Opera in the bathhouse: Measuring the acoustic intimacy of Moseley Road Baths
Citizens Theatre
The refurbishment of the historic Citizens Theatre in Glasgow creates a state-of-the-art multi-space venue offering production facilities, workshops, rehearsal spaces, a studio theatre, community space and a beautifully restored Victorian theatre with an extended fly tower. Max Fordham has been part of the team led by Bennetts Associates to breathe new life into this cultural landmark to create a world-class production theatre for Scotland.
Key information
Architect
Bennetts Associates
Client
Citizens Theatre
Value
Undisclosed
Year of Completion
2025
Location
Glasgow
Sector
Services
Challenge
The Grade II-listed building, originally constructed in 1878 as the Royal Princess’s Theatre, was reborn as the Citizens Theatre in 1945 with a mission to advance Scottish theatre while remaining rooted in the local community. Citizens has since become a leading repertory theatre with notable creative directors such as Callum Mill, Ian Cuthbertson, Giles Havergal, Robert David MacDonald and Philip Prowse.
The redevelopment of the theatre was guided by a commitment to sustainability, both corporate and social, an increasingly expected principle for arts organisations. Located in Gorbals, an area that has undergone several waves of regeneration, Citizens is an important cultural symbol of the community and strives to create an environment of access, inclusion, and engagement not only for the local area but across Scotland.
The existing theatre's fabric and MEP systems were no longer fit for purpose and needed significant repair and replacement. To fully understand the theatre's work practices, the Max Fordham team facilitated a workshop with staff from every department to explore organisational aspirations and barriers to sustainable behaviour. The team proposed solutions and mechanisms to promote change, and the outputs formed the basis of the Citizens Theatre’s Sustainability Action Plan and assisted the theatre in its capital funding application. Max Fordham also provided M&E and lighting design for the project, which opened with much anticipation and excitement in September 2025.
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The signature pink staircase contrasts the historic original wall of the Victorian theatre
© Hufton + Crow
The services are tucked along the ceiling of the corridor. Architectural lighting highlights the staircase and the elephant statues
© Hufton + Crow
Enhancing the offering
The redevelopment of the theatre involved the demolition of the late 1970s entrance foyers, bar and box office area, along with a wing of older accommodation. This allowed for significant improvements to the theatre, including:
- A complete renovation of the original Victorian theatre with new ventilation, architectural lighting, repaired gilding, an extended and modernised fly tower and new seating
- New fully accessible foyers, a cafe bar, and box office
- Specialised production lighting and audio/visual upgrades by Theatreplan
- A new black box, 150-seat studio that serves as a flexible theatre and rehearsal space, with fully adaptable seating, lighting, and rigging configuration
- Renovated rehearsal spaces with adaptable lighting and sound
- Extensive workshops and stores for set building and painting, costumes, lighting, and props
- Participate spaces which are designed as accessible and flexible rooms for community involvement
- Preservation and display of historic features from the original Victorian theatre, including the exterior façade, flywheel, and pulleys
- A fully renovated back-of-house, and staff area
Improved M&E and lighting for an excellent internal environment
Performance spaces have been fitted with new, efficient ventilation equipment, incorporating heat recovery. In the Victorian theatre, ventilation ducts are installed within under-seating voids to ensure the even distribution of fresh air. The system significantly improves the comfort and air quality of the theatre space by moderating temperature and removing CO2.
Upgrades to the existing building fabric and the well-insulated and airtight new foyer spaces will help reduce the building's energy use. The foyers incorporate a mixed-mode ventilation system combining the benefits of natural ventilation and MHVR to minimise energy use and are fitted with high-performance glazing to balance solar control with excellent daylight. A photovoltaic array offsets the building's electrical demand.
Max Fordham designed a dynamic lighting scheme throughout the building to highlight significant architectural elements and support clear wayfinding.
Our MEP design allows for detailed but intuitive energy metering systems, enabling Citizens to monitor energy use associated with particular shows and activities. Citizens will be able to report on this internally and externally and drive energy use reduction for both their own organisation and also for the wider industry.
Our project team
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