The doors of Theatre Royal Glasgow's new £14.5m foyers were opened to the public today after a major project, led by owners Scottish Opera, to redevelop the 19th-century theatre.
The opening of the new foyer, with a dramatic central spiral stairwell, cafes, lifts and roof terrace, has been twice delayed but had a "soft" opening this morning.
The unveiling of a specially commissioned tapestry by the leading Scottish artist Alison Watt, which will hang on its wall, will be marked by a small ceremony on January 22.
The design, by architects Page/Park, includes a new box office, and the lifts mean for the first time in the theatre's 147 year history all audience members can reach all levels.
Audiences to a performance of Saturday Night Fever will be among the first theatre-goers to experience the new entrance this evening.
Members of the public were this morning already trying out the new cafe facilities and making the journey to the roof terrace which has a notable view of Glasgow's west, north and south.
There is soft seating on upper levels and the handrail of the spiral staircase has been made from leather and coloured in "Theatre Royal Claret".
The redeveloped theatre was meant to open in May, but its public opening has been twice delayed.
Education rooms have also been created, and will provide space for education and outreach activity run by Scottish Opera and The Ambassador Theatre Group, who are the managers of the theatre.
The foyer stands on the corner of Hope Street and Cowcaddens Road, and Scottish Opera's general director, Alex Reedijk said he hopes it becomes a new landmark buidling for the city as well as a "destination space."
A heritage project - funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund - will explore theatre's architectural and performance history.
Touchscreens tell the story of the theatre from its early days staging variety shows, to life as the home of Howard and Wyndham (fathers of modern pantomime), the birthplace of Scottish Television, and its transformation from TV studio back to a theatre, becoming the performance home of Scottish Opera and Scottish Ballet.
The revamp was funded by the Scottish Government, Creative Scotland, Heritage Lottery Fund and Glasgow City Council, as well as a host of trusts and foundations, corporate supporters and donations from private individuals.
Mr Reedijk said: "I'm tremendously proud of the newly transformed Theatre Royal.
"We wanted to create 21st century facilities fit for the next 100 years of Glasgow theatre-goers and also to deliver a great new addition to the city's social and cultural life.
"It was past time to bring the Victorian public spaces up to the standards that today's audiences expect and I know audience members will enjoy the facilities and access that the new foyers provide.
"But it's also a great new space that is open all day now, as well as for performances, and I hope as many people as possible will take the opportunity to pop in and spend some time there."
Scottish Opera has owned Theatre Royal Glasgow since buying it from STV in 1974.
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