Glasgow's King's Theatre 'increasingly unable' to land large shows
Google MapsGlasgow's largest theatre is "increasingly unable" to secure large touring shows, the city council has been told.
The King's Theatre needs investment or many touring productions will only go to Edinburgh in the future, according to a new report into the 122-year-old A-listed building.
The Bath Street venue is owned by entertainment conglomerate ATG Entertainment, who also operate the city's Theatre Royal venue, as well as scores of buildings across the UK.
Councillors will now be asked to approve off-market negotiations with ATG's subsidiary Glasgow Theatres Ltd (GTL) over a new long-term lease for the theatre on Thursday.
In a report to an upcoming meeting of the council's contracts and property committee, council officials state the theatre "is increasingly unable to present the larger productions, which are becoming both more numerous and desirable."
It adds: "This means the King's will lose its key status without investment and a programme of change, and those highest profile shows will, for the most part, only be able to be accommodated in Edinburgh due to the significantly lower seating capacity at the Theatre Royal."
The smaller capacity of the Theatre Royal - which hosted the smash-hit Hamilton for nearly two months last year - means it will be increasingly "economically unviable" for many major productions.
The report added that discussions were ongoing about bringing the King's "to a standard to host larger productions" through the council working with ATG.
ATG took over the running of the King's from the local authority in 2002. As well as the two Glasgow venues, the company also operates the Edinburgh Playhouse.
In 2023 councillors agreed to include an exclusivity agreement in a new short-term lease for the King's. It ensured the council could not take "any other expressions of interest in managing or running the theatre".
A longer-term lease renewal was expected once a redevelopment plan had been made, with the current lease due to end in 2029.
Another paper is expected to be developed to provide more information on the future redevelopment of the theatre if the authority to start lease negotiations is granted.
The report added that the King's attracts over 450,000 visitors annually.
