Brunton Theatre

The Brunton Theatre stands in Musselburgh, East Lothian, as part of the Brunton Memorial Hall complex. The building is made of textured concrete and glass, designed by William Kininmonth. A gilded relief sculpture by Thomas Whalen decorates the front. The theatre opened in 1971 after a bequest from John D. Brunton funded its creation. His father had founded the Brunton Wireworks in the town. The complex also housed council offices from the start. The theatre was a mid-scale venue for plays, music, dance and cinema for over fifty years. Its main hall seated 500 and the theatre itself held 300, with clear sightlines in both spaces. Productions ranged from pantomimes and local amateur shows to touring companies and major adaptations. Notable seasons included works by Joan Littlewood, William Shakespeare and Agatha Christie. The building hosted Edinburgh International Festival productions and fringe companies like Catherine Wheels. Visitors found two main performance spaces inside the concrete-and-glass structure. The upstairs hall presented classical concerts and cinema screenings. Downstairs, the theatre staged drama, comedy and dance. The facade’s gilded sculpture caught the light on the town’s main street. The complex’s council offices formed part of the same building. Though now closed, its architectural place in Musselburgh remains.