The Opera House, Kilmarnock

Located in John Finnie Street (where the shell of the old Sandrianne Public House stands today), the Opera House was opened in 1875.  It was the first substantial theatre in Kilmarnock although there had been numerous forerunners in the previous 40 years.  Contemporary accounts refer to the venue as the New Theatre.

1.   The New Theatre in John Finnie Street circa 1875.

2.   The Opera House was destroyed by fire.  This is the
      vacant site seen from Strand Street.

3.   The Opera House facade on John Finnie Street, viewed
      the from the south west.

4.   The Opera House facade on John Finnie Street, viewed
      from the north west.

5.   The northern end of John Finnie Street viewed from
      Langlands Brae.

6.   Facade of Opera House showing scaffolding protecting
      the structure and stone carvings.

Like the earlier theatres in Kilmarnock, the Opera House had a few years of popularity, but this did not last.  By the turn of the century patrons were able to travel to Glasgow where a wide variety of entertainment offered or found other attractions in the burgh.

The theatre, described as an Italianate style opera house, was designed by the father and son team, James and Robert Ingram.  It was erected by a Joint-Stock Company at a cost of £7000. The architects, builders and joiners were all local; Andrew Calderwood, who later worked on the Burns Monument with Robert Ingram, was the builder and James Rome, the joiner. The foundation stone was laid by John Gilmour Esq. of Elmbank.

The first lessees of the building were Messrs Glover and Francis, established theatrical managers at the Royal Theatre in Glasgow. The first show to be performed in the building was "Guy Mannering" by Sir Walter Scott.

Describing the theatre, Archibald Adamson notes that it is a building that far surpasses anything of its kind in the West of Scotland. The interior is commodious, beautifully fitted up, and is of large proportions. The front, which is Corinthian and elaborately ornamental - is gracefully chaste.

After the Opera House fell dark in the late 1890's, it functioned as a church (circa 1930/40) and latterly a pub and night club. The Facade, a B listed structure, remains after fire destroyed the building in 1989.  The ruined building was demolished in January 1992.

In 2003 the local authority gave outline planning approval to an application for a hotel and retail development, incorporating the remaining facade. Plans include a basement retail unit of 546 sq. m. with a 5 floor hotel above.

There is no information on the stage or other facilities in the house and the building is not recorded on the Theatre Trust database.

Ref.: Rambles Round Kilmarnock
A R Adamson( 1875)
Published by T Stevenson, Kilmarnock Standard

For further information please follow this LINK

1.  Dean Castle Photographic Collection  ©East Ayrshire Council.

2, 3, 4 & 6. Date: 18th February, 2010
5  Date 5 January 2010
Photographer: Mike Bailey