Leith Theatre Crowdfunder is well worth supporting – Steve Cardownie

The Leith Theatre Crowdfunder is well underway as the organisers hope to raise £45,000 to protect the theatre’s “structure and its future whilst spreading warmth to its community this winter”.

AC/DC perform at Leith Theatre in 1976 (Picture: Shutterstock)

The crowdfunding website informs us that “Donations will help us to relocate remaining original radiators into the public areas of the building, bringing life back into these spaces with warmth and comfort. Donations will also help to bring comfort to those facing an even harder winter this year in our community. We will be sharing one-third of donations with three local charities: Steps to Hope, Four Square and Turning Point Scotland.”

It goes on to state: “This is more than radiators. They are cast-iron stepping stones to realising Leith Theatre as a full-time venue that can support, entertain and inspire its community across 12 months of the year.”

The theatre featured prominently as a concert venue in its heyday from Angus Young running along the balcony playing his guitar when AC/DC performed there (tickets £1) to a plethora of big names such as Mott the Hoople, Slade, Kraftwerk, Thin Lizzy, The Rezillos, Dr Feelgood and singer of the best version of Caledonia, Frankie Miller.

These artists are household names and it was a testimony to the artistic programming that they all graced the stage at the theatre.

Fully restored, the theatre may once again host top-of-the-bill performers and we may yet see the equivalents of the Seventies headliners but the theatre still has an important role to play and hitting the crowdfunding target will help secure its future.

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