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The date is the 13th of June 2024 and I'm going to speak, sit down and speak with Richard Allen today. The time is three or 8 p.m. And we will begin the interview now, please. Can you state your full name and date of Richard Allen October 1951? Can you tell me a bit about where you were born and raised? I was born in Bristol, but I was raised in South Wales in Newport. I left Newport. Oh, nearly 54 years ago. Came to Scotland originally for short term work in a hotel on Been here ever since. Can you tell me about when you were growing up? What subjects? Interested you in school? always history. I'm very, very keen reader. So books of all kinds always interest on debt. science in general always interested me. My problem was that I wasn't. I've never been really comfortable with maths, so it was limited what science I could do. but history in particular. I was at that time I wanted to be a pilot in the Air Force and that sort of thing. that didn't announce it. What is your connection with Tool Cross? And how would you describe the tall cross community? Yeah, well, I live in Lauriston Gardens, which is just off to a cross itself within the community council area for to cross. And I'm on the community council for To cross currently on the chair. I'm also the chair with the community centre. Who it is part of the toe across primary school. on guy Worked there is with the Management Association. On also were the Phantom Bridge Community Trust, which also includes told cross to cross this strange one in one respect that it is very much a neighbourhood, a village of its own. Edinburgh, of course, is a a Siri's of villages. but it's so close to the centre that many of the benefits and problems that we get in Edinburgh, obviously, whether it's tourism, whether it's traffic or these things do affect her across. quite generally Andre, in some respects quite specifically. but it's a very vibrant area, very changing way have a lot of transient population. tourists, obviously, but also a lot of students on people moving through temporary jobs. And that's something. There's also quite a good population. Generally it's around about. We estimate it's around about 6000 S O. It takes to across to being, you know, quite a small but vibrant town in its own right. What was your first experience attending a show at the Kings Theatre? Well, the first one I went to the Kings. This is going back many, many years. Was, of course, the panto on D A. To that time, I can't remember. What? Which year? Itwas. But it was Mother Goose. Remember that, Andre? I was a time I was staying. I wasn't actually living in to cross that time being elsewhere. And they had a couple of young kids and I went with the family. Andre. Yeah. Thoroughly enjoyed. It was good fun. Since then, of course, I've been to a number of different shows, plays, opera, both the amateur and the Scottish operas there. his concerts, vans and that sort of thing been to the gang show. me the ones that we all expect now living to across almost to use it like the clock, so, like the clock will be glad to see it back. thinking about going to the theatre. Can you describe the experience of getting ready for a show, or maybe the emotions that you felt before enduring and after a short? certainly. getting ready for the show. I think it's one of those things where you I find that I've got to have everything just my fingertips on, so it za bit pedantic running around and all arrested. If I'm going to show to watch your show, I do like to dress up because of the theatre. I feel it's only fair where people have spent a lot of time and effort to put the show together and although they might enjoy it themselves, which I hope they dio, it's also for our entertainment, but just to show a little bit of. what I describe his respect more than anything else about that for going on todo stage itself. I've only done it a few times a couple of times, in fact, at the Kings. But another places where I have been on the on the stage and all the rest. Yes, the nerves beforehand. Usually I don't. It doesn't paralyse me as it does with some people, I'm happy to say, but it's definitely there, and I always worry if you don't get it. because then the adrenaline stopped running, so you're not performing. usually found it If I'm in the position when I go on stage and I'm not nervous beforehand that things go badly from. I've done it with the public. Speaking is the same thing when I'm speaking from audiences and that sort of thing. so yeah, we say I'd like to prepare. Like to have things ready and all the rest. I think if you do prepare like that and then for one reason or another that you have to add lip you have more confidence on, but people get around. as always with these things. I mean, anyhoo, in activity, there's always a danger of their being something going wrong or missing out, all that sort of thing. So that's really my feeling before it on the stage itself. I'm don't know, really. End it. I think the sometimes I didn't experience it. The Kings. But I have instant elsewhere. Way you suddenly go blank on. You think? My God, I've been up here for 100 years. but it's only last a matter of seconds arrested on. Usually, people just think it's it's part of the show is that we're you're just carrying on. other than that, it's a bit of a blank. I mean, just go through it on, get him off. there is always a high when you come off. and I mean that depending on how good is received and all the rest, I think it's, you know, it depends on how long it lasts. Kings that did the opera way had a big party after we had done it. It was really a lot of fun. so Yes, very enjoyable. Overall, I would say it. I'm happy to say that there's never been any really bad things happen to me. Can you describe any memories of being on stage and perhaps what led you there? Yeah, well, I can remember one. when we had was I was doing the opera things on, but we were doing well. Go on. Die was a spear carrier on, but basically we were flying around, filling in the gaps spear carriers do. but there was one part in it where the king It's being threatened by the crowd and all arrested on guard has to rally round him to sing. We're here to protect you and defend you. Andre had Chris Bell, the chorus master. came up to run us through this and he could not get us to sing. together or in June. We're here to protect you and defend you on the other chorus Had to sing it well. We were mining in front, so that was that stood out quite well. I think Paul, Chris thought. it would be impossible not to be able to get through a couple of lines and music, but we proved him wrong. But other than that, it was any other. I would say. Well, I do remember is that we didn't have any costume changes of spear carriers. What we had to do it one stage. the chorus had become spear carriers as it were. So we had the change costumes. So we were all running around in swimming trunks at the back of the HVAC of the stage swapped uniforms s O. That was quite amusing. and chilli. Can you tell me, in your experience how amateur theatre at the King's has transformed since your first performance, either as an audience member or as a performer? Yeah, I think overall, loving me. some things stay the same and something's changed certain. I think the things that I've noticed have changed. There is a a stronger feeling of professionalism amongst the shows that I've seen on Gua Ched over the years, particularly with the the musical company. The the amateur musical companies in particular, have definitely. got up their pace to provide a better. professional public, if you like. Obviously you can see differences between a professional performance and a bit of performance, but I do think there is a narrowing of the gap in that respect. Obviously, one of the things that has made a huge difference is the change ings in technology. lighting and sound in particular, huge difference. Now it is. the requirements to of the audience. and therefore you Where before, for instance, um, into the kings were used to use the boxes and all the rest of these were taken up with lights and so forth on go, the boxes weren't very good to see anything. There were a lot of fun to go into them. but yes, you needed them for That changes the whole thing. I think getting into the theatre and out of the theatre as well has changed quite considerably. of course, was One thing that has changed is the cost of going to that here, that's Regrettably, like everything else, it's it is a a considerable expense. but not I would suggest you here in Edinburgh. It's not as catastrophic as it is, perhaps in London on that sort of thing, so on, of course, because of the changes that I mentioned. I mean, obviously the expenses have gone up, at least which of course is maintenance, which is. a huge cost for anybody, and we see a lot of that about. where all kinds of buildings are being closed down and taken over because they just can't be afford. be afforded anymore. Yeah. speaking of maintenance on DS revitalisation as it were, what are you most looking forward to from the king's redevelopment when she opens? what I'm most looking for. Well, most looking forward to being back in the kinks. I would say, Yeah, comfortable. I'll be vain. Just see now how they have the sight lines have changed or altered or hopefully improved. And that's what I think I think access to the upper floors and that sort of thing. Although I don't have any part of myself, my wife does suffer from some mobility problems, so getting up upstairs as it were, can be a major problem. be good to see that. I think it would be really great to see other people with various difficulties. Andre reduced mobility, that sort of thing, being able to use the theatre more comfortably. be very interested to see how the bar has been changed downstairs as well, because that's always a key point in the evening's entertainment. meeting and chatting in the intervals. And what? Having that z always night. I think overall, I'm I'm intrigued. I've seen some of the plans and I've seen pictures and all the rest. It's, I still find it difficult to. really envisage all changes. I mean, I'm the same with any architects, drawing and older see quite a bit of that with community council work. And all of a sudden I find it very difficult to actually, What exactly is it going to look like? but yeah, it'll be really quite exciting, quite exciting. What do you feel from your experience? The impact of the closure of the King's has been on the community. Yeah, well. people. I've spoken to a non Western, obviously round Christmas, and the panto is one of the big things. It's not weighs about that. I think people are. because Edinburgh has been in the state of flux of quite some time. People have become not quite complacent, but they more accepting of the building site and all the rest of it. I think there will be a great relief when all the paraphernalia that's needed to duel the construction or is removed hopefully. you know, getting back to what I say Normal Way will have changed again as it changed when the king's was built. It's been changing all the time, but back to what we could call a semblance of normality anyway, on day, I think that would be really worthwhile. I think people do miss. The problem is you get out of the habit of going to the theatre. It's very easy to do way had it, of course, with coded. I find that so much here, but certainly with the cinema. I haven't been to the cinema for a long while. I just got I used to go on a fairly regular basis. I don't know. I can't get myself back into the internship. I think the same is there will need to be some initiatives in order to get people back into the theatre now enjoying it. whether that is bringing in big names from from London and abroad or whatever, or concentrating on the local things we had. be bringing out the old Scottish, you know, they say the half our state show or things like that. But e I think it could be done that, particularly as what I understand is that there has been a considerable concentration on getting Children involved on D. as usual with something like that. If you get them young enough, then they will, on if they have performed on a stage and all of their further certain. Oh, Proprietor Oriole since toward it, so I think that's what that could be really helpful. I would hope to that there will be support from other theatres throughout Scotland on it, I mean. I would expect because it's quite a close community. you mentioned earlier on, you've mentioned a few different performances that you've been to the king's, which performances have made the biggest impact in your life. trying to make it to that certainly spring to mind, which were. I think. Probably one offs. Quite strange. The first one was a production of the madness of King George. with the visual cast on That was a well, I mean, it was really strong performance and arrested. on the other one was the history boys on my question. It was a strong one, and the thing that they were near the impact was not only did I see the play, but I crossed the road on a few weeks later, saw the film in the cameo, so within. basically 100 less than 100 yards. I saw that play on the film. Well, that doesn't happen that often. Not that close proximity, I would say. Certainly. things that they have seen some of the ones of the relationship. I remember seeing the cocktail party not the original, but the 25th anniversary of cocktail party on. That was quite a wow as well. That was during the festival, of course, seen a number of troops during the festival did. a couple of our process now, and we're trying to remember which ones I saw there in which ones I saw at the Empire. No, it's kind of the moment, but yeah, again. You know, it was really quite a well on day. One of the last ones I saw before the basically before it was during the covert break. When they brought the back and they did. A production of a new ideal was ideal husband. whichever anyway it was. What? Hell no. So right had kept notes to was always laughing at me for that. Yeah, I had the right hole, which is one of his last performances on D was doing sort of inter. what he was recorded. The Interact singing Music Hall songs. Of course he was. He was a great historian of musical than all the rest. That was just a, well, you know, a great memory of how the kings used to be. when I go back in the nice to see what's changed in that respect. qg share if the Kings have the same impact on the lives of other family members or friends as it has on you. but my wife is a great theatre buff. she writes, plays herself. She does a street manning group, which she performs in and governments together. And it's a lot. So, yeah, I would expect that the king's being closed has had a moral effect on her that she really liked. There's a huge difference in reading a play and seeing a play. There's no two ways about that, I would say probably the most for me. careful example of that is Shakespeare meeting shakes. We're trying to figure out what's going on, sometimes get a bit baffling, whereas if you see it performed, you get much better idea on. Got more enjoyment? Of course s Oh, yeah, I would say it's part of it with other friends. Yeah, again some. Yes, I would say, you know, they really missing me, looking for it to come back. Others not so much, I think, say the difference in attitudes caused by coded caused caused by the shutdown for covert has changed people's issues quite dramatically on that. I think it will be interesting to see how we're going forward with it. Speaking of which, you're a member of the King's Theatre community panel. And can you tell us about why you wanted to be a part of this on? Do what you hope? what you hope to bring about from being a part of the community panel. well, two things I would say poor Aly one, because I'm involved in the community and I like to cross community very much environment. I think I should be there. to provide a voice for the community on DS, perhaps a conduit between other members and on arrested. So we think if people have got ideas are they haven't come to yourselves or whatever, there is another convert going from that. really. I do love that the Kings I like creators and general like that. I feel it's really important. to get the community behind it because it can then become such a focal point for the community. I would hope that going forward, that will happen. I know that one of the changes, for instance. we've been talked about is going ahead is to make it more of a meeting of the rather than I say, just just be the wrong word. But as a play going or theatergoing experience, but also for people to use at other times on DS, whether it's community activity or whether it's meeting for a cup of coffee with a friend on that sort of thing. I think that is very important with, well, again people get used to it. it also then helps people. to get what is going on, because although you could put out all kinds of handbills and advertising and all the rest, you'll still come across people saying, Oh, I didn't know that was on Andre on I've done it myself So it's It's the nature of the beast, Unfortunately so. But if people are going into an area like that, chance they'll see it and come and enjoy it. Get the experience. So I think that's really quite a on important part. I started where the community council originally. asked to go on to one that was working on the access. disabled access on the master. I learned a lot. about what disabled access actually meant on do what was needed to make safe on fit for people with limited mobility or with other issues arrested. on, but that really was. quite a learning experience. As far as I was concerned, I thought I would be bringing more to it, but I probably took a lot more away. I was glad to be on that. And then when there was a reorder the committees and all the rest. I asked to come on. This one, they say. to be with the contractor. that was really what it does. What are your hopes for the legacy of the king's going forward? Yeah, well, the kings strangely. the whole of told Cross is an incredibly ancient area. But it has been very chancy int throughout this entire life on going back hundreds of years and the area where the kings, who is originally brulee and there was a big distillery and all these sort of things there now or gone on long for gotten. Andre. I fear you know that the king's is there and people, I think. Well, the thing has been there forever. The other parts of what was there before on dat means also the people that work there, their lives, how you go about things, what happened there. It's not a I remember standing outside the king's, for instance, when put Benedict came. to Edinburgh, you know? So it's not. Everybody sends on the steps. What support Goodbye. you know, it's that sort of sudden event, I think. Which makes a difference there. Ondas say the historic setting. Although we can't compete directly with the old town in the Newtown, I think you told crossing the area has have got a number of little charms that people don't know about. For instance, the canal. Most people don't know most people. Now there's lot do S o people who have lived in embryo and don't know the canal left instance on there was a direct route because straight across from the king's, that goes into what was the locker in basin. which was for Private Basin, for both the brewery and for the distillery. So there would have been through traffic there and people and all the rest. when the king's has built the area just to the north of it. Down over northwest of it, I should say. was very much a slum. on. It became a really tragic slam for quite some time. People compared it and said it was even worse than the goals and Glasgow on Dat was all torn down and changed because he changed the whole. makeup of the area and that sort of thing, so it was quite a the other one is transport in general. Of course, it talk Cross was one of the the terminal points for the old trams, not the new ones. so it's never been a problem getting to or from across which brings it into. the theatre itself. It's a good thing for people to get to Andre, hopefully going forward that will improve and allow people from all over on from all over Scotland basically to come and enjoy it. I've got one final question. If there was anything at all that you would want to see at the King's, either on stage or off in the future, what would it be? I would like to see one of the things I would like to see is venue. I fear that. size and always that might be a problem. I'd like to see more operas certainty on. Guy would like to see opera north coming up here. or in the Welsh Opera for that. it would be really good cross pollination. I think the king's might be a venue for that. I would certainly like to see. regular production of dramatic works. But we're not getting so much of nowadays again. Shakespeare. I find high on the list. I don't know how to commercialise on what would be needed for a Shakespearean company to come, but certainly then ordinary theatre. I think it's definitely a spot to fill with drama in Edinburgh, we've got some got some places that were doing, having guard and on and on a restaurant way got, you know, places which will do the big, big shows wanted somewhere where way could see what would be known Lee described by, I don't know. as the evening show say, even in drama. Certainly I would also like to see some. If it's a tall feasible now it is. I'd like to see variety back. I mean, certainly because there is. I think there's a lot of fun in variety. I think there's a lot of talent. If you go and watch the guys in the street journal fringe on this art thing, you see a tremendous amount of talent. I'm certain that that could be corralled into a show that could be taken around. I mean, obviously it couldn't be done just in one day. They wouldn't be taken around, but I would have thought it would be impossible. But that's I would like to see. Then they I think that things would fit into a slot. And also, of course, continuing its long association with the amateur clubs on DS society, So Edinburgh. again. I think they provide a lot of entertainment. Andan lot of fun both for audiences on, of course, well, performers. which is well, the reason for the other, I think. super. Thank you so much for your time at this point. Will stop recording at 3:40 p.m. will conclude this interview for the Kings Theatre Heritage Project. |
