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The Britannia Panopticon is generally open Thursdays through Saturdays from 12pm to 4pm. Check with venue for special events and restrictions.
Join us for a FREE Open Day to celebrate our 125th birthday – a momentous occasion. On Saturday 21st September we will be opening our doors to all to explore our Grade II* Listed venue. There’s no need to pre-book, just come and visit us between 11am and 3pm.
You’ll be able to take the mic and light up our stage, peek into our dressing rooms, delve into our archives and take part in fun activities suitable for all ages. Our bars will be serving drinks and refreshments, and our Box Office will be ready for you to secure your tickets for our upcoming season of shows!
Join us for our free Open Day on Saturday 21st September to celebrate our 125th birthday. No sign-up necessary, just drop in from 11am!
There is no better way to get into the magic of Theatre than with an expertly guided Tour! Book now to see our 123-year-old historic building in all its glory, and we mean all - learn about its past, present, and future, on this access all areas 1-hour experience.
Located opposite the infamous Richmond Palace, discover more about our Theatre in an exciting way; including the historical beauty of our Grade II listed building, and other intriguing facts, as you join us for one of our expertly Guided Tours.
Each tour begins at 11am and will run for approximately 1hr - please allow a total of 90 mins to include time for questions. If you’re interested in booking a private tour for a small group, please contact richmondboxoffice@theambassadors.com 
for times and pricing.
Join us as we welcome you backstage to see exactly how the magic of theatre is created behind the big red curtain.
Take a bow on a stage where the world’s greatest artists have performed and hear about the vast artistic history of Edinburgh Playhouse.
Tours will last approximately 60 – 90 minutes. Tours do not include a show ticket. Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult. The tour will focus on the history of the Playhouse, and you will get the chance to see behind the scenes of a show in our venue.
If you have any access needs, please do get in touch before your visit. For group bookings of 10 or more call 020 7206 1174.
There is no better way to get into the magic of Theatre than with an expertly guided Tour! Book now to see our 123-year-old historic building in all its glory, and we mean all - learn about its past, present, and future, on this access all areas 1-hour experience.
Located opposite the infamous Richmond Palace, discover more about our Theatre in an exciting way; including the historical beauty of our Grade II listed building, and other intriguing facts, as you join us for one of our expertly Guided Tours.
Each tour begins at 11am and will run for approximately 1hr - please allow a total of 90 mins to include time for questions. If you’re interested in booking a private tour for a small group, please contact richmondboxoffice@theambassadors.com for times and pricing.
Join us for an evening with James Naughtie, in aid of The Lyceum, hosted by our Artistic Director, David Greig.
A mainstay of British political commentary during his 21 years on Radio 4’s Today programme from 1994 to 2015, Scottish broadcaster James Naughtie led every BBC UK election results programme from 1997 onwards.? Having begun his journalistic career in 1975 at the Aberdeen Press & Journal, he went on to become the Guardian’s Chief Political Correspondent, and was named Journalist of the Year 1984 by the Scottish Press Awards.
In this one-off event as part of our ‘Evening With...’ fundraising series, James joins us for an in-depth exploration of his life and work at the top of British political journalism.?
Join us as we welcome you backstage to see exactly how the magic of theatre is created behind the big red curtain.
Take a bow on a stage where the world’s greatest artists have performed and hear about the vast artistic history of Edinburgh Playhouse.
Tours will last approximately 60 – 90 minutes. Tours do not include a show ticket. Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult. The tour will focus on the history of the Playhouse, and you will get the chance to see behind the scenes of a show in our venue.
If you have any access needs, please do get in touch before your visit. For group bookings of 10 or more call 020 7206 1174.
There is no better way to get into the magic of Theatre than with an expertly guided Tour! Book now to see our 123-year-old historic building in all its glory, and we mean all - learn about its past, present, and future, on this access all areas 1-hour experience.
Located opposite the infamous Richmond Palace, discover more about our Theatre in an exciting way; including the historical beauty of our Grade II listed building, and other intriguing facts, as you join us for one of our expertly Guided Tours.
Each tour begins at 11am and will run for approximately 1hr - please allow a total of 90 mins to include time for questions. If you’re interested in booking a private tour for a small group, please contact richmondboxoffice@theambassadors.com for times and pricing.
Join us for an evening with Denise Mina and Chris Brookmyre, in aid of The Lyceum, hosted by our Artistic Director, David Greig.
Prolific Scots crime writer, Denise Mina, is the author of the Garnethill trilogy, the Paddy Meehan series, the Alex Morrow series and much more. Inducted into the Crime Writers’ Association Hall of Fame in 2024, her novel The Long Drop won the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Book of the Year in 2017.
She is joined by one of Britain’s leading crime writers, Chris Brookmyre, whose novels have sold more than two million copies in the UK alone. Hailed as “scal[ing] new heights of invention” by the Times Literary Supplement, his ‘tartan noir’ novels have won numerous awards, including the same prestigious McIlvanney Prize.
Join us as we welcome you backstage to see exactly how the magic of theatre is created behind the big red curtain.
Take a bow on a stage where the world’s greatest artists have performed and hear about the vast artistic history of Edinburgh Playhouse.
Tours will last approximately 60 – 90 minutes. Tours do not include a show ticket. Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult. The tour will focus on the history of the Playhouse, and you will get the chance to see behind the scenes of a show in our venue.
If you have any access needs, please do get in touch before your visit. For group bookings of 10 or more call 020 7206 1174.
Join us for an evening with Alan Cumming, in aid of The Lyceum, hosted by beloved broadcaster, Kirsty Wark.
Alan Cumming is a true polymath: an award-winning actor, author, photographer, podcaster, presenter and more. With projects ranging from solo dance-theatre to his recently Emmy-nominated turn as the host of global cultural phenomenon, The Traitors, Alan also has four honorary doctorates, and over forty awards for his humanitarian and philanthropic work.
From the beloved double act Victor and Barry (created with drama school pal Forbes Masson) who were the toast of the Edinburgh Festival in the 1980s, to his multi award-winning role as the Emcee in Cabaret on Broadway and in the West End, theatre is in Alan’s blood. He first appeared on The Lyceum stage in 1986 as part of the repertory company, playing roles in Tartuffe, and A Streetcar Named Desire.
In this special one-off event as part of our ‘Evening with…’ fundraising series, we welcome Alan back to The Lyceum stage, and look forward to an intimate and personal insight into his life and career. Prepare your burning questions as afterward there will be a Q&A session.
There is no better way to get into the magic of Theatre than with an expertly guided Tour! Book now to see our 123-year-old historic building in all its glory, and we mean all - learn about its past, present, and future, on this access all areas 1-hour experience.
Located opposite the infamous Richmond Palace, discover more about our Theatre in an exciting way; including the historical beauty of our Grade II listed building, and other intriguing facts, as you join us for one of our expertly Guided Tours.
Each tour begins at 11am and will run for approximately 1hr - please allow a total of 90 mins to include time for questions. If you’re interested in booking a private tour for a small group, please contact richmondboxoffice@theambassadors.com for times and pricing.
Join us for an evening with Sir Alexander McCall Smith, in aid of The Lyceum, hosted by our Artistic Director, David Greig.
One of the world’s most prolific and best-loved authors, McCall Smith’s The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency?series has sold over twenty million copies in the English language alone.
Join us for an exclusive one-time event in our ’Evening with...’ fundraising series, where you’ll gain a unique and personal insight into Sir Sandy’s writing and career. Be ready to ask your most pressing questions during the interactive Q&A session that follows.
Poet, dramatist, writer and former Makar, Jackie Kay, joins The Lyceum for an evening exploring her writing and career in aid of the theatre. Bring your questions for the interactive Q&A session that will follow.
With a career spanning poetry, plays, children’s writing, short stories, prose and the novel, Kay is a star of Scottish literature – a true national treasure.
Jackie Kay was born and brought up in Scotland. She is the author of—among other books—The Adoption Papers, which won the Forward Prize, Red Dust Road, winner of the Scottish Book of the Year Award, Trumpet, and the Costa-shortlisted Fiere. She was the third Makar, or National Poet for Scotland (2016-2021). She is a Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Salford. Her new collection MAY DAY was published in 2024 to great acclaim.
Photographs copyright © 2002-2024 Mike Hume / Historic Theatre Photos unless otherwise noted.
Text copyright © 2017-2024 Mike Hume / Historic Theatre Photos.
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