Eden Court Theatre (Scottish Gaelic: Cùirt an Easbaig, "Bishop's Court") is a large theatre, cinema and arts venue situated in Inverness, Scotland close to the banks of the River Ness. The theatre has recently undergone a complete refurbishment and major extension, adding a second theatre, two dedicated cinema screens, two performance/dance studios, improved dressing room and green room facilities
- Venue
- Eden Court Theatre
- Address
- Bishop’s Road, Inverness, Highland, IV3 5SA, Scotland
- Town
- Highland, GB
Eden Court Theatre (Scottish Gaelic: Cùirt an Easbaig, "Bishop's Court") is a large theatre, cinema and arts venue situated in Inverness, Scotland close to the banks of the River Ness. The theatre has recently undergone a complete refurbishment and major extension, adding a second theatre, two dedicated cinema screens, two performance/dance studios, improved dressing room and green room facilities and additional office space. The theatre's restaurant and bar facilities have also been totally overhauled and improved. Plans for a theatre, restaurant and dance hall were first put forward in November 1967, and lengthy negotiations followed. The Eden Court Theatre was formally opened on 15 April 1976 by Andrew Cruickshank MBE, an actor best known for his portrayal of Dr Cameron in BBC's long-running series "Dr Finlay's Casebook". It was built on a site next to the Ness river, and incorporated the Gothic Bishop's Palace residence (from which it took its name) into a new building designed by architects Law Dunbar and Naismith. The theatre was at that time a revolution to Inverness, and the wider Highland Region. It provided modern theatre performance space for the first time since the early 1930s. Inverness had previously had a number of theatres, including the Theatre Royal, previously situated on Bank Street, which burned down in 1934 and the Empire Theatre on Academy Street. This theatre had originally opened as The Central Hall Picture House in 1912, but after the Theatre Royal burned down, it was converted to a fully functioning theatre and reopened as the Empire around 1934. The building was designed by A. Ross & Son and was eventually demolished in 1971. Many famous names performed at this popular venue: Harry Lauder, Renee Houston and Calum Kennedy and The Corries, to name a few. Today the modern Penta Hotel building stands in its place. A theatre originally built as an Opera House, with full stage facilities, by the name of The Playhouse, also existed in Inverness