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Glasgow's Citizens Theatre wins best in Britain award

News imageMark Liddell The Citizens' modern frontage with a neon red sign showing its name while the six ornamental statues (of Shakespeare, Burns and four Greek muses) are illuminated above. Mark Liddell
Glasgow's Citizens Theatre won the top award at the new Great British Theatre Awards

Glasgow's Citizens Theatre has been named as Britain's top theatre in a new nationwide award.

The inaugural Great British Theatre Awards were hosted by the Theatres Trust, an advisory body for the stage industry, to mark the organisation's 50th anniversary.

"The Citz" was named as the Great British Theatre of 2026 and was also praised for the "remarkable transformation" that brought it back into use after seven years.

After originally closing in 2018 for a three-year renovation, the theatre went through several years of uncertainty as costs spiralled and work was delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

News imageGetty Images The theatre's historic neoclassical facade with Greek-style columns and the six statues displayed on top. The Palace bingo hall, where a fire broke out in 1977, can also be seen on the right hand side.Getty Images
The neo-classical facade of the original theatre was torn down after a fire at The Palace bingo hall

It reopened for community events in August 2025 before welcoming its first production the following month.

The refurbishment aimed to preserve the theatre's Category B-listed sandstone auditorium and its Victorian-era stage equipment while also improving the space's accessibility and modernising its facade, backstage area, foyer and bar.

The Great British Theatre Award judges said the Citizens "embodies the spirit of the awards".

It also scooped the award for "Great Renovation", with its conservation being highlighted alongside its role in providing an open community hub for the rapidly redeveloping Laurieston neighbourhood, south of the river Clyde.

News imageMark Liddell The B-listed Victorian auditorium has been restored in the refurbishment. It's iconic gold decorations and red seating can be seen lit by a grand chandelierMark Liddell
The Victorian-era interior of the main theatre

The building's history as a performance space dates back to 1878 when it was built as the Southside's first theatre.

It gained its current name in 1945 when the Citizens Theatre Company relocated there.

In 1977, a fire at the neighbouring Palace bingo hall rendered some of the building unsafe, resulting in its iconic neo-classical facade being torn down.

This also saw the removal of one of the most famous aspects of the original design – six statues of William Shakespeare, Robert Burns and four Greek muses.

After deteriorating in storage, a lengthy and difficult restoration process has allowed them to now be returned to the theatre's roof.

A new 150-seater studio theatre has also been created in the renovation, allowing smaller productions to utilise the space.