History: Artistic Directors - Tom Flemming 1965-66
The building, which the company now occupies and from which it takes its name, was completed in 1883. Built to a design by celebrated theatre architect CJ Phipps, its original capacity was 2,500 and it established a place in Edinburgh’s theatre scene as home to drama, opera and the more sophisticated forms of light entertainment. The D’Oyly Carte and Carl Rosa companies were among the visitors, and among the superstars of the early years were actor-manager Henry Irving, whose London-based company visited frequently, and actress Ellen Terry, both of whom have now lent their names to function rooms on the grand circle level.
By the early 1960s, however, a theatrical era was coming to an end. The Wilson Barrett Company, which occupied the Lyceum from 1939 to 1955, was the last of that period’s resident companies. After they left, the theatre became just another date on touring schedules, offering little home-grown product.
The theatre’s ownership also changed. Howard & Wyndham Ltd, which originally built the theatre and was still one of the major theatre operators of the day, sold it to the Meyer Oppenheim property firm. Its portfolio included several neighbouring buildings, and it became clear that its intention was to demolish the theatre and redevelop the whole area.
Given the key role the Lyceum had come to play in the burgeoning Edinburgh Festival, this prospect created alarm at the City Chambers. Edinburgh Corporation, albeit reluctantly, bought the theatre building for £100,000 on the eve of its closure on 26 February 1964.
The following year, in association with the Scottish Committee of the Arts Council (the forerunner of the modern-day Scottish Arts Council), the Corporation formed Edinburgh Civic Theatre Trust Ltd, which took over administration of the building and prepared a season of drama under the firmly internationalist artistic direction of Tom Fleming.
Tom Conti, Russell Hunter, Eileen McCallum and Una McLean were among the cast for the very first performance: Victor Carin’s Scots version of Goldini’s The Servant of Two Masters opened on Friday 1 October 1965.
The autumn season also included Police and Out At Sea by Polish playwright Slavomir Mrozek, To Scotland with Rhubarb by George Bruce and Brecht’s The Life of Galileo, in which Fleming took the lead role. The season was presented in repertory, a departure for the Lyceum and for Edinburgh audiences in general at the time.
The new company suffered from quick judgements on a concept which needed time to settle in. In truth, it was a successful season with just the Mrozek double bill failing to attract audiences. The Christmas show and spring season continued the good work, culminating in a commission for the 1966 Edinburgh International Festival. Fleming’s flamboyant production of The Burdies by Aristophanes became one of the most talked-about productions in festival history.
However, by this time Fleming had already resigned. The board, concerned by shortfalls in box office revenues, blamed artistic choices and proposed that future seasons should be approved by a sub-committee. Fleming felt he could not continue if he was not in sole control of programming, and left the Lyceum.
In just ten months, however, he had created a viable, vital, popular company. Speculation of the time was not about whether it would continue, but who would take over…?
Mike Ridings 2005