Hidden Door will return in September 2021 for a 5 day outdoor festival of music, visual art, theatre, dance and spoken word. The festival will take place at the epic Granton Gasworks in north Edinburgh, in the shadow of the iconic gas holder.
Hidden Door is an arts organisation which aims to open up urban spaces as a platform for new and emerging artists, musicians, theatre makers, performers, film makers and poets. Through organising temporary events Hidden Door works to showcase new work and create engaging environments for the public to experience, explore and discover.
Hidden Door has steadily grown in size and reputation since it began in 2014, when it cleared out the abandoned Market Street vaults to run a 9-day arts festival focused on showcasing local creative talent. In 2015 the festival moved to a hidden courtyard behind Kings’ Stables Road, and returned there in 2016, attracting over 12,000 visitors to experience a wealth of art, poetry, theatre, film, dance and music. In 2017 the festival breathed new life into the old Leith Theatre, attracting rave reviews and critical praise for its role in resurrecting “Scotland’s best new live music venue”, winning a Scottish Thistle Award for “Best Cultural Event or Festival”. It returned there in 2018 whilst also opening up the iconic State Cinema around the corner, then following a farewell weekender at Leith Theatre in 2019, organisers are now setting their sights on the epic Granton Gasworks, in the shadow of the iconic gas holder, to bring to life in 2021.
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A ”riot of noise and colour” Mike Wade, The Times
A “treasure trove of multi-platform arts delights” Vic Galloway, BBC 6Music
“Wildly atmospheric and stimulating. Like a dream festival.” Mark Cousins, Film Director & Critic
“Edinburgh’s most free-flowing festival, a happy blend of grassroots artists and headline acts.” – Mark Fisher, The Guardian
“Utterly breathtaking… Edinburgh’s most exciting and innovative festival.” Ruth MacGilp, Urbanity
“Hidden Door have quietly resuscitated what surely is – even in its current rough ‘n’ ready state – the best live music venue in the country.” Barry Gordon, The Herald
An “inspiring and successful festival” which “perfectly demonstrated the capabilities of the gorgeous old Leith Theatre as a living, breathing concert venue”. “Ad-hoc but ingeniously curated art and performance” David Pollock, The Scotsman
A “minor miracle […] a long-neglected building has undergone a remarkable renaissance”. Brian Ferguson, The Scotsman
“With each step further into the depths of this abandoned masterpiece, the building grows wilder. Each corner, every space reveals something new” Amy Taylor, The Skinny
A “nomadic cauldron of creativity which is unlikely to sit still for long […] a sprawling village of alternative culture” Neil Cooper, The Herald
“A smorgasbord of cultural delicacies that’ll keep you well and truly entertained. Re-entering the real world may be a struggle, but it’ll have been worth it.” Euro Hostels
“Get along to Hidden Door as often and as soon as you can.” Just For Culture
“A revelation… a community arts festival that actually revolutionises and invigorates the community it takes place in.” Miss Fogg Travels
“I can’t help but be totally awestruck by it all – eclectic, ramshackle, ambitious joys on offer.” Exeunt Magazine
“A fascinating and well-thought-out programme” The John Byrne Award
The festival “has left an immovable, and much needed, creative footprint on the city” – Miranda Heggie, The Arts Desk
Download images from previous Hidden Door festivals (Zip file, 6MB)
The very talented Chris Scott has been capturing great shots of Hidden Door for years – check them out here:
Edinburgh’s Hidden Door Festival to transform local gas works for live performances – Edinburgh Live, 28 May 2021
Hidden Door Festival 2021: Mystery Edinburgh location revealed – Edinburgh Evening News, 28 May 2021
Hidden Door is happening… at Granton Gasworks – Edinburgh Reporter, 28 May 2021
Five-day Hidden Door festival to return in ‘mystery location’ in Edinburgh this year – The Scotsman, 22 April 2021
Hidden Door Festival – yes they’re back! – Edinburgh Reporter, 22 April 2021
Hidden Door sets September 2021 return – All Edinburgh Theatre, 22 April 2021
Musicians light up Scottish beach with socially distanced performance – The National, 3 April 2021
Hidden Door – watch The Call online now – Edinburgh Reporter, 2 April 2021
Musicians perform special score live on city beach for Hidden Door – Edinburgh Evening News, 2 April 2021
Hidden Door Festival – where is the next venue hiding? – Edinburgh Reporter, 11 February 2021
Hidden Door – online and on until May 2021 – Edinburgh Reporter, 12 October 2020
Hidden Door Festival postponed until spring 2021 – The List, 23 April 2020
Hidden Door at Leith Theatre – A multidimensional experience for the urban art adventurer – Deadline, 12 June 2019
Festival Review: Hidden Door 2019 – The Scotsman, 3 June 2019
Edinburgh’s Hidden Door Festival to be staged across city in future – The Scotsman, 31 May 2019
Hidden Door goes back to festival roots – The Herald, 25 May 2019
Hidden Door 2019 unveils its largest visual arts programme yet – The List, 15 May 2019
The Rise of Community-Led Festivals in Scotland – The Skinny, 10 May 2019
Hidden Door bring four day music weekender to Leith – The Scotsman, 30 April 2019
Hidden Door 2019: Music programme revealed – The Skinny, 22 March 2019
Hidden Door announces the first music acts of its 2019 weekender – The List, 21 March 2019
Hidden Door Weekender 2019 line-up revealed – Edinburgh Reporter, 21 March 2019
Hidden Door 2019 – Edinburgh Reporter, 2 February 2019
Hidden Door to return to Leith Theatre in 2019 – The List, 2 February 2019
It’s all systems go for Hidden Door 2019 – Edinburgh Reporter, 25 January 2019
Hidden Door to return in 2019 after successful fundraising campaign – Edinburgh Evening News, 25 January 2019
Final push for Hidden Door – what can you do to help? – Edinburgh Reporter, 3 December 2018
More events fundraise for Hidden Door – The Herald, 3 December 2018
Funding crisis forces Hidden Door festival to drastically scale back – The Scotsman, 3 December 2018
Hidden Door launches appeal for help to secure its future – The List, 13 August 2018
Hidden Door begins a new fundraiser – Edinburgh Reporter, 12 August 2018
Hidden Door to launch crowdfunder in bid to keep organisation alive – The Scotsman, 10 August 2018
Leith Theatre gears up for Edinburgh Festival comeback – Edinburgh Evening News, 9 August 2018
Review: Hidden Door Festival – transforming spaces – The Arts Desk, 7 June 2018
Art Review: Hidden Door Visual Art Programme – The Scotsman, 4 June 2018
Review: Young Fathers at Hidden Door – The List, 4 June 2018
Magical Plastic Chicken review – intriguingly arresting satire – The Guardian, 3 June 2018
Review: Young Fathers at Leith Theatre, Hidden Door Festival – Just For Culture, 3 June 2018
Review: Hidden Door Festival 2018 – Exeunt Magazine, 2 June 2018
Hidden Door Festival successfully introduces international dance strand – The List, 31 May 2018
Another successful takeover from pop-up festival Hidden Door – My Theatre Mates, 30 May 2018
Hidden Door Festival Lights Up Leith – Urbanity Blog, 30 May 2018
Review: Hidden Door Festival at Leith Theatre – The Skinny, 30 May 2018
Private View: five artists making work at this year’s Hidden Door – The List, 29 May 2018
Arts Review: Hidden Door Festival, Leith Theatre & State Cinema – The Scotsman, 29 May 2018
Review: Hidden Door Opening Night at Leith Theatre – The Herald, 28 May 2018
Review: Sylvan Esso at Hidden Door, Leith Theatre – The Wee Review, 27 May 2018
Hidden Door – opening night theatre review – All Edinburgh Theatre, 27 May 2018
Nadine Shah, The Orb’s Dr Alex Paterson, Emma Pollock and Young Fathers at Hidden Door – The Herald, 24 May 2018
A derelict art deco cinema is being brought back to life for one last time – Metro, 23 May 2018
Derelict Edinburgh cinema being brought back to life for final showing – Edinburgh Evening News, 20 May 2018
Hidden Door Preview – a multi-arts festival in abandoned spaces – The Cusp, 17 May 2018
Film Festival will hit the screen for Hidden Door event – Scottish Field, 16 May 2018
Edinburgh’s hidden spaces provide a creative backdrop – Scottish Field, 11 May 2018
Tea break with… David Martin – The National, 6 May 2018
Breathing new life into abandoned old buildings – Scottish Field, 4 May 2018
Arts festival to transform derelict building – Third Force News, 4 May 2018
Hidden Door launch 2018 campaign – The Wee Review, 29 April 2018
The UK’s best independent, alternative events – Euro Hostels, 26 April 2018
Music Review: Hidden Door Launch Party, Liquid Room, Edinburgh – The Scotsman, 6 March 2018
Leith becoming an attractive host of festival events – The Scotsman, 5 March 2018
Hidden Door announce full programme, with Nadine Shah, Young Fathers and Sylvan Esso – The List, 2 March 2018
Young Fathers to stage Leith Theatre gig at Hidden Door festival – The Scotsman, 2 March 2018
Pick of Hidden Door 2018 – Edinburgh Reporter, 2 March 2018
Hidden Door 2018 – more diverse than ever – Edinburgh Reporter, 2 March 2018
Hidden Door festival 2018 adds new venue, features Young Fathers, theatre, spoken word and visual art – The Herald, 2 March 2018
EIFF teams up with Hidden Door Festival this May – Edinburgh Reporter, 2 March 2018
Hidden Door Festival: 2018 programme revealed – The Skinny, 2 March 2018
Nadine Shah to kick off Hidden Door 2018 at Leith Theatre – The List, 1 March 2018
Encore for neglected Leith Theatre as bands return – The Scotsman, 24 February 2018
£1m boost for theatre abandoned nearly 20 years – The Herald, 17 February 2018
Capital’s £10m spending spree on cultural venues – The Scotsman, 16 February 2018
Leith Theatre rebirth in the running for Creative Edinburgh Awards – The Scotsman, 13 November 2017
Hidden Door festival to return to Leith Theatre – The Stage, 5 November 2017
Hidden Door returns to Leith Theatre and new venue – The Skinny, 3 November 2017
Landmark Art Deco cinema to be reborn for Hidden Door festival in Leith – The Herald, 3 November 2017
Former Leith cinema to reopen as Hidden Door festival venue – The Scotsman, 3 November 2017
It’s Leith again for Hidden Door – All Edinburgh Theatre, 3 November 2017
Hidden Door returns to Leith for 2018 festival – The List, 3 November 2017
Hidden Door confirms 2018 fest – All Edinburgh Theatre, 25 September 2017
Music review: Tinderbox Orchestra at Hidden Door – The Scotsman, 10 June 2017
Live Review: Tinderbox Orchestra at Hidden Door Festival – The National Student, 9 June 2017
Tinderbox Orchestra launch album as Hidden Door closes – Channel 7a, 5 June 2017
Leith Theatre is a gem of a venue – The Scotsman, 5 June 2017
Inside Look: Hidden Door Days 7 & 8 – Just For Culture, 3 June 2017
Hidden Door review: Flint & Pitch and Metropolis – The Herald, 2 June 2017
Idlewild at Hidden Door: Review – God Is In The TV, 2 June 2017
Hidden Door Festival – Take It From A Local, 1 June 2017
Leith Theatre is Scotland’s best new live music venue. Let’s do everything we can to keep it going – The List, 1 June 2017
Hidden Door 2017: Day 5 Review – The Wee Review, 31 May 2017
Hidden Door opening weekend in pictures – The List, 31 May 2017
Rules of the Moon at Hidden Door: Review – The Herald, 30 May 2017
Inside Look: The old Leith Theatre – we explore the venue – Just For Culture, 30 May 2017
Inside Look: Hidden Door Festival 2017 – Just For Culture, 30 May 2017
The Adventures of Prince Achmed: Review – The Herald, 29 May 2017
Hidden Door 2017 – Day 2 Review – The Wee Review, 29 May 2017
Leith Theatre reopens doors for arts festival – The Times, 29 May 2017
Festival review: Hidden Door opening weekend – The Scotsman, 29 May 2017
KinoKlub at Hidden Door: Review – Cinema’s Fringes, 27 May 2017
Derelict Leith theatre to open up for Edinburgh Festival – The Scotsman, 26 May 2017
Hidden Door finds a new home at Leith Theatre – The Herald, 26 May 2017
Hidden Door 2017 – Lost in Leith Theatre – The Skinny, 25 May 2017
Hidden Door festival is helping to bring Leith Theatre back to life – The Scotsman, 22 May 2017
Hidden Door: the festival turning Edinburgh’s forgotten spaces into creative hubs – The i, 8 May 2017
Hidden Door Festival transforms and reopens the Leith Theatre after almost three decades – The List, 12 April 2017
The essential guide to summer in Edinburgh – The i, 10 April 2017
Artists to lead creation of new ‘vision for Leith’ – The Scotsman, 10 April 2017
Trainspotting director Danny Boyle calls for help to bring Leith Theatre back to life – The National, 7 April 2017
Trainspotting director Danny Boyle backs Leith Theatre plea – Edinburgh Evening News, 6 April 2017
‘Hidden Door’ Launch Crowd-funding Campaign to Restore Leith Theatre – Edinburgh Reporter, 6 April 2017
Former Edinburgh Royal Infirmary building in frame to host arts festival – The Scotsman, 25 March 2017
Hidden Door festival to revive abandoned old Leith Theatre – Time Out, 20 March 2017
Hidden Door releases plans for Leith Theatre festival – The Herald, 7 March 2017
#HiddenDoor 2017 Festival will be in fabulous Leith – Edinburgh Reporter, 3 March 2017
Anna Meredith and Idlewild kick off Hidden Door 2017 – The List, 3 March 2017
Hidden Door Festival reveals line-up for reborn Leith Theatre – The Scotsman, 3 March 2017
Hidden Door reveals 2017 line up – The Skinny, 3 March 2017
Writer’s Picks for 2017 – TV Bomb, 5 Jan 2017
17 reasons to visit Edinburgh in 2017 – This Is Edinburgh, 4 Jan 2017
Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh to help save Leith theatre – BBC News, 4 Jan 2017
Irvine Welsh leads campaign to restore Leith Theatre – The Stage, Jan 6 2017
Irvine Welsh backing fantastic news for Leith Theatre – Edinburgh Evening News, 3 Jan 2017
Trainspotting author plots Leith’s return to the stage – The Scotsman, 8 Jan 2017
Trainspotting author aims to bring bright lights back to Leith – The Times, 3 Jan 2017
Leith’s Citadel Theatre given fresh life after 30 years – The Stage, 8 Nov 2016
Derelict Leith theatre to rise again as citadel of the arts – The Times, 2 Nov 2016
Hidden Door Festival To Revitalise Leith Citadel Theatre – Edinburgh Guide, 1 Nov 2016
Festival review: Hidden Door, Electric City – Scotsman, 6 June 2016
Glittered theatre review at Hidden Door – TV Bomb, 5 June 2016
Theatre review: Hidden Door, Abandoned Street Lighting Depot – Herald, 30 May 2016
Experts in Short Trousers theatre review at Hidden Door – TV Bomb, 29 May 2016
Teleman concert review at Hidden Door – Back of the Crowd, 29 May 2016
Ubu Roi theatre review at Hidden Door – TV Bomb, 29 May 2016
Plenty of great artists to catch at Hidden Door – The National, 26 May 2016
Hidden Doors to return to King’s Stables Rd depot – Edinburgh Evening News, 24 Nov 2015
Hidden Door was the kind of DIY arts showcase Edinburgh needs – Wow24/7, 6 June 2015
Interactive walls tumble as Hidden Door comes to a close – Herald, 2 June 2015
5 Star Review: Hidden Door festival, Edinburgh – Scotsman, 29 May 2015
Art Review: Hidden Door Festival 2015 – The List, 29 May 2015
Hidden Door theatre review from The Secret Courtyard – Herald, 25 May 2015
Review: Hidden Door Festival – Edinburgh Feminist Review, 25 May 2015
Hidden Door’s theatrical highlights – The List, 22 May 2015
Hidden Door Festival 2016: An Artistic Wonderland – Channel 7A, 20 May 2015
Art thrives behind Edinburgh’s Hidden Door festival – Herald, 16 May 2015
Private View: Hidden Door Festival 2015 – The List, 8 April 2015
Former Grassmarket depot to host 2015 Hidden Door festival – STV Edinburgh, 3 March 2015
Festival review: Hidden Door Festival, Edinburgh – Scotsman, 30 March 2014
Hidden Door Festival 2014: Edinburgh Short Film Festival Highlights – Edinburgh Reporter, 28 March 2014
Hidden Door Festival: Vaults transformed into market – Edinburgh Evening News, 27 March 2014
Hidden Door festival aims to instil Edinburgh with a new DIY events ethos – The List, 21 March 2014
Hidden Door Festival announces Early Bird tickets on sale – The List, 2 Feb 2014