10 Best Theaters in Edinburgh

King's Theater is a historic theater that features an intricately designed building with brilliant architecture and art and stunning live performances. While this theater certainly offers plenty of opulence and dazzle, it ultimately remains a community theater. Most of the productions are put on by amateur operatic and musical societies, but you'll be able to see high-end touring performances as well. The building itself is quite impressive, as it's more than a century old. The interior and exterior were designed separately, with the outside looking similar to offices while the inside features extravagant plasterwork carvings and painted ceilings. The theater is located in the city centre just north of Bruntsfield Links.

The Edinburgh Playhouse is a massive theater with more seats than any other non-sporting theater in the UK and hosts a wide variety of performances. Youth projects are particularly popular here, with some productions allowing kids as young as 10 to take part in shows on this historic stage. The building itself dates back to the early 20th century and has since obtained a Category A historic listing. While the historic grandeur is present with every visit, there's another presence you may witness as well: For years, the theater had been rumored to be haunted by a ghost named Albert. You'll find this theater just north of Calton Hill.

The Traverse Theater is a festival-themed theater that's particularly popular during the Edinburgh Festivals in the summer, but you'll find performances held all year long. These performances can take many forms including plays, dances and even puppetry. The plays in particular are a satisfying mix of classic favorites and brand-new productions. Given its connection with local festivals, the busiest time of the year for this theater is August, so keep that in mind if you plan on traveling during the high season. You'll find this theater just west of Edinburgh Castle.

The Royal Lyceum Theater is a historic theater known primarily for its intimate showcases of drama performances with a few opera productions included as well. This is a theater that takes itself very seriously, and it holds its operatic productions in high regard. After all, this was the venue in which 'Madama Butterfly' and 'Manon' made their Scottish debuts. When you visit this theater, you'll be visiting a piece of history. It opened in 1883 and has only undergone minor refurbishments in the century and a half since, making it one of the best examples of architect C.J. Phipps' work. You'll find this theater just west of Edinburgh Castle.

The Bedlam Theater is an intimate theater set in what was once a neo-Gothic church that's student-run by the talented Edinburgh University Theater Company. While you'll find several types of performances held here, especially during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, it's most widely known for its improv performances put on by the appropriately named 'Improverts'. The building itself seems grand from the exterior, but you'll find just 90 seats inside, which caters to a more intimate theater experience. You can see it all for yourself just south of the National Museum of Scotland near the University of Edinburgh campus.

The Church Hill Theater is a haven for amateur theater where you can see aspiring actors and performers showcase their talents through plays, musicals and dances. Drama productions are the most popular here, but you'll also find musicals and other performances catering specifically to youths. The building itself is a former church that was built in 1892. It has since been transformed into a theater that underwent a massive refurbishment in 2006. You'll find 353 seats inside as well as a cafe offering delicious treats. You'll find this theater in Holy Corner southwest of Bruntsfield Links.

The Festival Theater is a relatively large theater with room for 1,915 people that primarily focuses on opera and ballet performances along with touring groups and big musicals. It's also the primary venue for the Scottish Opera and the Scottish Ballet, as well as numerous touring West End shows including favorites like 'Les Miserables' and 'War Horse'. The theater opened in 1892 but has been altered significantly since then, with the most recent changes happening in 1994. You can see it for yourself just east of the National Museum of Scotland.

Summerhall is a popular destination to see theater shows and performances of all kinds where you'll also find workshops, art studios and other things related to the arts. The plays held here are often complementary to its visual artwork collections, especially during the Festival Fringe. In addition to plays and musicals, you'll also find themed events here during the Edinburgh Science Festival and the Edinburgh International Magic Festival. Still, you'll find performances held here all year long. You can visit this venue in Newington just to the east of The Meadows.

Known primarily for its stunning acoustics, Usher Hall is an iconic concert hall that hosts a wide variety of musical performances, including those that utilize its stunning organ. The organ is appealing to audiences and performers alike as it allows stunning classical music to echo with so much power that it makes the experience downright unforgettable. The design of the hall is renowned by visitors and architects alike. The curved walls are crafted from reinforced concrete using methods that were relatively new when it was built in the early 20th century. On the exterior, you'll find statues of famous Scots like Sir Walter Scott and Allan Ramsay. Usher Hall is just west of Edinburgh Castle.

Leith Theater is a modest theater that's undergoing a bit of a revitalization and mostly hosts special events like performing arts festivals and local talent. It's one of the best places in town to experience work from local Edinburgh artists, whether through plays, musical performances or concerts. The building features an art deco design inside that's reminiscent of the 1930s when it was built. You can enjoy advanced light and sound equipment that makes modern theater so much more appealing. You'll find Leith Theater on the north side of town next to the Leith Public Library north of the Water of Leith.