New photography exhibition celebrating Tollcross history ahead of King's Theatre reopening launches this week
The free pop-up exhibition celebrates Tollcross and the community’s connection to the area’s landmarks
A new photography exhibition celebrating the history of Tollcross has opened to the public ahead of the grand re-opening of King’s Theatre.
The exhibition, titled The Grand Old Lady and Her Neighbours, shines a light on the the community and history of the area which is home to the iconic theatre.
Featuring work by photographer Anneleen Lindsay, the free pop-up exhibition has been commissioned to mark the reopening of the King’s.
The theatre has been closed for refurbishment works since February 2023 and will open its doors to the public once again on August 1 ahead of the busy festival season.
The photo exhibition features members of the King’s Theatre Community Panel and explores their connection to Tollcross and its landmarks, including the theatre which is affectionately known as the Grand Old Lady of Leven Street.
Fiona Gibson, chief executive of Capital Theatres, said: “The Grand Old Lady and Her Neighbours exhibition is such a beautiful and heartwarming celebration of the wonderful community that surrounds the King's Theatre.
“As we prepare to reopen our doors, it feels especially important to recognise the people, stories and places that make Tollcross such a vibrant and distinctive part of Edinburgh.
"The Community Panel has been instrumental in helping us reimagine the future of the King's Theatre, and this exhibition offers a fascinating insight into the neighbourhood through their experiences and memories. We hope visitors will enjoy discovering their stories and seeing familiar faces and places in a new light."
Anneleen Lindsay said: “I’m always interested in how people interact with the places they inhabit and move through, particularly from an emotional perspective.
“The memories that these specific places in Tollcross invoke for the Community Panel members are vivid and often formative. Many of them told me stories from their childhood, both distinct moments – first experiences of live theatre and special treats of ice-creams from Mr Boni’s – and more general, accumulated memories of how living or working in Tollcross gave them confidence and cultural passions that they carried throughout their lives.
She added: “Throughout the past four years photographing the King’s pre, during and soon-to-be post redevelopment, I have always wanted to convey the marks that The People’s Theatre has made on the people of Edinburgh.
“This exhibition feels like a meaningful way to honour the local community within that story. I hope that those visiting the exhibition will connect to the Panel’s recollections and that it sparks their own memories of the area or helps them to think about the places that were formative for them.”
The Grand Old Lady and Her Neighbours is open to the public at Barclay Viewforth Church from Monday, June 15 until Friday, June 19. The exhibition will be open from 10am until 5pm each day.
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