Glasgow Citizens Theatre named Great British Theatre 2026

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 4 Nov, 12:22 · Archive

Glasgow's Citizens Theatre has won the inaugural Great British Theatres Award after its £40 million redevelopment.

Glasgow's Citizens Theatre has been named Great British Theatre 2026 at the inaugural Great British Theatres Awards, held in London on Monday evening. The theatre also won the Great Renovation award. The recognition comes less than 18 months after the venue reopened following a seven-year closure for redevelopment.

The £40 million project restored the theatre's Victorian auditorium whilst adding new rehearsal and production facilities, improved backstage areas, a new studio, community spaces and expanded hospitality facilities. The redevelopment was the first comprehensive refurbishment since the theatre opened as a working theatre in 1878. Judges praised the way the project retained the original character of the building whilst making it more directly accessible to the Gorbals community.

The Citizens closed for redevelopment in 2018 and faced delays including the pandemic, rising construction costs and unforeseen problems with the historic building. The Scottish Government contributed £17.5 million towards the project, including a further £3.5 million announced earlier this year. Joshua McTaggart, chief executive of Theatres Trust, which organised the awards to mark its 50th anniversary, said the return of a reinvigorated Citizens was 'a boost for the Gorbals neighbourhood or the city of Glasgow, but for the nationwide theatre community'. Other Scottish venues also received honours, with Eden Court in Inverness and Leith Theatre Trust recognised at the awards.

How it is being reported

• Glasgow's Citizen Theatre named as best in Britain after £40m renovationIt comes after the theatre reopened in August 2025 after seven years and a major refurbishmentDaily Record · 4 Nov, 11:42
• 'Reinvigorated' Scottish theatre wins top honour at Great British Theatres AwardsA GLASGOW theatre has taken home the highest honour at the inaugural Great British Theatres Awards in London.The National · 2 Nov, 20:30

In this story: Citizens Theatre · Glasgow · Theatres Trust · Scottish Government · Eden Court · Leith Theatre Trust

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