The Edinburgh Playhouse, located on Greenside Place in Edinburgh, Scotland, opened its doors in 1929 as a cinema. Designed by architect John Fairweather, it was originally built for Moss Empires and could seat 3,000 patrons, making it the largest cinema in Scotland at the time. The building’s facade features a distinctive Art Deco style, reflecting the architectural trends of the era.

During World War II, the Playhouse served as a temporary shelter for evacuees. In the 1970s, facing declining cinema attendance, the venue was threatened with demolition. However, a successful campaign led to its preservation and conversion into a theatre in 1980.

The Playhouse has a reputation for paranormal activity, with several reported ghost sightings over the years. The most famous spectral resident is known as Albert, a grey-clad figure believed to be a former stagehand or maintenance worker. Staff members have reported encounters with Albert in various parts of the building, particularly in the upper circle and backstage areas.

Other reported phenomena include unexplained footsteps, doors opening and closing on their own, and the feeling of being watched when alone in the building. Some performers and staff have described sensing a presence in their dressing rooms or hearing disembodied voices.

One notable incident involved a cleaner who reported seeing a ghostly figure in a grey coat near the stage door. The apparition allegedly vanished when approached. Another account describes lights turning on and off inexplicably in empty areas of the theatre.

The theatre’s long history and the number of people who have passed through its doors over the decades contribute to its reputation as a hub for paranormal activity in Edinburgh.