The Brunton Theatre is a building in Musselburgh, East Lothian, Scotland that was a mid-scale performing arts venue 1971–2023. It is part of a wider complex, incorporating council offices, called Brunton Memorial Hall.

The building is textured concrete and glass, and was designed by William Kininmonth, with a gilded relief sculpture by the Scottish sculptor Thomas Whalen on the facade.

History The name derives from John D. Brunton, son of John Brunton, the founder of the Brunton Wireworks. He died in 1951 and left a bequest of £700,000 to the people of Musselburgh for the purpose of creating a community hall. The Town Council supplemented this and created a larger scheme which incorporated their offices. Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother led the official opening on 23 June 1971.

The building had two main performance spaces: a 300 capacity theatre, with notably clear sightlines, and a main hall upstairs, which seated 500. The main hall (also known as "Venue 1") was used to host classical music concerts, comedy and contemporary dance performances, as well as regular cinema screenings and live screenings from the National Theatre and Royal Opera House.

The theatre underwent refurbishment in the late 1990s, while the entire building was refurbished in 2010-11 for £3.2 million.

In 2023, part of the theatre was "zoned off" because of the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in the roof panelling. In October 2024, East Lothian Council voted unanimously to close the building and to consult on its demolition after consultants said that repairing it would be "untenable".

Historic Environment Scotland received a proposal to list the Brunton Hall Civic Centre complex, including the theatre, in October 2024. The assessment stated that it met the criteria to be listed at category B for special architectural or historic interest. Local politicians published a letter against the listing proposal. In November 2025 it was determined that the building complex would not be listed as development plans were too advanced.

In July 2026, it was announced that the remaining council departments that occupy the building were to move to new premises on 27 August, after which the building would close completely.

Productions In the early years, the theatre was used mainly for pantomime and productions by local amateur groups, with occasional performances by touring companies. In 1979, East Lothian District Council asked Sandy Neilson to form a company to present an eight-week season of drama. The three plays produced during the first season were Frederick Knott's thriller Wait Until Dark, Alexander Reid's Scots comedy The Lass wi' the Muckle Mou, and Peter Nichols' A Day in the Death of Joe Egg, with John Bett in the title role. Ron Coburn Promotions presented the Christmas pantomime Robinson Crusoe at the Brunton Theatre from 13 December 1979 to 5 January 1980. Ian Granville-Bell served as artistic director until 1986.

Charles Nowosielski was appointed artistic director at the Brunton Theatre in 1986, bringing Richard Cherns with him as Musical Director/composer. Their 1986/87 season included Joan Littlewood's Oh, What a Lovely War!,Brunton Theatre Company, Season of Drama 1987/88, Musselburgh Sydney Goodsir Smith's The Wallace, Donald Mackenzie's The Warld Traiveller,Advertisement for the Brunton Theatre production of The Warld Traiveller, The List, Issue 27, 17 - 30 October 1986, p. 21 Robert Bolt's A Man for All Seasons,Advertisement for the Brunton Theatre production of A Man for All Seasons, The List, Issue 28, 31 October - 13 November 1986, p. 16 Netta B. Reid's A Shepherd Beguiled,Advertisement for the Brunton Theatre production of The Shepherd Beguiled, The List, Issue 29, 14 - 27 November 1986, p. 18review of The Shepherd Beguiled by Sarah Hemming, The List, Issue 30, 28 November - 11 December 1986, p. 21 Howard Purdie's A Fine Romance,Raison, Ness, review of A Fine Romance, The List, 20 February 1987, pp. 22 & 23 and Edward Stiven's Tamlane.review of Tamlane by Nigel Billen, The List, Issue 36, 6 - 19 March 1987, pp. 22 & 23 The 1987/88 season included the Kander & Ebb musical Cabaret,review of Cabaret by Sally Kinnes, The List, Issue 51, 2 - 15 October 1987, p. 20 Jay Presson Allen's adaptation of Muriel Spark's novel The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie,Advertisement for the Brunton Theatre production of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, The List, Issue 52, 16 - 29 October 1987, p. 21 review of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Rosemary Goring, The List, Issue 53, 30 Ostober - 12 November 1987, p.20 Edward Stiven's The Cauldron,review of The Cauldron by Sarah Hemming, The List, Issue 61, 4 - 17 March 1988, p. 21 David Purves's The Knicht o the Riddils,Guest List: Preview of The Knicht o the Riddils, The List, Issue 54, 13 - 26 November 1987, p. 3review of The Knicht o the Riddils by Sarah Hemming, The List, issue 56, 11 December 1987 – 7 January 1988, p. 27, and John Bett's Sleeping Beauty.

Other productions included Stephen Macdonald's adaptation of The Jungle Book (1987 and 1989 tour),Theatre listings, The List, Issue 53, 30 October - 12 November 1987, p. 18review of The Jungle Book, The List, Issue 54, 13 - 26 November 1987, p. 23advertisement for the tour of the Brunton Theatre Company's production of The Jungle Book, The List, Issue 91, 7 - 20 April 1989, p. 23 William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew (1988),review of The Naming of the Shrew by Mark Fisher, The List, Issue 59, 5 - 18 February 1988, p. 22 an Edinburgh International Festival production of James Bridie's Holy Isle, with Vivien Heilbron in the role of Margause, Queen of Orkney (1988),preview of the Brunton Theatre Company's production of James Bridie's Holy Isle, The List, Issue 74, 9 - 25 August 1988, p. 3 Robert Robertson's The Wizard of Oz (1988),listing for the Brunton Theatre Company's production of The Wizard of Oz, The List, Issue 76, 12 - 15 September 1988, pp. 20 & 31 Goodrich and Hackett's The Diary of Anne Frank (1988),listing for the Brunton Theatre Company's production of The Diary of Anne Frank, The List, Issue 78, 30 September - 13 October 1988, pp. 22 & 23review of The Diary of Anne Frank by Mark Fisher, The List, Issue 79, 14 - 27 October, p. 24 The Bug Play (1988),Theatre listing for The Bug Play, The List, Issue 80, 28 October - 10 November 1988, pp. 21 & 22 Alexander Reid's The Warld's Wonder (1988), David Swan's Frankie MacStein: The Panto (1988-89),review of Frankie MacStein by Kristina Woolnough, The List, Issue 84, 23 December - 12 January, p. 29 Anton Chekov's The Seagull (1989),Theatre listing for the Brunton Theatre Company's production of The Seagull, The List, Issue 86, 27 January - 9 February 1989, p. 24review of The Seagull by Julie Morrice, The List, Issue 88, 24 February - 9 March 1989, p. 23 Edward Stiven's Under the Passing Stars (1989),Touching the Past, The List, Issue 88, 24 February - 9 March 1989, p. 21Theatricalia, Under the Passing Starsreview of Under the Passing Stars by Simon Bayly, The List, Issue 89, 10 - 23 March 1989, p. 24 Hector MacMillan's The Rising (1989),Theatre listing for The Rising, The List, Issue 103, 1 - 14 September 1989, p. 41 Compton Mackenzie's Whisky Galore (1989),review of Whisky Galore by Philip Parr, The List, Issue 106, 13 - 26 October 1989, p. 49 C.P. Taylor's Good (1989),advertisement for the Brunton Theatre Company's production of Good, The List, Issue 107, 27 October - 9 November, p. 51review of Good by Mark Fisher, The List, Issue 108, 10 - 23 November 1989, p. 50 Peter Hall and Adrian Mitchell's adaptation of Animal Farm (1989),advertisement for the Brunton Theatre Company's production of Animal Farm, The List, Issue 108, 10 - 23 November 1989, p. 49review of Animal Farm by Jo Roe, The List, Issue 109, 24 November - 7 December 1989, p. 50 David Swan's Ali MacBaba and the Tomb of Doom (1989),advertisement for the Brunton Theatre Company's production of Ali MacBaba and the Tomb of Doom,The List, Issue 109, 24 November - 7 December 1989, p. 44 Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca (1990),advertisement for the Brunton Theatre Company's production of Rebecca, The List, Issue 112, 12 - 15 January 1990, p. 49review of Rebecca by Jo Roe, The List, Issue 113, 26 January - 8 February 1990, p. 42 Donald Campbell's The Fisher Boy and the Honest Lass (1990),review of The Fisher Boy and the Honest Lass by Philip Parr, The List, Issue 116, 9 - 22 March 2020, p. 53 George Bernard Shaw's Saint Joan (1990),'Saints alive', review of Saint Joan by Sue Wilson, The List, Issue 131, 14 - 27 September 1990, p. 52 and an Edinburgh International Festival production of Robert S. Silver's The Bruce (1991).The Bruce theatre programme, Brunton Theatre Company, Musselburgh, August 1991Brunton Theatre Company programme, 1987/88, Musselburgh

Sandy Neilson directed Simon Gray's comedy Stage Struck at the Brunton in February 1988.Advertisement for the Brunton Theatre's production of Stage Struck, The List, Issue 59, 5 - 18 February 1980, p. 20review of Stage Struck by Mark Fisher, The List, Issue 60, 19 February - 6 March 1988, p. 22 Jeffrey Daunton directed Agatha Christie's The Hollow in January and February 1989.Theatre listing for The Hollow, The list, Issue 85, 13 - 26 January 1989, p. 21review of The Hollow by Mark Fisher, The List, Issue 86, 27 January - 9 February 1989, p. 26 On 23 March 1990, David Hayman directed Scottish People's Theatre production of Lynn Bains' Nae Problem at the Brunton.advertisement for Nae Problem, The List, Issue 117, 25 March - 5 April 1990, p. 43

Latterly, children's theatre company, Catherine Wheels, was the resident company, and the theatre was an Edinburgh Festival Fringe venue.

References

Further reading Purves, Graeme, 'Charles Nowosielski at the Brunton Theatre', in Small, Mike (ed.), Bella Caledonia, 7 January 2026

External links