A century-old building that was once one of Edinburgh’s most popular churches has re-opened as a Fringe venue.

Assembly Roxy, in the former Lady Glenorchy’s Church in Roxburgh Place, will host a season of Russian theatre among 30 shows this August in its inaugural Fringe festival.

The 1910 church has double doors, pillars, Romanesque arches, carved foliage and stone angels.

It will be a worthy venue for cultural events.

The revamped venue could be used year-round to stage shows at Christmas and other holidays in Edinburgh, director William Burdett-Coutts has said.

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It boasts three stages including the 250-seater Roxy Central in what was the main hall as well as a basement bar, while an imposing stone stairwell holds a photography exhibition by celebrity portraitist Ray Burmiston.

Mr Burdett-Coutts said: "The great thing for us is to know that we have got a secure base for the long-term future and it's in the middle of everything, the heart of everything we are doing in the Old Town."

The Assembly venue bought the nineteenth-century building, along with the former Forest Cafe, in nearby Bristo Place, in a joint deal with city restauranteur Malcolm Innes.

Both of the buildings have operated as festival venues in the past but their owner, the Edinburgh University Settlement charity, went bankrupt in 2010.

(NE)