Victorian-era statues return to Citizens Theatre rooftop

Stone statues are being installed in their new elevated positions above the Citizens Theatre in the Gorbals.

They represent William Shakespeare, Robert Burns and four Greek goddesses - Melpomene, who represents tragedy, Thalia, who represents comedy, Euterpe for song and poetry, and Terpsichore, the goddess of dance.

The sculptures share a close history with the theatre as they adorned the front of the building as part of a shared façade with the Palace Theatre when it first opened in 1878.

After surviving a fire and demolition in 1977 when the Palace Theatre was condemned, they were installed in the foyer in 1989.

Now as the Citizens is undergoing the final phase of its redevelopment, architects Bennetts Associates have helped return the masterpieces to the rooftop.

Shakespeare being rescued from the roof after the fire, 1977 (Image: Contributed)

The roof of the Palace Theatre. Photo by John Crallan (Image: John Cranan)

They have been restored by Scottish sculptor David J Mitchell. 

James Nelmes, director of Bennetts Associates, said: “It’s exciting to see a key part of our design for the redevelopment of the Citizens Theatre come to fruition.

"The statues on the roof will sit alongside pink neon and black brick encompassing the many old and new traditions that make up the identity of the building.

"The Citz has always married its heritage with a contemporary, international outlook and we have reflected that in our design.

"The redevelopment will deliver spaces and experiences full of character, reflecting the unique and idiosyncratic nature of the theatre building and company.”

A large focus of the redevelopment of the theatre has been on preserving its unique heritage and maintaining as many of its original features as possible.

The Victorian paint frame and stage machinery - the only surviving example of nineteenth-century stage machinery in Scotland – will have new public access when the building work is completed.

It is expected to be finished in the summer of next year, allowing creative work to get underway by autumn 2024.

Alex McGowan, executive director and joint CEO of the theatre, added: “I’m delighted to see the restored statues return to the roof of the theatre as we mark another significant milestone in our journey to re-opening.

"We also hope it is an exciting moment in the wider regeneration of the Gorbals as we restore and reimagine a visual landmark for our local area.

"The Citz is an iconic building with a huge history, but its beautiful Victorian features were hidden behind an uninviting yellow brick facade.

"The new frontage to the theatre completely transforms that.

"Throughout the project, audiences have enthused about the statues that welcomed them to the theatre for decades in our old foyer.

"Now they are back in their historic position, as they were 145 years ago, ready to welcome people back to the Citz when we re-open our doors next year."