BILLY Connolly once joked it was like performing inside a wedding cake. But for the past 105 years, the King's Theatre has held a special place in the hearts of Glasgow theatre-goers.

Now the curtain has risen on an ambitious six-year project to transform the Bath Street theatre.

The Grade A listed venue is embarking on an extraordinary facelift.

Stage one of the grand plan is the replacement of around 1000 seats in the stalls and grand circle, at a cost of £350,000.

To help fund the refurbishment, members of the public are being invited to take part in a new seat sponsorship scheme.

Theatre lovers can pay to have a seat dedicated to a loved one, a favourite actor, stage play or even themselves. For around £300 they can have a permanent plaque with the name of their loved one and a personal message on their chosen seat.

The scheme is part of a wider £7.2million facelift of the Bath Street theatre which should be completed in time for the Commonwealth Games in 2014.

The plans include upgrading the theatre's air conditioning, the installation of a new stage and returning the former grand saloon bar to its former splendour.

Actor Karen Dunbar, a frequent star at the King's, including last year's Cinderellla pantomime, is backing the scheme.

She said: "The King's is your theatre, and this is a unique way for the Scottish public to literally become part of its fixtures and fittings.

"Why not dedicate a seat to a loved one, a pet or even your favourite Scottish comedic actress/singer."

Fellow King's panto legend Gerard Kelly said: "For years the King's has been putting on top shows and attracting packed houses. We've put so many bums on seats we appear to have worn the seats out.

"Modesty prevents me suggesting that one should be dedicated to me, but I will remind everyone that Gerard is spelled with two Rs'," he laughed.

Seat replacement starts this summer with an authentic period design.

Plans have been under way since 2007 to restore the King's to its former grandeur. Glasgow City Council owns the theatre, which it has leased for 21 years to Glasgow Theatres Ltd, part of the Ambassador Theatre Group.

Richard Wingate, chief executive of Glasgow Theatres Ltd, said: "We are delighted to offer the people of Glasgow, and beyond, the opportunity to get involved first hand with the restoration of this best-loved theatre.

"Sponsoring a seat at the King's Theatre will contribute significantly to the assistance of this ambitious programme of restoration."

One of the first people to sign up to the seat dedication scheme is Rhona Walters, a district publicity co-ordinator for the King's.

More than most, Rhona knows the colourful history of the grand theatre. Part of her job remit is to give guided tours of the Bath Street building.

The theatre first opened its doors on September 12, 1904. It was designed by Frank Matcham and built at a cost of £50,000, equivalent in today's money to £3.5m.

"There are 1785 seats in the theatre," says Rhona, "but back in 1904 before health and safety and fire regulations they would regularly crush 2500 people into the theatre.

"In those days you could bring babes in arms."

Rhona has a well-stocked arsenal of facts about the theatre.

LIKE the winged cupids on the stage's proscenium arch, the ornate fixture about centre stage. "I was talking to people who were in the Glasgow Gang Show," she says, "and they mentioned the two cupids have names. The one on the left is Peely and the other one is Wally.

"And the Queen has visited the theatre twice," adds Rhona, "once in 1977 and in 1990. In 1977 she saw the Jackson 5 and Dolly Parton."

It's not just royalty - pop or otherwise - who have tread the boards at the King's. Every actor of note has performed for appreciative Glasgow audiences.

From acting heavyweights such as Laurence Olivier and Ralph Richardson to Hollywood superstars Katharine Hepburn and Vivien Leigh and homegrown talent such as Stanley Baxter, Rikki Fulton and Jack Milroy.

Like all theatres, the King's is rich with superstition. "A lot of ex-sailors used to come to work in the theatre as backstage crew," says Rhona. They would use ropes to shift heavy scenery and, as is the seafaring tradition, would whistle instructions to each other - hence the superstition of not whistling in the theatre.

"In the old days," says Rhona, "it might have been mistaken for an instruction to drop a piece of scenery. It could have been disastrous."

One of the biggest changes the theatre has witnessed in its 105-year history, says Rhona, is the technical aspect of staging a show, especially when it comes to scenery.

"When the theatre first opened, three or four wheelbarrows were sent down to the old St Enoch station to collect the scenery which arrived by train."

By contrast, the scenery for a recent production of Miss Saigon was housed in 28 articulated lorries.

THAT took three days to unload," laughs Rhona, who has sponsored a seat in the grand circle in memory of her father John.

John would often bring a young Rhona to the theatre and she has fond memories of pantomime favourites such as Stanley Baxter.

"My mum and dad were both great theatre goers - and my mum, Janet, still is. I chose a seat in the grand circle because there was one occasion, their wedding anniversary, and a fabulous show called Five Guys Named Moe.

"We had bought them a couple of seats as a gift, but unbeknown to them had also bought the two seats beside them, so my husband George and I turned up and sat beside them.

"I thought sponsoring a seat for my dad would be a nice reminder."

lFor more information on how to dedicate a seat call 0141 240 1300 or visit www.ambassadortickets.com/glasgow and scroll down and click on the news section.