Citizens Theatre counts down to homecoming with first projects announced
Citizens Theatre unveils first stage productions and homecoming celebrations as countdown to August reopening begins!
Article Source: Citizens Theatre
Last Updated: 6 March 2025 7:47
Image Credit: Mark Liddell
The Citizens Theatre will invite its Gorbals neighbours and the wider Glasgow community to get involved in its opening celebrations as one of the city’s most treasured cultural venues prepares to reopen its doors later this year. Today, audiences are given a first glimpse of the activity that will welcome them back. Tickets to the first stage productions will go on sale at the end of March.
As redevelopment works on site at the iconic theatre move into their final phase, Glasgow locals will be among the first people invited to come and experience the building afresh. They will be invited to cross the threshold as part of a homecoming festival in late summer that will see the Citz burst into life again with readings, sharings, exhibitions, tours and workshops celebrating the theatre’s past, present, and future.
The celebrations will kick off an opening season which sees community sitting at the heart of the activities, as creative life returns to all corners of the building for the first time in seven years. In that time period, the Citizens Theatre has continued to present shows on stages across the city and on tour, and its participation work with individuals and communities has never stopped. It has also commissioned and developed new work with over ten different writers, three of which are featured in the opening programme of work.
The first production on the mainstage will be Small Acts of Love, a major new work about the bonds formed between families on both sides of the Atlantic in the wake of the Pan Am 103 atrocity. Commissioned by the Citizens Theatre, and presented in association with the National Theatre of Scotland, the new theatrical and musical collaboration between playwright Frances Poet and composer Ricky Ross (Deacon Blue) has been painstakingly researched and developed with support from families and communities who were directly affected. This story of love, friendship, and community will be brought to life by a large ensemble cast and band and will premiere in September 2025.
Further main-stage productions in the Autumn will include Douglas Maxwell’s brilliant Glasgow-set comedy So Young, exploring mid-life meltdowns, grief and love with hilarious situational humour. Co-commissioned by the Citz, Raw Material and the Traverse Theatre, it premiered at the 2024 Edinburgh Festival Fringe to award-winning acclaim. It will now be presented to Glasgow audiences for the first time. So Young is a Raw Material and Traverse Theatre production in association with the Citizens Theatre.
An ambitious new production of the seminal Tennessee Williams drama The Glass Menagerie, presented by Dundee Rep Theatre in association with the Citizens Theatre, will also visit in the autumn.
Towards the end of the year, audiences can look forward to the return of the much-loved Citz Christmas show, with a new, specially commissioned festive production of Beauty and the Beast. Written by Lewis Hetherington, this flamboyant, funny, and heartwarming take on the classic fairytale will delight audiences of all ages. Meanwhile, the new Studio Theatre will host The Gift, for younger visitors aged 18months – 5 years, as part of the festive programme. Winner of a CATS award for Best Show for Children and Young People, this show by Barrowland Ballet explores the true joy that can come from the imagination and will visit Glasgow for the first time.
The transformational redevelopment of the Citzens Theatre, the first since the Category B-listed building began life as a working theatre in 1878, has brought the building into the 21st century while carefully preserving its unique Victorian heritage. From the iconic auditorium and stagehouse to the historic under stage machinery and working paint frame, (one of the last of its kind in the UK), the design of the building by Bennetts Associates has opened up public access to the building’s heritage.
Now audiences and artists will be able to benefit from resources including new accessible rehearsal, participation, and studio spaces, supporting expanded activities for communities and offering Scotland’s rich ecology of theatre companies new spaces to rehearse and perform in.
This includes a newly designed 150-seat Studio Theatre, which sits at the heart of the building and will be officially opened by two of the theatre’s Participate groups later this year, when the Young Co. and the Community Collective present new pieces of work entitled The Close and Game On.
A new and expanded Participate programme will be launched in the coming months, offering a range of opportunities to build connections and nurture the creativity and skills of theatre-makers from all communities, especially those traditionally marginalised - underlining the inclusive spirit that will make the theatre a valuable creative hub for the whole city. Accessibility and affordability have been central to the theatre’s plans for reopening. Ensuring there are ticket prices for all pockets is a key part of those plans.
Launching a brand-new membership scheme, annual Theatre Pass holders will save the more they visit. For an annual £30 fee (just £2.50/month), audiences can be first in line for tickets with priority booking as well as enjoy discounts and 2for1 offers. Moreover, early booking bargain-hunters can snap up tickets for less than £20 through the theatre’s new ‘Lucky Dip’ promotion that discounts top price tickets by 50%.
In addition, the theatre’s longstanding commitment to its Gorbals neighbours will continue through a new Gorbals Pass giving access to tickets for just £5 for locals with a G5 postcode.
Additional low-priced offers will also be available for under 30’s, those on low income and those with access requirements.
Available across all seats and performances if booked in advance, memberships only require a straightforward sign-up process to access the discounts.
Tickets for the first productions will go on sale to audiences at the end of March. Full details can be found at citz.co.uk
Dominic Hill, Artistic Director, Citizens Theatre said: “This is a very special moment as we start to unveil an exciting programme of shows and opportunities in the new theatre – for the first time in seven years. The first few months of programming reflects our commitment to both innovation and tradition, with more to be announced over the coming months. While the Citz has always celebrated the great works of drama from the past, the new theatre must look forward too and we’ve been working hard to develop new plays that showcase the talent of writers and artists working in Scotland. These new works embody the spirit of what this theatre has always stood for—creativity, community, and a deep connection to the city of Glasgow. I can’t wait for audiences old and new, local and global, to experience these brilliant productions in a transformed Citizens Theatre, that will inspire audiences and great storytelling.”
Sponsored Links
Latest Glasgow News
Name the Loganair Christmas puffin and win a family adventure
Loganair, the UK’s leading regional airline, has launched a new festive competition to name the puffin starring in its emotional Christmas advert.
READ MORE
Festive fun on the farm at the National Museum of Rural Life
Celebrate the season with festive fun for the whole family at the National Museum of Rural Life.
READ MORE
Braehead celebrates bright young business stars this Christmas
Scotland's premier retail destination, Braehead Shopping Centre, today announce that this Christmas they will again welcome the Young Enterprise Christmas Trade Fayre.
READ MORE
Breakout Scots star urges young people to discover new artists IRL at Celtic Connections coffee pop ups
Katie Gregson-MacLeod is urging young Glaswegians to discover new music IRL as Celtic Connections brings free pop-up gigs to Patricia's x SLB, Through The House and Black Pine this Saturday.
READ MORE
Loch Lomond Shores Christmas Festival is a Christmas cracker this year!
A family rollercoaster, giant snow globe, rides, stalls, street food and live entertainment makes Loch Lomond Shores FREE Christmas festival the perfect Christmas day out for all the family!
READ MORE
Calum Bowie gives Barrowland call up to 2 rising stars for landmark 5th December show
Calum Bowie has invited two fresh local talents to support him at his upcoming landmark show in December at The Barrowlands!
READ MORE
Partick Film Festival returns in January with special anniversary screening of Rob Roy
Partick Film Festival returns in January with a range of events including a special 30th anniversary screening of Rob Roy, followed by a Q&A with the director Michael Caton-Jones.
READ MORE
Somewhere by Nico Launches Festive Cocktail Experience
This festive season, Glasgow and Edinburgh relevellers can relive the magic of Christmas past as Somewhere by Nico unveil a brand-new immersive experience!
READ MORE
Beatson Cancer Charity Ambassadog Baxter leads the way at Santa Dash 2025
Beatson Cancer Charity is thrilled to announce that our Ambassadog, Baxter, will be taking part in this year's Santa Dash on Sunday 7th December!
READ MORE
Zizzi celebrates a fresh era with a new menu and app, by giving 132 people free pasta for one year
Zizzi has introduced a new food & drink menu across all its restaurants, launched a brand-new Zizzi app, and is giving 132 people free pasta for one year.
READ MORE
Festive Season at Marine & Lawn Hotels & Resorts Collection
Marine & Lawn Hotels & Resorts Collection have launched some new offerings designed for memorable Christmas stays, spectacular Hogmanay celebrations, and cozy winter escapes.
READ MORE
From The Gannet to Eleven Fifty Five: Peter McKenna announces new Argyle Street restaurant
Peter McKenna, chef-owner of The Gannet in Glasgow, along with Kevin Dow, are set to open a new restaurant, Eleven Fifty Five, in its place in Finnieston early next year.
READ MORE
Glasgow Fort to welcome new Mexican restaurant this week
Mezcal, the lively Mexican street-food restaurant, is set to open its doors at Glasgow Fort on Wednesday 26th November, bringing even more choice for visitors ahead of the festive period.
READ MORE
Second year of Urban Forestry Programme opens across Scotland
Community groups, organisations and schools across Scotland are being invited to apply for grants of up to £100,000.
READ MORE
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time returns to Glasgow in March 2027
A brand-new staging of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time based on the internationally celebrated novel comes to Glasgow's Theatre Royal in March 2027!
READ MORE
MINISO is coming to Buchanan Street... get ready to explore!
Global lifestyle sensation MINISO is set to bring its signature blend of joy, creativity, and affordable design to Buchanan Street, with a brand-new store opening on 26th November!
READ MORE
Black Friday Savings at Buchanan Galleries
Buchanan Galleries in Glasgow is abuzz with Black Friday deals, offering shoppers incredible discounts across a wide range of products – from fashion and footwear to jewellery, beauty, and homeware.
READ MORE
The Maclean Brothers row onto Celtic Connections bill as new wave of shows announced
The Maclean Brothers are among a wave of exciting new names to join the world-renowned Celtic Connections bill, it has been announced.
READ MORE
BBC CBeebies starts the panto season at Glasgow cinemas
The CBeebies panto Cinderella is coming to the big screen in Glasgow from Friday 21st November.
READ MORE
The Pavilion Theatre is taking part in the largest Black Friday Theatre Sale in the UK
As part of Trafalgar Entertainment, customers can now access some of the best theatre ticket deals for shows at the Pavilion Theatre as well as unmissable productions in the West End.
READ MORE
BBC ALBA Hogmanay Ceilidh to broadcast live from Glasgow
BBC ALBA will bring together some of Gaelic music's biggest names as Cèilidh na Bliadhn' Ùire returns to Glasgow to celebrate Hogmanay and usher in 2026.
READ MORE
Cast Announced for Flora, a new musical coming to The Pavilion Theatre Glasgow
The full cast has been revealed for Flora which sees one of Scotland's most famous daughters, Flora MacDonald, take centre stage to tell her own tale!
READ MORE
Christmas in Edinburgh and Glasgow: Celebrate the festive season with Candlelight Concerts
Featuring classic Christmas carols, this live, multi-sensory musical experience will light up St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral and Merchants House and The Trades Hall for an unforgettable evening.
READ MORE
Innis & Gunn to open the biggest festive beer hall in Glasgow at Winter Wonderland on The Green
Glasgow is getting its largest-ever Christmas beer hall, and it’s all down to award-winning brewer Innis & Gunn.
READ MORE
Find a festive backdrop in Glasgow and the West
From frosty gardens to cosy tearooms, National Trust for Scotland places in Glasgow and the West are offering a host of winter experiences and special events this festive season.
READ MORE
Glaswegians invited to Panto Town as Glasgow 850 finishes with festive flourish
Glaswegians are being urged to embrace the unique spirit of the city's pantomimes with the launch of Get You in Panto Town!
READ MORE
Buchanan Galleries celebrates the season of giving with festive family fun
The magic of Christmas has arrived at Buchanan Galleries, with a heartwarming line-up of festive activities taking place throughout November and December.
READ MORE
Scottish Ballet creates a brand new wee version of the big ballet
Scottish Ballet's Wee Nutcracker is coming to Glasgow's Tramway this December. The beloved festive ballet, The Nutcracker, has been specially adapted for wee ones aged 5+ and their families!
READ MORE
The Wizard Wae The Big Bawz: New adult panto brings comedy to Scotland in January
January needn't be a drag as Scotland's brand-new adult panto, The Wizard Wae The Big Bawz, hits the road, arriving just when the country needs a burst of joy!
READ MORE
Matthew Kelly and George Costigan lead new production of Waiting for Godot at the Citz
Matthew Kelly and George Costigan star as Estragon and Vladimir in a new production of Waiting for Godot, co-produced with Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse and Octagon Theatre Bolton.
READ MORESponsored Links
Sponsored Links