The Snow Queen and the performance was incredible both effects and ballet. Also seen How the Grinch Stole Christmas. For the best all round seats, row J in the stalls is good. Have sat in the front row and it was great being so close to the orchestra but they do become distracting vs the performance. Either way, great venue.
M. F.Went to see the Banff mountain film festival which was fantastic but the Festival theatre is looking a bit tired. The seats were a bit uncomfortable especially for a guy like me with longer legs. I appreciate it's an old theater but it could maybe do with a lick of paint and some new cushions in the seats.
A. L.Great venue, easily accessible and very friendly staff.
Ü. F.Beautiful aesthetics
Good sound
Snacks, drinks, and ice-cream available
Clean bathrooms
I watched The Sound of Music; I enjoyed it immensely.
D. S.Went for the panto and it is lovely to see a beautiful old theatre still in use.
G. M.Always like to visit the Festival due to its relaxed atmosphere and excellent staff.
Went to see Everyone Talking about Jamie and again was not disappointed.
The cashier changed my students daughter ticket which was a nice touch.
Bar staff were excellent even if I didn't like the reusable cup policy in the current climate.
Great show, sound, lightening and staging.
We met loads of friends after through show in the foyer and again the staff didn't throw us out.
Just to make our nighr we even met some of the stars at the end.
A. G.A really good theatre, the bar is very good too. We went to see the gang show which was very good.
L. B.Brilliant show. staff could not have been more helpful.
J. “. U.Saw a fantastic performance of Les Miserable here, a little bit poncey pish but I can forgive that because the show was amazing!
The place itself is pretty cool too!
L. S.Fabulous concert to see Curtis Stigers. Band terrific, all looking like they were enjoying themselves. Curtis engaging, good rapport with audience and very soulful singing and sax playing. Loved the sound quality, the comfortable seats, the staff at the bar. Just a wonderful night out.
G. G.We saw a brilliant performance of 'Beautiful' the Carole King musical in this very well kept theatre. We chose the stalls where there was lots of legroom and comfy seats and the staff were friendly and helpful.. a great night out.! 😁👍
C. B.Went to see Everyone is talking about Jamie. Great show and lovely theatre with far more leg room than other Edinburgh theatre's. Unfortunately I fell outside the theatre and a lovely young man (staff) came out to make sure I was ok (husband and my son helped too). Also a lovely cafe with nice coffee and light bites. Will return. Would highly recommend!!
A. M.Served very quickly at the bar friendly helpful staff pre ordered drinks were ready at the intermission
J. O.It's a beautiful theater I will Definitely be back there.
J. B.What a wonderful theatre! Modern on the outside, traditional on the inside, wonderful seating with great views of the stage (much better than the Playhouse IMO), quick and easy to collect tickets and get inside, no checking of bags, no huge one way system to use the toilets, amazing staff who are friendly and helpful. Highly recommend.
A. H.Lovely theatre. Nice bar area on the first floor overlooking the street. Very friendly, accommodating staff. My seat, in the dress circle was quite far to the right but it was still a good view of the stage.
C. G.We had am excellent evening watching Don Giovanni. An excellent cast and the orchestra were superb. The only reason for not giving a five star review was that bar was very disorganised with some staff who did not do what they were doing when it came to ordering drinks for the interval.
B. T.Lovely theatre nice atmosphere. Show was fab. South Pacific.
A. S.What a lovely theater this was! I was in the back of the rear stalls but still very much enjoyed the show, though I owe that to the tiny women sitting in front of me. However, on a sold out night good luck getting to the bathroom. During the short intermission, I went first to grab a breath of air since the theater was quite warm and then went to each and every floors womens bathroom to find a huge line out the doors. There were many other ladies just giving up and leaving the line with me when the end of intermission was announced. A longer intermission or as Ive seen other venues do, turning one of the mens restrooms into only a womens for a sold out show. Because there was never any lines out the mens restroom doors during my search for a less busy womens.
B. M.Hit the box office asking for returns/cancellations for Six for the same night and wasn't disappointed. 3 rows back in the dress circle for a fantastic price. Staff were brilliantly accomodating and very efficient. The show was unbelievable as well. Will absolutely be back to the Festival Theatre ASAP!!
S. C.Fantastic place for musical with large stage and comfortable seating. The sound system is also very clear. The crowd here for Anything Goes is a bit of older people, which is quite nice as they know theatre etiquette better than kids.
Only drawback is that merch are not on sales after the show is over...
G. S.Great shows to give your imagination all the fun you deserve and a recharge in this busy time off year
C. C.Went to see the Scottish ballet perform 'The Snow Queen'. Amazing show, nice theatre
C. C.Excellent show tonight with Six. I like the seats at the Festival Theatre they are not as cramped as other Edinburgh venues.
The staff were friendly and helpful and the show was brilliant.
C. W.We were there to see Fascinating Aida, sitting quite high up, my partner was feeling queasy with the height. We approached the staff who found us seats lower down. Great customer service
V. G.Fab panto as usual a great time had by adults and children alike see you next year x
A. D.Friendly front of house staff, very helpful. Lots of leg room in the stalls.
T.Beautiful venue, drinks are pricey even for Edinburgh.
Great place for a date.
A. G.First time at the Festival theatre, great place to go for a show. Comfortable seat good leg room definitely recommend.
J. B.Great Theatre with lovely atmosphere. Attended Scottish Ballet's performance of The Nutcracker which was marvelous!
J. K.It’s the big one, huge place, 4 levels to get entry, bars, exhibition space, usually easy to get in and out without getting crushed. On many bus routes. Seats on several levels where you can wait and have a drink and a snack.
M.Seats weren't very comfortable, and not a lot of leg room. But a beautiful space with history. And our 4 hour show A Little Life was very much worth it.
G. R.Had a great night out here, seeing Fascinating Aïda, on 20th.
Decent legroom in the front stalls, and a good view of the entire stage.
The show was excellent.
A. M.We attended to see the BBE version of Grease.... what a night the theatre was brilliant and the show was second to nun. We will be back
P. P.Fantastic theatre. Lovely staff and fabulous venue!
G. O. (.Very good theatre experience with very good access and support from the staff really first class
f. m.Great theatre v pricy drinks but worth a treat ......
Great night.
Lovely ace x
C. W.Comfortable seating, good viewing perspectives. Bar nice with friendly staff.
J. K. K.Great place. We watched Scottish ballet’s the nutcracker. It was amazing. Hopefully reopen soon.
G.What a magical pantomime. Colourful, so funny and beautifully played out by the whole cast
P. K.Went to watch War Horse with my girlfriend and have to say the show was outstanding! The theatre itself is perfectly located just at the start of Edinburgh Old Town along the South Bridge and the theatre itself is a great size with easy access bar for start and intermission of whateve r you go and see. I liked how they had different ques for coffee or alcohol but considering how many people were three you weren't waiting long. Toilets on each level, again easy access and no time queuing. We were on level 3 and had an excellent view of the stage.
A. G.With my wife and sister we were 5 rows from the front watching Dirty Dancing. There were many young women in the audience who were thrilled by the performance. The performers were talented good looking dynamic singers and dancers who performed a super rendition of this age old film. Was just over 2-hours in a lovely theatre with an interval as normal. We scored this as a 9/10. Definitely worth a view.
P. S.This was my first visit to The Festival Theatre, as I was up to see a friend as we had tickets to see Sarah Millican.
It was great to see so many people & on arrival we were able to make our way to the Dress Circle to find our seats.
I was impressed by the seat comfort & pitch, which was pretty decent, & I’m not a small lad.
The acoustics were decent enough & the performance was a great success.
Exiting the building however was a nightmare. Both my friend & I have walking issues & each have a stick & make use of the lifts.
It took us 15 minutes of the lift stopping at our floor but we couldn’t get in, as it was full each time. This is why I marked the review with 4, not 5 stars.
Other than that, an excellent theatre with great public transport access across Edinburgh. Even though we didn’t get out of the theatre till around 11pm, we made it back on a bus to Princes Street, for our connection to the hotel we were staying at.
Despite the one negative comment, which is more observation than a complaint, I give the theatre high marks indeed, and indeed do the staff, who were very helpful.
I’ll be back for sure, & it was well worth the journey from London to visit!
P.I watched the muscial "Singing in the rain" here last night. I was one of those who gave a standing ovation to the splendid performers at the end of the 2 hours 33 minutes' show. I would recommend that you buy your ticket from a staff at the counter or over the phone because it is important to know whether the stage is too highly elevated for audience in the first row, or the seats are gradually ascending, or any special effects that may affect you sitting in the first row. For this show especially, the audience in the first row were probably soaked after the main actor playing the role of Don Lockwood sang and danced the title song in the "rain". I sat in seat K41(aisle seat) with an unobstructed view, thanks to the expertise from the ticketing staff. I'd recommend an awesome pre-show dinner at nearby Sen restaurant.
B. L.Saw Nutcracker here. The best performance I've ever seen. Such great set and costume design with beautiful dancing. What a magnificent venue. Great access with disabled parking, entrance and seating. Loved it!
K. P.First time iv been I. The festival theatre and it was great remided me so much of the playhouse. Iv always went to the playhouse to see shows but I will now head to the festival theatre more.
L. J. L.Clean, well managed and very comfy seats - excellent sight lines too
D. W.Watched the nutcracker by the Scottish ballet and they were amazing, I was mesmerised by the dancing & the music. the story was easy to understand even though there wasn't any talking. The staff at the theatre was very professional and friendly. Will definitely be back.
J. H.What a wonderful theater and an absolutely amazing Ballet thank you
J. D.Absolutely beautiful theatre well worth a visit, I was at Sarah Millican ,she was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. I haven't laughed so much in years.
F. S.Thank you so much for a great experience seeing In the night garden. The fact the kids could dance at front of stage made it so much easier for us as parents especially as we have a little boy with autism who doesn't understand he has to stay in his seat. 1 of the best experiences.
m. m.Snow White panto was great for young and old .
H. A.Great front of house staff at a performance of Zog. Booster cushions for the littlest ones if you ask. Pleasant areas to sit before the performance and adequate loos.
R. C.Very comfortable theatre seats, well organised seating for Scottish National Ballet. Snacks and drinks available. Nice entryway for photographs.
H. F.Nice theatre went to see Sarah Millican it was a gift from our son for fathers day absolutly brilliant small theatre but staff were really nice and helpful
j. s.Had a nice time very comfortable seats good leg room
J. C.Romantic and impressive. Loved the ballet experience in Edinburgh.
r. h.Loved seeing Sarah millican....seating is a bit small and uncomfortable for the length of time you are sat in it and the price for refreshments was ridiculous £2.50 for a can of cola
J. M.We went to see in the night garden live. The staff were lovely and very helpful. We ordered a pack but our name wasn't down due to an error. This was resolved quickly and we were seated in brilliant time. Exiting was a bit crowded but other than that it was a great experience for our family
F. M.Very good venue only complaint was the state of the toilet.
N. H.Had an amazing day touring backstage with the talented crew. Rigged a light and lowered the front of house curtain. These folks really work hard behind the scenes to make our theatre visits perfect.
D. F.Great Cafe and everyone is so friendly. I visited The Studio Theatre, which is a really good space. The main Theatre is of course fab too.
A. M.Friendly staff throughout the theatre. Good leg room at our seats. Decent choice if wines at the bar albeit prices fairly expensive in my opinion
K. D.A great theatre, neither too big nor too small. The bar areas were easily accessible. The prices were sensible.
G. A.Went to see an Amateur performance of Sound of Music. Anything but amateur, superb performance by all, Maria was brilliant. And what a lovely theatre, friendly helpful staff, food and drinks available, nice bright and airy entrance and well designed seating. Every seat must have a good view. We were in the dress circle and will go again.
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