The Citizens' Theatre Company was established in 1943 by a group of prominent businessmen and art lovers in Glasgow, led by playwright James Bridie. The initial intention was to provide a venue for Scots plays using Scottish actors - a national theatre for Scotland. The production illustrated here - Robert McLellan's Jamie the Saxt - is an example.
The company’s early performances were staged at the Athenaeum Theatre but in 1945 it took up the offer of a ten year lease on the Royal Princess's Theatre in Gorbals, renaming it the Citizens' Theatre. When the lease expired in 1955, the theatre was purchased by Glasgow Corporation and leased back to the company.
Reference: Mitchell Library, Theatre Collection
Reproduced with the permission of Glasgow City Council, Libraries Information and Learning
Keywords:
Athenaeum Theatre, Citizens' Theatre, drama, Glasgow Corporation, Jamie the Saxt, Royal Princess's Theatre, theatres