Capitol Theatre, Aberdeen

The Capitol Theatre is a former cinema and variety house on Union Street in Aberdeen, Scotland.

The Capitol opened in February 1933, on the site of the earlier Electric Cinema. It seated 2,100, to the plans of architects AGR Mackenzie and Clement George. In 1933, the Capitol was Aberdeen's most luxurious cinema, with full stage facilities, a holophane lighting system and a Compton Organ.

In addition to functioning as a cinema, The Capitol featured regular stage shows and these gradually became the venue’s focus. The venue showed its final film in 1995 and closed in 1998, with the exception of a bar at the front of the building.

In the early 2000s, The Capitol was converted into a nightclub. At this stage, the rear section of the building was largely remodelled and many of the remaining features removed. The nightclub closed in 2009.

The Capitol is a category B listed building. In September 2013, planning permission was granted for Knight Property Group to renovate the front third of the building and replace the derelict auditorium with a modern ten storey building. The building is expected to re-open in late 2015.

See also

• Aberdeen theatres and concert halls

References

• "431 Union Street, former Capitol Cinema: Listed Building Report". Historic Scotland. Retrieved 2012-09-01. 
• "Capitol (Aberdeen)". The Theatres Trust. Retrieved 2012-09-01.