Clyde Auditorium

Clyde Auditorium was constructed between 1995 and 1997. The cost of the construction was £30 million with the venue opening its first show in 1997. The venue was formerly named The Armadillo, and it’s a concert and auditorium in Glasgow, Scotland.

The venue has a prominent place along the River Clyde and sits on the former site of the Queen’s Dock.

The former SECC complex was too small, so plans to expand the venue were introduced in 1995. When first seeing the venue, you’ll notice that it looks a lot like the Sydney Opera House. The building’s designer, Foster and Partners, states that the Sydney Opera House wasn’t used for inspiration.

The design is said to be inspired by interlocking ship hulls.

The venue is part of the SECC complex, which includes numerous buildings:

  • Lomond Auditorium
  • Concourse
  • Clyde Auditorium
  • Concert Halls

A range of hot and cold food is available in the SECC complex. The kitchen area has a bar at the opposite end as well as great food with a contemporary industrial design. The Clydebuilt Bar & Kitchen has something for everyone: drinks, pizza, snacks, burgers and sharing platters for large groups.

Scottish Exhibition and Conference Center Connections

Passageways connect the venue to the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre. The Crowne Plaza hotel is also connected to the venue with passageways. The passageways allow for easy access to the venue for performers.

The performers, often mobbed with fans, can also quickly exit Clyde Auditorium through the passageways.

Privacy-friendly accommodations has allowed the venue’s popularity to explode. Performers for some of the top shows choose the venue because they can get in and out without having to deal with the mobs.

Top Shows and Pantomimes Choose Clyde Auditorium

Clyde Auditorium’s popularity has soared since its opening. The venue’s top accolades include:

  • Britain’s Got Talent Series 2 – 4 auditions
  • The X Factor Series 1 – 4 auditions
  • 2014 Commonwealth Games (weightlifting competition)
  • Aladdin
  • Cinderella
  • Jack and the Beanstalk
  • Peter Pan

This is the same venue where Susan Boyle, the famous singer, was discovered.

Inside the Clyde Auditorium

Built with a purpose, this venue has an iconic look with seating for 3,000 people on three levels. There’s rooms for everything from small meetings to registration, an organizer’s office and breakout rooms.

Built with accessibility in mind, the venue can accommodate disabled visitors and the elderly.

Top-of-the-line AV, sound and lighting have been incorporated into the structure to provide the best experience for guests. Inside the theatre is the main auditorium, which holds the theatre’s shows. There are also two other portions of the theatre, which include:

Forth

The Forth was designed to be a complement to the ground floor. The room can accommodate 300 people, and is designed to be a breakout room. The Forth can hold:

  • 300 people for theatre
  • 200 people for a banquet
  • 150 people in a classroom
  • 60 people for a boardroom

What’s unique about the Forth room is that it can open up to the main foyer to provide light to a show, or to open the space for drinks and refreshments.

Gala

The Gala room is another compliment to the main auditorium. This area can hold:

  • 120 people for theatre
  • 100 people for a banquet
  • 72 people in a classroom
  • 45 people for a boardroom

When entering the Gala, you’ll notice that the room can be subdivided, too. The division allows for two theatre style rooms to be setup at the same time. This adds the extra space that businesses or performers need to ensure that their event is a success.

Events at the Clyde Auditorium

Clyde Auditorium is always changing their schedule to provide the best shows to guests from all walks of life. The venue’s upcoming shows include:

  • Jack Whitehall: At Large
  • Paul Carrack
  • Ballet West’s Swan Lake
  • Scooby Doo Live! Musical Mysteries
  • Pet Shop Boys
  • The Beach Boys
  • Bob Dylan
  • Penn & Teller
  • Miranda Lambert

The list above includes only a few of the top shows scheduled throughout the next year. There’s something for every taste and style at the Clyde Auditorium. All events are held within the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Center (SECC).

Accessibility Information

The accessibility of the building allows for fun for the entire family. A few of the improvements that have been made to allow guests of all ability levels to enjoy the show include:

  • Automatic doors at the East and West end of the main building
  • Widened doors at the Conference Centre
  • All halls on the main floor
  • Accessible lifts for the Loch Suite, Seminar Suite and Conference Center

The SECC complex aims to be accessible for all guests. There are a limited number of wheelchairs available to borrow, which can be found at the Medical Centre. Induction loop systems are available, too.

Stalls in the Clyde Auditorium also include induction loop systems.

Disabled toilets can be found on all levels of the auditorium for your convenience.