The Ambassador Theatre Group: Press: Press Releases
Press Releases
Issued : 26 February 2002
The Ambassador Theatre Group Ltd (ATG), the second largest theatre operator in the UK, has won the tender for one of Scotland’s finest venues, the King’s Theatre in Glasgow.
Glasgow City Council’s Cultural and Leisure Services committee confirmed ATG as its preferred management contractor today (Tuesday 26 February).
Assuming that final contract negotiations are satisfactorily concluded, ATG’s central aim for the King’s would be to present high quality and accessible entertainment in a welcoming environment. This means programming well-known musicals, popular drama, variety, comedy, amateur productions, work for children and occasional international opera and ballet. The King’s has a successful and popular tradition of a pantomime with Scottish stars and a flavour of Scotland and Glasgow, which ATG recognises and would hope to maintain. ATG has already taken some of its own shows to the King’s, including musicals The Rocky Horror Show and Soul Train, and is presenting the play Bouncers there in May. Other recent ATG shows (Noises Off, HMS Pinafore and The Mystery of Charles Dickens) have appeared at the Theatre Royal.
As well as serving existing audiences, ATG would plan to use its marketing expertise to attract new and younger audiences.
Rosemary Squire, ATG’s executive director, said “We are absolutely delighted to have won the tender for this wonderful theatre, one that is so important to the city and its surroundings, and we are looking forward to progressing negotiations with relevant City Council officers, and discussing the details with our Board. With our experience in managing landmark theatres, and producing quality musicals and drama, we would hope to build on the King’s unique identity and develop the contribution it makes to a vigorous cultural and economic life in Glasgow and beyond.”
Bailie Liz Cameron, Convener of the Cultural and Leisure Services Committee, said "This is very exciting and I am happy to join with ATG to
herald a new era in the long and distinguished history of Glasgow's King's Theatre. The future of this A-listed monument to the greats of comedy, drama and variety over the past 100 years is now assured. More than anything else, it is clear that ATG are theatre people through and through. I look forward to working in partnership with them to fully realise the potential of this marvellous venue."
All of the current staff at the theatre would become employees of ATG.
The King’s is an historic A-listed building, designed in the early 1900s by leading theatre architect, Frank Matcham. It has a capacity of over 1600.