THIS is the final glimpse inside the King's Theatre before the start of a £7.2million makeover.

THIS is the final glimpse inside the King's Theatre before the start of a £7.2million makeover.

The Glasgow institution is set to close on Monday for an eight-week facelift.

During the two-month closure the first steps will be taken to return the King's to its original glory.

Architects plan to restore the 105-year-old theatre to its original 1904 design.

More than 1000 seats in the Stalls and Grand Circle are to be replaced with authentic copies of the originals.

But the revamp will also see the theatre brought into the 21st century, with air conditioning and a new lighting system.

A spokesman for the King's said: "This is the first physical stage of the refurbishment. It has been a slow process because the building is listed.

"Come September there will be a sea of new seating and the air conditioning will make a huge difference."

New seats will be laid out in a "Continental style" with seats staggered like bricks in a wall - meaning every seat will have a clear view of the stage.

And there will be no centre aisle running down the middle of the auditorium.

Work will be carried out in seven phases over six years, with the full refurbishment finished in time for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Phased repairs will make sure that there is as little disruption as possible for theatre-goers.

Glasgow City Council, which owns the theatre, is partially footing the bill for the revamp with theatre fans helping with the rest.

Phase two will include replacing the stage and the floor, upgrading the bars and redecorating.

The final phases will see the lighting renewed and a glazed roof fitted.

The King's has been leased for 21 years to Glasgow Theatres, part of the Ambassador Theatre Group that also runs the Theatre Royal.

Council chiefs have agreed a £400,000 grant and to back restoration plans up to 2011.

Theatre bosses are adding a £1 "restoration levy" to the cost of every ticket sold, which should raise £75,000 a year.

Other funding bodies are being approached to make up the balance of the cash needed for the category A' listed building.

Plans for the restoration were first launched in 2007 - and it has taken two years to make them a reality.

Some of the money has been raised via a Theatre Seat Dedication scheme, which allows theatre-lovers to dedicate a seat to a loved-one, with a name plaque fixed to the back of their' seat.

Susannah George, development manager, added: "The last time the seats were replaced was in the 1950s.

"The new seats will transform the theatre. We have sold 50 seats so far and it's been fascinating hearing people's stories and memories of the King's.

"It's amazing how many people have grown up with the theatre and how much it means to them."

What is your favourite Glasgow theatre
ANNE DORAN, 60, housewife, Kirkintilloch: I've been to several good performances at The King's. It has lovely architecture and great surroundings.	CHARLES CURRY, 52, security worker, Kirkintilloch: The Theatre Royal is a nice building which I visit regularly. The building's appeal is that it is traditional without being dated.	CHRISTINE STETZ, 52, manufacturing technician, Gourock: I like the history and tradition of The King's. I hope the refurbishment doesn't take too much away from that.	MARIAN COATES, 57, office worker, Johnstone: I go to the theatre a lot, mainly the Citizens' as I am a member of the their Theatre Society. It allows me to sample productions from Glasgow and further afield.