With so many theatres and cinemas in Edinburgh, you'll need someone to direct you...

There are so many theatres and cinemas in Edinburgh nowadays, we have become spoilt for choice. In fact, Edinburgh has played an significant role in the film industry since 1947 through its staging of the Edinburgh International Film Festival which started back in 1947.


I love a good film. It's a special feeling sitting in the dark with a bunch of complete strangers all interpreting the film in a different way. Unless you're watching Toy Story.


Unlike Amelie, however, I don't turn around and stare at people in the dark...


In a city which prides itself on its vibrant history and culture, theatres and cinemas in Edinburgh remain at the forefront of artistic expression not only during the Edinburgh Festival but also throughout the year.


I would like to give you some background information about the theatres and cinemas in Edinburgh so you can find your ideal motion picture or theatre production!


The Cameo


Maria von Trapp once said the beginning was a very good place to start. The Cameo, the oldest cinema in Edinburgh and one of the oldest in Scotland, has been in operation since 1914. It is one of two cinemas in Edinburgh to regularly show art house films and also classics from the past. The cinema is at 38, Home Street at the top of Lothian Road in the city centre.


I remember watching 2001: A Space Odyssey for the first time at the Cameo with a much-needed intermission about two hours in. A trip to the Cameo is almost like a pleasant step back in time as the cinema still retains its golden-age charm and original architecture.


The Cameo cinema provides a pure cinematic experience rather than just an entertaining movie and a box of popcorn.


Cineworld Fountainpark


One of the largest cinemas in Edinburgh, Cineworld at Fountainpark is part of an entertainment complex including bars, restaurants, a bowling alley and a gym.


It's location just outside the city centre also makes it one of the most popular cinemas in Edinburgh and, as a result, the cinema acts as a host for many of the Edinburgh International Film Festival's screenings in June each year.


The Dominion


This is perhaps my favourite of all the cinemas in Edinburgh partly due to nostalgia as my family took me there as a child and partly due to its warm, unique atmosphere.


The Dominion was opened just before the Second World War in 1938 and has been in private ownership ever since. With only four screens and a limited number of seats, the Dominion has an almost tangible family-run feel to it which is perhaps its greatest strength.


The best part...? The tiny (and I mean tiny) screen which is used for films which are nearing the end of their run. You really feel like you're getting a private screening.


The Filmhouse Edinburgh


The Filmhouse is arguably Edinburgh's leading cinema in terms of variety and cinematic scope.


Cinema one is used to screen the latest international releases while cinemas two and three focus on art house films and classics from cinematic history.


The home of the Edinburgh International Film Festival, The Filmhouse opened its doors in 1979 in an abandoned church on Lothian Road in the city centre.


The cinema was expanded over the next two decades to house three separate screens and a sizeable bar area.


Having hosted an array of inspirational cinematic dignitaries such as Martin Scorcese, Sean Connery and James Mason, the Filmhouse Edinburgh is without doubt a key player in the Scottish film industry.


Odeon Cinemas


Another key player in the Edinburgh cinema scene is the very successful company Odeon. They have two cinemas in Edinburgh, one on Lothian Road (you can call this 'cinema street'!) and another at the Westside Plaza in the suburb of Wester Hailes in south-west Edinburgh.


The Odeon has a number of different screens showing all the latest international releases. I recommend checking the website for the Lothian Road cinema and the Wester Hailes cinema for the latest listings.


Vue Cinemas


With two multi-screen cinemas at two of the largest entertainment complexes in Edinburgh, The Omni Centre and Ocean


Terminal, Vue is also one of the leading cinema companies in Edinburgh.


While the Ocean Terminal cinema tends to satisfy the demand in the north of Edinburgh, the Omni Centre cinema at the top of Leith Walk next to the Playhouse controls the market in that part of the city centre.


Both cinemas are popular with those looking to combine a film with a meal, drink or night out at a club.


The Edinburgh Playhouse Theatre


It is perhaps fitting to start with a theatre which used to be a cinema! The Edinburgh Playhouse Theatre is the UK's largest working theatre in terms of audience capacity. The theatre can seat a whopping 3,059 people.


The Playhouse, which is a stone's throw from the city centre at the top of Leith Walk next to the Omni Centre, was originally a giant cinema built in 1929. In recent times it has become an internationally renowned venue for theatre productions and concerts.


As well as putting on hugely successful productions of Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals such as Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat and Cats, the Playhouse has staged concerts by countless artists...U2, Queen, Bob Dylan and The Rolling Stones to mention but a few.


The Edinburgh Festival Theatre


The Festival Theatre with its striking glass facade is the city's longest-standing theatre.


Although the building has gone through numerous trials, tribulations (including a disastrous fire in 1911), renovations and identities, the Festival Theatre building has been a performing arts location since 1830!


The Festival Theatre we see before us today on Nicholson Street seats 1,915 people and is used primarily for opera, ballet and comedy performances as well as for musical acts.


As the name would suggest it is also one of the key Edinburgh Festival venues each year. Many household names such as Laurel and Hardy and Morecambe and Wise have performed at the Festival Theatre.


The Royal Lyceum Theatre


Built in 1883 by C.J Phipps, the Royal Lyceum Theatre is named after the Theatre Royal Lyceum in London and is situated on Grindlay Street just off Lothian Road.


Compared to the Edinburgh Playhouse Theatre and the Edinburgh Festival Theatre, the Royal Lyceum is relatively small with a capacity of 658. It is however a particularly eye-catching building due to its white stone facade.


The Royal Lyceum Theatre Company is based at the theatre throughout the year although during the weeks of the Edinburgh Festival, the Lyceum is rented out to the festival organisers to stage numerous theatre productions.


The King's Theatre Edinburgh


Perhaps Edinburgh's most impressive theatre in terms of architecture and interior design is the King's Theatre at 2, Leven Street. Built in 1906 with the aim of rivalling the Lyceum Theatre, the theatre in its original form was capable of seating around 2,500 guests.


Nowadays, with a capacity of 1,350, the King's Theatre is still one of the biggest and most important theatres in the country. What's more, the interior of the theatre is fit for a King. The use of mahogany, marble, intricate carvings and stained glass is extremely impressive and the three-tiered boxes on either side of the stage are particularly eye-catching.


The King's Theatre is renowned for its excellent pantomimes, to which many children are taken by their schools around Christmas time. The pantomimes often feature celebrities who are honoured to take part in what has become a long-standing theatrical tradition.


If you are lucky enough to be in Edinburgh around Christmas time, try to check out the pantomime!


The Traverse Theatre


Considered to be one of the most important theatres in the country, the 47 year old Traverse Theatre is unique in its dedication to supporting new works by both native and foreign writers.


During the Edinburgh Festival, the Traverse Theatre comes under the spotlight having built a reputation for uncovering exciting new talent, staging numerous world premieres and picking up a cabinet-full of awards.


If you are interested in brand-new theatre productions and the development of modern theatre, the Traverse Theatre should be at the top of your list!