Designed by the great British theatre architect, Frank Matcham, (who built the London Coliseum, among others) its décor was lavish, with elephants with Nubian riders, nymphs and cherubs in abundance on the plasterwork, and it seated 3000 people on four levels.

While all 3000 theatre goers escaped safely in about 2.5 minutes,[1] there were eleven backstage deaths, including illusionist Sigmund Neuberger, who was then taking his final bow as The Great Lafayette; his body double; and the lion from his act.

Nevertheless, given the long term competition from the growth of film as a popular medium, the theatre had to be re-equipped to present bigger and more spectacular shows.

Reusing some of Matcham's original design concepts, the theatre reopened on 1 October 1928 with the first production, the musical Show Boat.

In addition to the music hall and popular entertainers who appeared at the Empire, the theatre became a principal venue of the Edinburgh International Festival between 1947 and 1963.