Bedlam Theatre
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Bedlam Theatre is a student-run theatre owned by Edinburgh University.
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[edit] History
Bedlam is housed in the former "New North Free Church" at the foot of George IV Bridge in Edinburgh, this building was designed by Thomas Hamilton, an architect also involved in the creation of the New Town in the city. It is on the site of the old city poorhouse and round the corner from the site of the city's first mental health hospital, hence the name. After the building was abandoned by the church it fell into the hands of the University which used it for various purposes including a furniture store and a school of nursing. In 1980 the Edinburgh University Theatre Company (EUTC) moved in, the building being converted for their use.
For many years from the 80s onwards, EUTC were unaware of where the building's power originated - certainly, despite a long correspondence. Scottish Power insisted that no bills were owed.
[edit] Running
Bedlam Theatre is the oldest student-run theatre in Britain. It is run by a yearly elected student committee. Any member can propose a show for selection by democratic company vote and all aspects of the production from acting to lighting to taking the tickets are carried out by the student membership. It stages over 40 shows every year, some the small-scale, one-off Lunchtimes, but also a number of larger budget, week-long Mainterms. The Bedlam is also home to Edinburgh's longest-running improv troupe, the Improverts, who play every Friday.
It is also the central venue of the recently revived 'FebFest', a festival of new work which incorporates drama, poetry, readings, site-specific performances, story-telling, film, technological pieces and debate taken from all over Scotland. It runs from the end of January to early February and will have it's re-debut in 2008.
[edit] Fringe
The EUTC being a student company based in Edinburgh has always been involved in the Edinburgh Fringe. Bedlam Theatre opens as Venue 49 each year. Again the theatre is run entirely by students during the Fringe and has developed a warm and friendly atmosphere with many companies and audience members returning year on year.
