New Town Theatre, Edinburgh, Bezoekersgids & wat te doen in de buurt

The New Town Theatre is a small performance venue at 96 George Street in Edinburgh, housed inside the Freemasons' Hall, the home of the Grand Lodge of Scotland. It sits on one of the main streets of the Georgian New Town, so a visit combines a working theatre with a look at a building that has long carried an air of secrecy.

The story behind it

The Freemasons' Hall is tied to the Grand Lodge of Scotland, the governing body of Scottish Freemasonry, founded in 1736. Freemasonry has long been a private, ritual-based fellowship, and that discretion is why the building has gathered so many stories over the years.

Some of those stories are speculation rather than record. Tales of lodge members shielding one another from the law, or of sealed chambers full of hidden documents, are folklore, and nothing in the record ties the hall itself to any crime. It is best enjoyed as local atmosphere. The theatre inside the building is a modern use of the space and is best known as a venue for shows, including during the Edinburgh festivals.

What to look for

• The stately stone frontage on George Street, a good example of the formal style of the New Town, where wide streets and ordered terraces were planned in the late 18th century.
• The street itself, laid out in a straight line between St Andrew Square to the east and Charlotte Square to the west.
• The statues along George Street, including those at its crossings with the streets running north and south, which make good markers as you walk.
• Posters and signs for the theatre by the entrance, which show what is on and remind you that this solemn-looking building is also a place for an evening out.

Tips for your visit

• Allow about ten to fifteen minutes to look at the outside and the street, longer if you are seeing a show.
• Check current opening hours and event listings before you go, as access to the hall and the theatre depends on what is on.
• Late afternoon and early evening are pleasant for George Street, when the stonework catches the light and the restaurants fill up.
• Princes Street Gardens, St Andrew Square and Charlotte Square are all a short walk away, so it fits easily into a wider stroll through the New Town.

See it on a quest

Reaching the hall on foot as one stop of a longer route is the best way to give it context. Murder Mystery: Death in the Shadows in Edinburgh passes this spot, and its dark, mystery theme suits a building with such a secretive reputation. The app tells you about each place as you arrive and sets a puzzle based on what is in front of you, so you look at the facade and the street far more closely than you would on a quick pass. You start whenever you like, with no guide and no group to join, and one ticket covers the whole group.