Regal Community Theatre

The Regal Community Theatre stands in Bathgate, West Lothian, on North Bridge Street. It is a three-storey Art Deco building with a flat roof, built in 1938 by the Leven-based architect Andrew David Haxton. The entrance front faces south and has five bays, decorated with plasterwork, colossal pilasters and stylised keystones. A colourful REGAL logo adorns the façade, and the outer two-storey elements are particularly striking. The building became a listed building in 1999 and was upgraded to Category B in 2008, largely because of the plasterwork by John Alexander. The theatre is worth the journey because it blends professional and community programming under the Reconnect Regal Theatre project. Reconnect took over the Regal in 2018 and has since grown its popularity, though the building still needs modernisation and restoration. Plans include reinstating the balcony, restoring the auditorium, opening up the bar space and adding a fly tower to attract professional touring theatre. The revamped venue will have 500 seats and serve both regional and local community needs. Until recently, the building was also home to Regal Radio and Regal Animation. Inside, the foyer has terrazzo-tiled floors and plasterwork ceilings, with original stained-glass windows partially preserved. The lower walls are clad in walnut veneer, and small exhibition rooms occupy both the ground floor and the second floor. Stairs lead from the foyer to the gallery and the upstairs bar, though the gallery itself has been converted into an office. The building’s interior still reflects its original purpose as a cinema and community venue, offering film, music, theatre, comedy, children’s events and workshops.