Glasgow Theatre Shows and Venues

Glasgow is home to some of the best theatres and concert venues in Scotland and the UK. With a thriving music and theatre scene, people from all over the world visit this great city just to catch a show or see their favorite artist perform.

Some of the top theatres in town include:

Theatre Royal

The Theatre Royal is the best-known venue in Glasgow with a long history. The theatre first opened in 1867 and was then known as the Royal Colosseum and Opera House. In 1869, the theatre changed its name to the Theatre Royal – a much easier name to remember.

The Theatre Royal is the home of the Scottish Ballet and Scottish Opera.

The theatre puts on a variety of productions, including dance, theatre, musicals, comedy, kid shows, live music and more.

The Theatre Royal is located at 282 Hope Street, and show tickets can be purchased online, at the box office or over the phone.

Tron Theatre

The Tron Theatre first opened in 1979 as a theatre club. Members of the club took over the old Tron Kirk in the 1980s and began staging plays in the Victorian Bar while the Kirk was being transformed into a suitable auditorium.

The theatre flourished between 1986 and 1996 under Michael Boyd’s leadership, with now-famous performers Peter Mullan, Alan Cumming, Siobhan Redmond, Craig Ferguson and Craig Armstrong making appearances on stage.

In the 1990s, the theatre underwent renovation to add a café-bar and improve its facilities.

Along with theatre production, Tron also hosts several festivals, including: Glasgay!, Celtic Connections, Glasgow Comedy Festival, and the Glasgow International Jazz Festival.

The theatre is located at 63 Tronsgate. Tickets can be purchased online, over the phone or at the box office.

Citizens Theatre

The Citizens Theatre, better known as The Citz, is at the heart of the city’s theatre scene and is the main producing theatre in Scotland. Throughout its history, many famous faces have graced the theatre’s stage, including Helen Baxendale, Rupert Everett, Pierce Brosnan, Sean Bean, Tim Roth, Gary Oldman, Robbie Coltrane and Alan Rickman.

Today, the theatre continues to succeed in the local theatre scene, with award-winning productions like Betrayal by Harold Pinter and King Lear. Stephen Jeffrey’s The Libertine was also critically acclaimed.

Located at 119 Gorbals Street, Citizens Theatre is a must-see for anyone visiting Glasgow.

King’s Theatre

Owned by the Glasgow City Council, King’s Theatre opened in 1903 and is the sister theatre of Theatre Royal.

King’s theatre is primarily a receiving theatre and plays host to several productions, including touring versions of West End productions and Broadway musicals. Dance shows and comedians also host shows at the venue.

Many major shows have passed through the King’s Theatre, including Thriller Live, Wicked, The Full Monty and Dirty Dancing.

The theatre is hard to miss, with its architectural mix of art noveau and baroque styles. The building’s unique look makes it one of Glasgow’s most recognisable buildings.

King’s Theatre is on 297 Bath Street.

Cottlers Theatre

Housed in an imposing neo-gothic former church – the Dowanhill Parish Church – the Cottlers Theatre sits on Hyndland Streeet and has been operating as a theatre since 1992.

The venue can accommodate up to 206 people, and offers a diverse programme of community and independent theatre productions.

Patrons come to Cottlers for more than just theatre; the extensive beer garden is impressive and an attraction all its own. In the warm months, the barbecue and quaint outdoor setting attracts visitors from all over. In the cold winter months, the indoor bar offers respite from the cold and rain. The bar features rustic stone flooring and vintage décor with an open fire. Of course, the range of beers on tap is the main draw – and worth the visit.

A formal restaurant is located in the upstairs attic, and serves Scottish cuisine in a romantic setting.

Tramway

The Tramway is located in the former Pollokshields tram depot. The venue serves as a multi-arts space which hosts a variety of commissions, including theatre, experimental music, visual art, dance and everything in between.

The venue boasts two theatres, two galleries, a studio space, café and Hidden Gardens. The gardens is a public space in the rear of the building.

Tramway 2 is the largest gallery in the venue and spans 1,011 square metres. The gallery is one of the largest in Europe.

The Pavilion Theatre

The Pavilion Theatre hosts a variety of shows, from comedic performances to Christmas panto and psychics. Known as the National Theatre of Variety, it’s always a good time when you see a show at the Pavilion.

The theatre opened in 1904 as a music hall and at the time, was representative of the luxury and flashiness of the rococo style from Louis XV’s time.