Clyde Auditorium
| The 2k Armadillo | |
 | |
| Address |
Finnieston Street Glasgow G3 8YW Scotland |
|---|---|
| Public transit | Exhibition Centre railway station |
| Owner | SEC Ltd. |
| Capacity | 3,000 |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1995-97 |
| Opened | 7 September 1997 |
| Construction cost | £30 million |
| Website | |
| Venue Info | |
The Clyde Auditorium, familiarly known as "The Armadillo", is a concert venue and auditorium in Glasgow, Scotland. The building sits on the site of the now infilled Queen's Dock on the River Clyde, adjacent to the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre.
History
Plans for a new building to increase the capacity of the SECC complex were initiated in 1995. Designed by award-winning architects Foster and Partners, the 3,000 seat venue was completed in 1997, by which time it had earned its affectionate nickname due to the similarity of its shape to that of the animal of the same name. Many comparisons have been made with the Sydney Opera House, although this was not the architects' inspiration for the design, which was in fact an interlocking series of ship's hulls, in reference to the Clyde's shipbuilding heritage.
The building has quickly become one of the most recognisable on Clydeside and one of the iconic images of modern Glasgow. Its success has led to the construction of a third venue on the complex, the Scottish Hydro Arena.
It is connected by passageways to the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre, and the Crowne Plaza hotel for easy access and exit for high-profile performers.
The building held the Scottish auditions of Britain's Got Talent series 2 - 4 and the auditions for series 1 - 4 of The X Factor. It is the place where singer Susan Boyle was discovered.
Ian Reilly, the site's engineer, named the Auditorium the Armadillo during the construction phase.
The building served as the venue for the weightlifting competitions of the 2014 Commonwealth Games, held in Glasgow.
Pantomimes
More recently the Auditorium is famous for its Family Pantomimes.
| Year | Title | Main Cast |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Aladdin | John Barrowman The Krankies |
| 2011 | Robinson Crusoe and the Caribbean Pirates | John Barrowman The Krankies |
| 2012 | Jack and the Beanstalk | John Barrowman The Krankies |
| 2013 | Dick McWhittington | John Barrowman The Krankies |
| 2014 | Cinderella | John Barrowman The Krankies |
| 2015 | Peter Pan | David Hassellhoff The Krankies Michelle McManus |
| 2016 | Aladdin | Marti Pellow Johnny Mac |
See also
References
External links
- SECC web site
- Photographs of the (Armadillo) Clyde Auditorium in Glasgow
- Queen's Dock regeneration project
- SECC Armadillo features in Delhi - Clyde Waterfront regeneration
Coordinates: 55°51′34″N 4°17′17″W / 55.859496°N 4.287962°W
