King's Theatre People's Archive launched

The Scotsman

Jane Bradley speaks to Capital Theatres' Abbey Pendlebury about the new People's Archive for Edinburgh's King's Theatre.

Transcript

00:00I'm here at the Festival Theatre with Abby Pendlebury, who is a Heritage Engagement Manager

00:06for Capital Theatres.

00:07And we're here today to talk about the new People's Archive at the King's Theatre, which

00:11is currently undergoing renovation.

00:13That's correct.

00:14Yeah.

00:15So can you tell me a little bit about the People's Archive and what it entails?

00:18The People's Archive is a digital exploration into the over 119 histories of the King's

00:25story, really.

00:26It has everything from programs and photographs.

00:30We have personal letters, paintings that used to be in places like the Cruickshank Room.

00:35And we also have a beautiful letter, which was uncovered in a message in a bottle back

00:42in December.

00:43And from this, we've been able to dive into some of the stories of people who worked at

00:47the King's and were involved in the construction of the King's.

00:50They hid this message in a bottle which was found behind a piece of plaster in the wall.

00:55Yeah.

00:56It was actually hidden behind a crown, which is quite nice given as the King's, above the

01:01pellet, above the stage.

01:02So it means that every audience member that has ever gone to see a show has actually been

01:06able to see the message.

01:07We just didn't have that.

01:08Absolutely.

01:09Brilliant.

01:10And you've tracked down quite a few of the descendants of the people who were the builders

01:12and the plasterers and the general construction workers.

01:15I'd like to say that we tracked them down.

01:16But honestly, when we found a message in the bottle and the first bit of press went out

01:20about it, a number of people contacted us.

01:22And they said, oh, I see my family member there.

01:25Or I did a genealogy project when I was nine.

01:27That's true.

01:28And we actually brought in a book, a school project that they had done when they were

01:31really little.

01:32And we have that in the archive now.

01:33And so we've actually been able to track down descendants of about three of the plasterers.

01:37We have the architect, the draftsman, and the contractors.

01:41So we've got quite a wide array.

01:43But I think what makes this letter so special is it shows how many connections are still

01:48armed to the Kings.

01:49And so with the launch of the People's Archive, we were able to actually invite in some of these

01:53descendants to share their stories and their memories to make them a part of this new

01:58digital exhibition.

01:59And when the Kings finally reopens, there's going to be some of this archive is going

02:04to be available for people to actually come and look at.

02:06Yes, we are going to have new heritage displays around the building that share and showcase

02:11some of these stories.

02:12We are also going to be able to update material on the People's Archive pretty regularly.

02:17And when the Kings reopens, we're going to match whatever we have on site with what

02:22is online so that if people want to come and see the physical items, to go through some

02:26of these programs, photographs, letters, and more, they're welcome to just book a time

02:30and come and check it out.

02:31And it will be available online as well.

02:33Yes.

02:34Fantastic, right?

02:35Sorry.

02:36I agree.

02:37You can edit it.

02:38It's notable.

02:39Yeah.

02:40The full archive, the full physical archive is hosted at the Edinburgh City Archives,

02:45but the People's Archive sits on our website on CapitolTheaters.com, so anybody can check

02:49it out.

02:50Brilliant.

02:51Thank you very much.

02:52Thank you so much.

02:53Thank you so much.

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