King's Theatre

Significance

Originally opening as the King’s Theatre in 1904, the building at the High Street’s east end was of lavish construction with balcony overhang, boxes on either side and Italian marble stairways, with only the latter remaining today. In January 1905, a young Charlie Chaplin played three nights here in a Sherlock Holmes play before finding fame in Hollywood soon after. The building became an opera house and later a cinema, remaining Kirkcaldy’s main picture house until its closure in 2000. The façade of the original 1904 building still survives. The interior was once similar to the architect’s magnificent King's Theatre in Edinburgh. It was gutted in 1937 to be rebuilt in streamlined cinema mode and was later converted to three screens. Nevertheless, some of the original decorative plasterwork to the ceiling, stained glass window, art deco box office and theatre wall decoration still exists, preserved behind later alterations.

Why is this theatre at risk?

The King’s Theatre Kirkcaldy has been on the Theatres at Risk Register since 2016.

After closing as a cinema in 2000, the building was sold to the Commercial Pub Company and planning permission was granted for the conversion to a pub and performance venue. However, listed building consent for internal and external decorations was later withdrawn. The building was sold again in 2005 but remained empty, suffering from a lack of maintenance.

In August 2016 the building was bought by Kings Theatre Kirkcaldy Ltd, who had a  long-term ambition to restore the building. Reports were undertaken in 2021 to understand the work required on the building. A conditions survey revealed that the building was in a very poor condition, with no live services and limited access. Asbestos was also identified, which would need to be removed for any works to take place.

While Kings Theatre Kirkcaldy Ltd received grant funding of £87,000 from Historic Environment Scotland to carry out temporary roof repairs over the main theatre auditorium to prevent further water ingress and deterioration of the fabric, these works did not safeguard the entire building and parts of the building are open to the elements and in a fragile state

In May 2024 trustees of Kings Theatre Kirkcaldy Ltd were reported in local press as indicating that they no longer thought that the redevelopment of the main building was viable.

Theatre potential

Over the years there has been much local interest in restoring the building for community use.

Kings Theatre Kirkcaldy Limited originally created long-term plans to restore the building to create Fife’s largest performing arts venue. This work was part of a wider project including the former YWCA at the rear of the building, which has been adapted to form a live event space and café and restaurant, and the Kings Live Lounge in 9 Esplanade. It was hoped that this activity would provide an important basis for a successful fundraising campaign for the capital project to restore the main building. However, the Covid-19 pandemic caused significant disruption, with closures for large parts of 2020 and 2021. This had a significant impact on the organisation’s finances and its focus shifted to ensuring the success of existing facilities at the Kings Live Lounge, rather than the development project

In 2021 King’s Theatre Kirkcaldy Ltd received a £15,000 grant from Theatres Trust’s Theatres at Risk Capacity Building Programme to commission a community feasibility study for the theatre to provide a comprehensive understanding of the audience and market demand.

The report, completed in October 2022, concluded there was significant support for the restoration or development of the site, with a clear desire for a multi-functional arts-based space that could support the regeneration of the town centre.

Theatres Trust believe that there is still potential for the rejuvenation of the building for performance use, although the current condition of the building means that restoration would be challenging.

Current situation

The project initially gathered great momentum and energy under the leadership of Kings Theatre Kirkcaldy Ltd; early fundraising success enabled substantial progress in a very limited period. Theatres Trust supported the group through its workshop program and by providing advice on aspects of building work.

Unfortunately, the impact of the pandemic meant that Kings Theatre Kirkcaldy Ltd had to focus attention on rebuilding its existing operations and income strands, and the group have expressed concerns about the viability of restoring the main theatre. There is now uncertainty about the future of the site.

Theatres Trust will continue to support Kings Theatre Kirkcaldy Ltd and any other interested party that may come forward to create a thriving creative entertainment hub for both the local and wider area. Until definitive plans for the building can be confirmed and delivered, the theatre will remain on the Theatres at Risk Register.

Main image King's Theatre, Kirkcaldy, David Clark