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There are two performance spaces in the building: a 300 capacity theatre, with notably clear sightlines, and a main hall upstairs, which seats 500.<ref name=List/> The main hall (also known as "Venue 1") hosts [[classical music]] concerts, [[comedy]] and [[contemporary dance]] performances, as well as regular cinema screenings and live screenings from the [[National Theatre Live|National Theatre]] and [[Royal Opera House]].<ref name=List/>
In the early years, the theatre was used mainly for pantomime and productions by local amateur groups, with occasional performances by touring companies. In 1979, [[East Lothian Council|East Lothian District Council]] asked Sandy Neilson to form a company to present an eight-week season of drama. The three plays produced during the first season were [[Frederick Knott]]'s thriller ''[[Wait Until Dark]]'', [[Alexander Reid (playwright)|Alexander Reid]]'s [[Scots language|Scots]] comedy ''The Lass wi' the Muckle Mou'', and [[Peter Nichols (playwright)|Peter Nichols]]' ''[[A Day in the Death of Joe Egg]]'', with John Bett in the title role. Ron Coburn Promotions presented the Christmas pantomime ''Robinson Crusoe'' at the Brunton Theatre from 13th December 1979 to 5th January 1980. Ian Granville-Bell served as Artisticartistic Directordirector until 1986.<ref>''[http://archive.list.co.uk.s3-website.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/the-list/1986-09-05/11/index.html Musselburgh Moves]'', ''The List'', Issue 24, 5 - 18 September 1986], p. 11</ref>
Charles Nowosielski was appointed Artisticartistic Directordirector at the Brunton Theatre in 1986, bringing Richard Cherns with him as Musical Director/composer.<ref>''[https://www.scotsman.com/news/people/obituary-charles-nowosielski-visionary-director-behind-theatre-alba-2871701 Obituary: Charles Nowosielski, visionary director behind Theatre Alba]'', ''The Scotsman'', 3rd June 2020</ref> Productions directed by Nowosielski include [[Sydney Goodsir Smith]]'s ''The Wallace'' (1986),<ref>[http://archive.list.co.uk.s3-website.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/the-list/1986-09-19/10/index.html Advertisement for the Brunton Theatre production of ''The Wallace''], ''The List'', Issue 25, 19 September - 2 October 1986, p. 8</ref> Donald Mackenzie's ''The Warld Traiveller'' (1986),<ref>[http://archive.list.co.uk.s3-website.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/the-list/1986-10-17/21/index.html Advertisement for the Brunton Theatre production of ''The Warld Traiveller''], ''The List'', Issue 27, 17 - 30 October 1986, p. 21</ref> [[Robert Bolt]]'s ''[[A Man for All Seasons (play)|A Man for All Seasons]]'' (1986),<ref>[http://archive.list.co.uk.s3-website.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/the-list/1986-10-31/16/index.html Advertisement for the Brunton Theatre production of ''A Man for All Seasons''], ''The List'', Issue 28, 31 October - 13 November 1986, p. 16</ref> Netta B. Reid's ''A Shepherd Beguiled'' (1986),<ref>[http://archive.list.co.uk.s3-website.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/the-list/1986-11-14/20/index.html Adverisement for the Brunton Theatre production of ''The Shepherd Beguiled''], ''The List'', Issue 29, 14 - 27 November 1986, p. 18</ref><ref>[http://archive.list.co.uk.s3-website.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/the-list/1986-11-28/21/index.html review of ''The Shepherd Beguiled'' by Sarah Hemming], ''The List'', Issue 30, 28 November - 11 December 1986, p. 21</ref> Howard Purdie's ''A Fine Romance'' (1987),<ref>Raison, Ness, review of ''A Fine Romance'', [http://archive.list.co.uk.s3-website.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/the-list/1987-02-20/22/index.html ''The List'', 20 February 1987], pp. 22 & 23</ref> Edward Stiven's ''Tamlane'' (1987),<ref>[http://archive.list.co.uk.s3-website.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/the-list/1987-03-06/22/index.html review of ''Tamlane'' by Nigel Billen], ''The List'', Issue 36, 6 - 19 March 1987, pp. 22 & 23</ref> the Kander & Ebb musical ''[[Cabaret (musical)|Cabaret]]'' (1987),<ref>[http://archive.list.co.uk.s3-website.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/the-list/1987-10-02/22/index.html review of ''Cabaret'' by Sally Kinnes], ''The List'', Issue 51, 2 - 15 October 1987, p. 20</ref> [[Jay Presson Allen]]'s adaptation of ''[[The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (novel)|The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie]]'' (1987),<ref>[http://archive.list.co.uk.s3-website.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/the-list/1987-10-16/23/index.html Advertisement for the Brunton Theatre production of ''The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie''], ''The List'', Issue 52, 16 - 29 October 1987, p. 21</ref><ref> [http://archive.list.co.uk.s3-website.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/the-list/1987-10-30/22/index.html review of ''The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie'' by Rosemary Goring], ''The List'', Issue 53, 30 Ostober - 12 November 1987, p.20</ref> Stephen Macdonald's adaptation of ''The Jungle Book'' (1987 and 1989 tour),<ref>[http://archive.list.co.uk.s3-website.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/the-list/1987-10-30/20/index.html Theatre listings], ''The List'', Issue 53, 30 October - 12 November 1987, p. 18</ref><ref>[http://archive.list.co.uk.s3-website.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/the-list/1987-11-13/25/index.html review of ''The Jungle Book''], ''The List'', Issue 54, 13 - 26 November 1987, p. 23</ref><ref>[http://archive.list.co.uk.s3-website.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/the-list/1989-04-07/25/index.html advertisement for the tour of the Brunton Theatre Company's production of ''The Jungle Book''], ''The List'', Issue 91, 7 - 20 April 1989, p. 23</ref> [[David Purves]]'s ''The Knicht o the Riddils'' (1987),<ref>[http://archive.list.co.uk.s3-website.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/the-list/1987-11-13/5/index.html Guest List: Preview of ''The Knicht o the Riddils''], ''The List'', Issue 54, 13 - 26 November 1987, p. 3</ref><ref>[http://archive.list.co.uk.s3-website.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/the-list/1987-12-11/31/index.html review of ''The Knicht o the Riddils'' by Sarah Hemming], ''The List'', issue 56, 11 December 1987 – 7 January 1988, p. 27, {{issn|0959-1915}}</ref> John Bett's ''Sleeping Beauty'' (1987-88), [[William Shakespeare]]'s ''[[The Taming of the Shrew]]'' (1988),<ref>[http://archive.list.co.uk.s3-website.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/the-list/1988-02-05/24/index.html review of ''The Naming of the Shrew'' by Mark Fisher], ''The List'', Issue 59, 5 - 18 February 1988, p. 22</ref> Edward Stiven's ''The Cauldron'' (1988),<ref>[http://archive.list.co.uk.s3-website.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/the-list/1988-03-04/23/index.html review of ''The Cauldron'' by Sarah Hemming], ''The List'', Issue 61, 4 - 17 March 1988, p. 21</ref>, an [[Edinburgh International Festival]] production of [[James Bridie]]'s ''Holy Isle'' (1988),<ref>[http://archive.list.co.uk.s3-website.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/the-list/1988-08-19/5/index.html preview of the Brunton Theatre Company's production of James Bridie's ''Holy Isle''], ''The List'', Issue 74, 9 - 25 August 1988, p. 3</ref> [[Robert Robertson (actor)|Robert Robertson]]'s ''The Wizard of Oz'' (1988),<ref>[http://archive.list.co.uk.s3-website.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/the-list/1988-09-02/33/index.html listing for the Brunton Theatre Company's production of ''The Wizard of Oz''], ''The List'', Issue 76, 12 - 15 September 1988, pp. 20 & 31</ref> [[Frances Goodrich|Goodrich]] and [[Albert Hackett|Hackett]]'s''[[The Diary of Anne Frank (play)|The Diary of Anne Frank]]'' (1988),<ref>[http://archive.list.co.uk.s3-website.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/the-list/1988-09-30/24/index.html listing for the Brunton Theatre Company's production of ''The Diary of Anne Frank''], ''The List'', Issue 78, 30 September - 13 October 1988, pp. 22 & 23</ref><ref>[http://archive.list.co.uk.s3-website.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/the-list/1988-10-14/26/index.html review of ''The Diary of Anne Frank'' by Mark Fisher], ''The List'', Issue 79, 14 - 27 October, p. 24</ref> ''The Bug Play'' (1988),<ref>[http://archive.list.co.uk.s3-website.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/the-list/1988-10-28/23/index.html Theatre listing for ''The Bug Play''], ''The List'', Issue 80, 28 October - 10 November 1988, p. 21</ref> [[Alexander Reid (playwright)|Alexander Reid]]'s ''The Warld's Wonder'' (1988), David Swan's ''Frankie MacStein: The Panto'' (1988-89),<ref>[http://archive.list.co.uk.s3-website.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/the-list/1988-12-23/31/index.html review of ''Frankie MacStein'' by Kristina Woolnough], ''The List'', Issue 84, 23 December - 12 January, p. 29</ref> [[Anton Chekhov|Anton Chekov]]'s ''[[The Seagull]]'' (1989),<ref>[http://archive.list.co.uk.s3-website.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/the-list/1989-01-27/26/index.html Theatre listing for the Brunton Theatre Company's production of ''The Seagull''], ''The List'', Issue 86, 27 January - 9 February 1989, p. 24</ref><ref>[http://archive.list.co.uk.s3-website.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/the-list/1989-02-24/25/index.html review of ''The Seagull'' by Julie Morrice], ''The List'', Issue 88, 24 February - 9 March 1989, p. 23</ref> Edward Stiven's ''Under the Passing Stars'' (1989),<ref>''[http://archive.list.co.uk.s3-website.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/the-list/1989-02-24/23/index.html Touching the Past]'', ''The List'', Issue 88, 24 February - 9 March 1989, p. 21</ref> <ref>Theatricalia, ''[https://theatricalia.com/play/geq/under-the-passing-stars Under the Passing Stars]''</ref><ref>[http://archive.list.co.uk.s3-website.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/the-list/1989-03-10/26/index.html review of ''Under the Passing Stars'' by Simon Bayly], ''The List'', Issue 89, 10 - 23 March 1989, p. 24</ref> Hector MacMillan's ''The Rising'' (1989),<ref>[http://archive.list.co.uk.s3-website.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/the-list/1989-09-01/43/index.html Theatre listing for ''The Rising''], ''The List'', Issue 103, 1 - 14 September 1989, p. 41</ref> [[Compton Mackenzie]]'s ''Whisky Galore'' (1989),<ref>[http://archive.list.co.uk.s3-website.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/the-list/1989-10-13/51/index.html review of ''Whisky Galore'' by Philip Parr], ''The List'', Issue 106, 13 - 26 October 1989, p. 49</ref> [[C.P. Taylor]]'s ''[[Good (play)|Good]]'' (1989),<ref>[http://archive.list.co.uk.s3-website.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/the-list/1989-10-27/55/index.html advertisement for the Brunton Theatre Company's production of ''Good''], ''The List'', Issue 107, 27 October - 9 November, p. 51</ref><ref>[http://archive.list.co.uk.s3-website.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/the-list/1989-11-10/54/index.html review of ''Good'' by Mark Fisher], ''The List'', Issue 108, 10 - 23 November 1989, p. 50</ref> [[Peter Hall (director)|Peter Hall]] and [[Adrian Mitchell]]'s adaptation of ''[[Animal Farm]]'' (1989),<ref>[http://archive.list.co.uk.s3-website.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/the-list/1989-11-10/53/index.html advertisement for the Brunton Theatre Company's production of ''Animal Farm''], ''The List'', Issue 108, 10 - 23 November 1989, p. 49</ref><ref>[http://archive.list.co.uk.s3-website.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/the-list/1989-11-24/52/index.html review of ''Animal Farm'' by Jo Roe], ''The List'', Issue 109, 24 November - 7 December 1989, p. 50</ref> David Swan's ''Ali MacBaba and the Tomb of Doom'' (1989),<ref>[http://archive.list.co.uk.s3-website.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/the-list/1989-11-24/46/index.html advertisement for the Brunton Theatre Company's production of ''Ali MacBaba and the Tomb of Doom''],''The List'', Issue 109, 24 November - 7 December 1989, p. 44</ref> [[Daphne du Maurier]]'s ''[[Rebecca (novel)|Rebecca]]'' (1990),<ref>[http://archive.list.co.uk.s3-website.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/the-list/1990-01-12/51/index.html advertisement for the Brunton Theatre Company's production of ''Rebecca''], ''The List'', Issue 112, 12 - 15 January 1990, p. 49</ref><ref>[http://archive.list.co.uk.s3-website.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/the-list/1990-01-26/44/index.html review of ''Rebecca'' by Jo Roe], ''The List'', Issue 113, 26 January - 8 February 1990, p. 42</ref> Donald Campbell's ''The Fisher Boy and the Honest Lass'' (1990),<ref>[http://archive.list.co.uk.s3-website.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/the-list/1990-03-09/55/index.html review of ''The Fisher Boy and the Honest Lass'' by Philip Parr], ''The List'', Issue 116, 9 - 22 March 2020, p. 53</ref> [[George Bernard Shaw]]'s ''[[Saint Joan (play)|Saint Joan]]'',<ref>[http://archive.list.co.uk.s3-website.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/the-list/1990-09-14/54/index.html 'Saints alive', review of ''Saint Joan'' by Sue Wilson], ''The List'', Issue 131, 14 - 27 September 1990, p. 52</ref> and an Edinburgh International Festival production of [[Robert Silver|Robert S. Silver]]'s ''The Bruce'' (1991).<ref>''The Bruce'' theatre programme, Brunton Theatre Company, Musselburgh, August 1991</ref><ref>Brunton Theatre Company programme, 1987/88, Musselburgh</ref>
Sandy Neilson directed [[Simon Gray]]'s comedy ''Stage Struck'' at the Brunton in February 1988.<ref>[http://archive.list.co.uk.s3-website.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/the-list/1988-02-05/22/index.html Advertisement for the Brunton Theatre's production of ''Stage Struck''], ''The List'', Issue 59, 5 - 18 February 1980, p. 20</ref><ref>[http://archive.list.co.uk.s3-website.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/the-list/1988-02-19/24/index.html review of ''Stage Struck'' by Mark Fisher], ''The List'', Issue 60, 19 February - 6 March 1988, p. 22</ref> Jeffrey Daunton directed [[Agatha Christie]]'s ''[[The Hollow]]'' in January and February 1989.<ref>[http://archive.list.co.uk.s3-website.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/the-list/1989-01-13/23/index.html Theatre listing for ''The Hollow''], ''The list'', Issue 85, 13 - 26 January 1989, p. 21</ref><ref>[http://archive.list.co.uk.s3-website.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/the-list/1989-01-27/28/index.html review of ''The Hollow'' by Mark Fisher], ''The List'', Issue 86, 27 January - 9 February 1989, p. 26</ref> On 23 March 1990, [[David Hayman]] directed Scottish People's Theatre production of Lynn Bains' ''Nae Problem'' at the Brunton.<ref>[http://archive.list.co.uk.s3-website.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/the-list/1990-03-23/45/index.html advertisement for ''Nae Problem''], ''The List'', Issue 117, 25 March - 5 April 1990, p. 43</ref>
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