OnFife and Fife Council confirm opening plans for Adam Smith Theatre

This article is more than 1 year old

OnFife and Fife Council are delighted to be able to share that there will be a summer of celebratory and community taster events in the build-up to the official grand reopening of the Adam Smith Theatre in September.

The first of these events will put the venue on the international stage when, as a key partner in the Adam Smith Global Foundation Tricentennial Celebrations, it will host the events in June.

Following on from the Tricentenary, staff will move back into the building full-time and there will be a period of snagging, training and inductions. The functionality of all interior spaces will be put to test, as comprehensive run-throughs of its spaces and functions take place inclusive of the refurbished Beveridge Suite, the Café/Bar, the brand-new Design Suite and a new multi-purpose function room.

More details will follow as dates are confirmed but you can look forward to venue tours and showcase and taster events throughout the summer as OnFife works with the local, business and creative communities. This will give people the opportunity to get involved in the Adam Smith again and to find out more about how this much-loved venue is being transformed into a cultural hub in the heart of Kirkcaldy.

The redevelopment of the Adam Smith has been a major capital investment by Fife Council and there has been an excellent working relationship with OnFife throughout this project.

While the pandemic disrupted the original timings for the project, a reworking of the proposals in 2020/21 allowed the scope of the work to be expanded to take in work that was scheduled to take place later, minimising future disruption at the theatre.

A robust marketing campaign will be in place from early next year to promote the variety of uses and opportunities the new facilities will offer.

Announcing the reopening timing now enables work to progress on the Autumn Theatre programming inclusive of working closely with local amateur musical and drama groups, with an exciting return to a full programme for audiences for 2023/24.

Linda Erskine, Fife Council's spokesperson for communities, said: "The Adam Smith has been at the heart of our town for more than a century and is one of Kirkcaldy's finest assets.  The multi-million-pound investment that's been made in this iconic building will guarantee its future for many years to come.

"There's a lot of affection for the Adam Smith in Kirkcaldy and it has been missed by the community whilst the refurbishment has been underway.  I'm very excited for it to be open again and bringing people back into the town."

Michelle Sweeney, OnFife’s Director of Creative Development, said: “The reopening of the Adam Smith in 2023 will mark the start of another new chapter for this iconic building, which has evolved to meet the needs of the people of Kirkcaldy and beyond throughout its 123-year history.

“It will be returning as a venue which is at the heart of culture in Kirkcaldy positioned as it is to serve our local, creative and business communities.  We cannot wait to have the doors open again and to see the place teeming with life.”