Edinburgh People's Theatre was founded in 1943 by well known Scottish Playwright Andrew P. Wilson. Minutes from EPT's very first meetings between 1943 and 1946, show that at conception, the group were closely affiliated with the Labour Party, and the Co-operative Movement. The club was for workers who were not away fighting, and for service men on leave or home because of injuries.
In March 1948, we saw the first appearance of the EPT club badge. The club badge is heavily influenced by the façade of The Little Theatre (situated in The Pleasance, Edinburgh) where EPT staged it's initial performances. Performances nowadays are usually given in the Church Hill Theatre, Morningside, with the exception of the Fringe production, which uses St Peter's Hall, Lutton Place, Newington. Edinburgh People's Theatre is the Fringe's longest running company, having put on a show every year since 1959.
During it's most successful period during the 1950s and 1960s, EPT's alumni included some professional actors and playwrights including Ian Richardson and Bill Tennant. The Club continues to attract professional actors and directors to this day, due to the professional quality of our productions.
In the 1966 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Edinburgh People's Theatre proudly staged the World Premiere of the brand new Scots comedy, "Whisky Galore", the now famous Scots comedy by Sir Compton MacKenzie. At the 2006 Fringe, EPT premiered another new Scots comedy, "Stooshie at the Store", by award winning director Irene Beaver. And we were at it again in the 2008 Fringe, with the premiere of the sequel to "Stooshie" - "Stramash at the Store", again by Irene Beaver, in what was our 50th year performing in the Festival Fringe!
In the 2007 Fringe, EPT were delighted to be Runner-Up in the first ever Evening News Drama Awards (ENDAs), set up by the newspaper to recognise local talent in this international festival.
Be part of history with EPT today, by visiting our Get Involved page or our Shows page.