Our plans for Perth Theatre
FAQ’S How much will it cost? Overall we need to raise £13m and to achieve this we need backing from companies, sponsors, trusts and individuals. We will be announcing more detailed plans for our fundraising activities later in the year. In the meantime, if you have any fundraising ideas please contact Louisa Jacobs at LJacobs@horsecross.co.uk or on 01738 477721 What are the timescales for the plans? The project has already started – we have been talking to our staff, artists and customers about how to best secure the future of Perth Theatre for a few years now. Two years ago Perth & Kinross Council, who own the building, committed £2m of funding to the project and this month the Gannochy Trust has pledged a very generous £3m. We now have something on paper to describe our ambitions for the Theatre. If we can attract sufficient funding these plans illustrate what the Theatre could look like by 2015 at the earliest. Will the auditorium be kept in the original Edwardian / Victorian style? Yes – we have submitted an application to the Heritage Lottery Fund to fully restore and conserve the auditorium as part of the proposed plans. As well as all the historic fabric repairs (painting, plasterwork) we will install a new air conditioning system, create level access to the auditorium, improve site lines, seating and create better wheelchair spaces.
Will the programme change when the Theatre re-opens? The plans are to keep all that we have and add more, using the new studio space to add work to the repertoire that does not currently get an outing in Perth - work from exciting new companies, small scale touring productions as well as music and community events. Will the Theatre have to close while work is being carried out? As the work will be extensive and will involve the whole theatre, we will need to close for around two years to allow the construction work to be completed. What happens during closure? Where will the Theatre season be held? During this time Perth Theatre will be stepping out. We plan to continue to create theatre for our audiences in a variety of new places around Perth and Kinross taking theatre to audiences and venues throughout the area. How do I get involved? We need our audiences fully involved in helping us develop our plans further and in raising the funds required. That’s why we’re embarking on a public consultation.
If you would like to comment or find out more please contact Louisa Jacobs at LJacobs@horsecross.co.uk or on 01738 477721
Where can I find out more information? www.horsecross.co.uk / PerthTheatreRedevelopment at Perth Theatre 185 High Street, Perth, PH1 5UW by email – info@horsecross.co.uk
Perth Theatre has been at the heart of social and artistic life in Perth for more than one hundred years. Our plans are designed to ensure that it will continue to be enjoyed by everyone living in Perth & Kinross and our many visitors for years to come. Last season nearly 60,000 people came to see our award winning drama and cultural programme, nearly 3000 people from communities and schools right across Perth & Kinross participated in our creative learning programme and PYT, our theatre company for young people with 150 members, is one of the biggest and most active in Scotland. We believe that investing in Perth’s cultural facilities is investing in the future economic success of our city.
Our plans can be summed up as follows Restoring and conserving of our historic auditorium “If the interior was beautiful by day, it was absolutely gorgeous by night... a theatrical gem of its kind” So said the Perthshire Advertiser at the opening of the Theatre on 7 September 1900. Since then our much loved auditorium has been appreciated by literally millions of people. It remains an important part of Perth’s and Scotland’s theatrical history as a classic example of a late Victorian theatre with its rich colours, gilded arch and audience wrapped around its stage. It is the perfect intimate space to experience drama. Our auditorium is now 110 years old and our aim is to meticulously conserve and restore its period features ensuring that it is preserved and well used for generations to come. At the same time we would like to partially restore the upper circle and restore the orchestra pit.
Providing additional youth and community space “I feel like my life changed that first day I walked in to Perth Theatre. It was the best thing that happened to me, it set me on my way” Ewan McGregor Our young people are the lifeblood of the Theare and our local communities are at the heart of everything we do. Over the last five years our creative learning team has massively expanded our links with schools, young people and communities across Perth and Kinross and we can barely keep pace with demand. Expanding our resources benefits everyone in Perth and Kinross enabling us to develop outreach work from a central hub in a working theatre building. We are proposing three new community spaces including a ground floor space to give us level access and a dedicated space for PYT, our theatre company for young people. The community spaces will also be available for hire by local community groups.
Creating a new 225 seat Studio Theatre
With the proposed Studio Theatre, Perth will finally have a complete set of performance spaces and can host artists working at any scale in the performing arts – large, mid and small. At the moment we miss out on much of the touring theatre and music productions as there is simply not a viable space to put them on.
Improving access and customer experience
We work hard to make the theatre welcoming and accessible to all. We pride ourselves on our friendly and helpful staff and offer accessible performances of all our produced shows including signed, audio described and, more recently, captioned performances. The redevelopment offers us a chance to take a giant leap forward and put access at the heart of the building, rather than achieve it through bolt on and work-around solutions. Audiences now and in the future rightly expect greater comfort and convenience nowadays and this is our opportunity to achieve the change. The proposals provide level access to the Theatre, cafe and auditorium from both Mill Street and High Street, adding a level access workshop space for community use and installing a lift to provide ease of access to other levels. Once in the Theatre, temperature control and modern seating will bring comfort to both performance spaces with open foyers and natural light bringing an open, welcoming feeling to the whole building.
Helping Perth prosper
Last year was our most successful ever at Perth Theatre and Perth Concert Hall with over 177,000 attendances at events in our venues (154,901 for cultural events and 22,352 conference delegates). 35% of our audiences visit from outwith Perth & Kinross Perth Theatre’s cultural and community programme brings benefits to people across Perth and beyond. The ability to do more and different things at the Theatre will enhance this offer and also help Perth’s economic development. New spaces and events will attract more visitors to the Theatre having a positive knock on effect on the local economy with more opportunities for local businesses such as hotels and restaurants.