Guided backstage tour of the Edinburgh Playhouse, with access to the costume department, hair and makeup and the stage, including a drink and pastry.
The Edinburgh Playhouse is opening its doors for backstage tours throughout the autumn, with selected dates running from 11 September to 12 December 2026. If you're around this weekend, there's one on Saturday 17 October at 10:30 am. It's a good shout if you've spent years watching shows from the stalls and have always wondered what's actually happening on the other side of the curtain.
Most of the tour is spent in the parts of the building the public never sees. You'll head into the costume department and get a look at the hair and makeup work that goes into a production, and then you'll actually stand on the stage itself—the same boards where some of the biggest names in show business have performed. Along the way, you'll hear about the theatre's artistic history and see how the magic is put together behind the big red curtain. It's a chance to see the Playhouse as a working building rather than just a place to sit and watch.
There are a few practical things to keep in mind before you book. Each ticket includes a cup of tea or coffee, a soft drink and a pastry from Little Picardy, the bar next door, to be used on the day of your tour. It doesn't include a ticket for a show, so you'll need to book that separately if you're planning a full day of theatre. Under-16s have to be accompanied by an adult.
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One important bit: access to the backstage and the stage is subject to availability and can't be guaranteed. Tours can be cancelled at short notice if company rehearsals are taking place, and the routes—which can change—involve stairs and narrow corridors, so they aren't wheelchair accessible. Each tour lasts about an hour, with tickets starting from £20.00 per person.
