‘dramatic developments - and discoveries! - on site at Perth Theatre’
Welcome
July 2016 Your Theatre
Dramatic developments There have been a series of dramatic developments - and discoveries! - on site at Perth Theatre in recent weeks!
The ‘gods’ seating being reinstated
Foundations in place ready to build
The recent extension has been taken down, but not taken away, as every last brick has been crushed down to form the base on which the brand new extension will be built. The foundations are now in place ready for the ground floor slab of the new building to be installed, signalling the start of the new building beginning to rise from ground level. Within the historic auditorium, the new door openings for accessible entrances have been created, allowing public access to all levels of the building for the first time since the 1960s. A team of highly skilled joiners has been working to carefully restore the upper circle ‘gods’ seating to its former glory.
Ticket dating back to 1912
As work continues the construction team has come across some interesting finds that have lain under the theatre floorboards and in cupboards for decades, including old lemonade bottles, tickets, magazines and time sheets, with one ticket - pictured dating back more than a century to 1912! In the coming weeks, the Perth skyline will have a new landmark with the arrival on site of a 27 metre high crane that will build the frame of the three storey extension.
Your Heritage Your Future
‘a wonderfully creative and clever piece of music theatre’ audience member
Overwhelming reaction to The 306 A Perthshire barn became an atmospheric theatre set for the National Theatre of Scotland and Perth Theatre’s muchanticipated production of The 306: Dawn with 14-18 Now and Red Note Ensemble. Audiences travelled by bus from Perth Concert Hall to Dalcrue Farm, Pitcairngreen for the world premiere of this new piece of musical theatre by Oliver Emmanuel.
The 306: Dawn told the stories of three of the 306 soldiers executed by their own side for cowardice, mutiny and desertion during World War One. Played out on a dramatic set with wooden rifles representing trees, the audience sat on charred chairs with the action taking place around them on raised stages - set at trench height.
Reaction from critics and audiences to The 306:Dawn was overwhelming ‘brilliantly moving’ *****The Herald ‘superbly performed and an all encompassing experience based on the music, set and use of the entire barn throughout the performance. A wonderfully creative and clever piece of music theatre’ Audience member ‘exceptional in its sheer dramatic force’ ****The Scotsman ‘a memorable experience in every way. Very tough issues examined through remarkable performances, brilliantly mixing acting and music. I will not forget it’ Audience member
Your Theatre Your Heritage Your Future
Text to Transform Perth Theatre! Donating to #TransformPerthTheatre just got easier with the launch of our new text donation scheme! 100% of funds donated will go directly towards our final ÂŁ1.5m target to fully kit out our new theatre when it reopens in 2017.
Thanks a million!
Alison Williamson, Horsecross Arts
Future audiences, staff-members, performers and theatre supporters get a glimpse behind the scenes at Transform Perth Theatre
School pupils go behind the scenes Your Theatre
Primary school pupils from across Perth & Kinross became ‘Robertson Reporters’ to go behind the scenes at Perth Theatre in a visit organised by Transform Perth Theatre project contractors Robertson Group. Gemma Nicoll, Group Community Development Manager, Robertson, said: “We created the Robertson Reporters initiative to allow pupils to get an inside look at construction projects, and to help boost their communication skills by asking them to report back to their classmates.
Your Heritage Your Future
Barrie Hunter, Beauty and the Beast
“This will be our most in-depth Robertson Reporters project yet. It is a unique opportunity for the pupils, and with six visits planned over the life of the project they will be able to see the scale of work that goes into a successful construction project, from start to finish.” Gwilym Gibbons, chief executive of Horsecross Arts said: “Creative learning is at the heart of what we do at Horsecross Arts, and the newly redeveloped and restored theatre will feature dedicated spaces for our growing numbers of community participants. “It is great to see our construction partners at Robertson Tayside getting local schoolchildren involved in the project. They are our future audiences, staff-members, performers and theatre supporters and we look forward to seeing them on site regularly as the transformation of Perth Theatre continues.”
Hanging helmets on site!
‘I learned how to work with other people and strangers and bring all our skills together to make a play that really engaged an audience’ workshop participant
Creative Learning News Your Theatre
Schools Workshops
Your Heritage
Throughout spring we worked in partnership with the National Theatre of Scotland to deliver 12 full-day drama and music workshops to schools (reaching 613 S3 pupils across Perth and Kinross and surrounding areas) as well as over 20 skills-based workshops to 60 young people in the community. The workshops focused on our coproduction of The 306: Dawn and all of the young people who took part also attended a performance of the show.
Your Future Awards success! Our Creative Learning team was recently Highly Commended in the Inspiring Career Opportunity Award Category of the Community Education Awards for our Enterprise programme which incorporates Take Your Child to Work Day/Careers in Theatre and Sound Day/School Work Experience/Creative Assistant Scheme/ Trainee Directors Scheme/Music Apprentice Scheme.
Youth Arts Festival In June we held our 6th annual Horsecross Youth Arts Festival, which saw over 200 young people from Perth Youth Theatre, Perth Youth Dance, Horsecross Glee and Gordon Duncan Experience perform in 13 shows over four days. A highlight of the festival was the inaugural Join In Awards where our members were recognised for their dedication, commitment and artistic development. Over 300 of our members and their families attended the event where 40 awards were presented including top awards Group of the Year to Perth Autism Youth Theatre Seniors, Rising Star of the Year to Kacey Ward (Perth Youth Theatre/Glee P1-3) and Outstanding Star of the Year to Jake Paterson (Gordon Duncan Experience). Perth Carer Theatrics Over the spring we worked with PKAVS to deliver Perth Carer Theatrics – a drama and performance project for unpaid adult carers. Attending weekly sessions at Perth Concert Hall the group learned a range of theatrical skills and created a selection of short scenes/plays. The group put together a film of the performances they had made and presented this with a short live performance.
Over 200 young people performed in 13 shows over 4 days at the 6th Horsecross Youth Arts Festival
Perth Theatre Memory Collective A dedicated team of volunteers is researching the history of Perth Theatre, working closely with archivists and social history teams at the AK Bell Library. Their research will feed into a number of projects, exhibitions and resources over the next two years. Memory Collective member Jill Moody shares her discoveries about the early days of Perth Theatre.
The Early Days of Perth Theatre
Quite quickly after that, the church seems to have amalgamated with another and moved away. The site was then to be redeveloped in about 1897 with 4 storeys of tenement flats above shops, but the plans were modified, including to add a new theatre into the backcourt that would be entered via decorative doors on the High Street. This new theatre was the subject of objection by some neighbours from Cutlog Vennel, but the plans were passed, and construction was to be funded by subscribing shareholders. A foundation stone was duly laid on 6 October 1899 by George Alexander and a time capsule was placed in a cavity in the stone. The ceremony was attended by very many local worthies including the Earl of Mansfield. George Alexander was a celebrated actor/ Actor/director George Alexander manager, born in Reading and famous for his work with Oscar Wilde. He was later knighted for his services to theatre in 1911.
Perth High Street circa 1900 Before Perth Theatre was developed, the site looked quite different. Although the street pattern was already well-defined, Cutlog Vennel was wider than it is today, and it housed a range of small businesses with flats over. It may also have been where firewood was sold – hence the name. The High Street frontage of the theatre site was occupied by a lodging house for paupers, with the Turk’s Head Tavern to one side, both backed by some kind of open yard.
The chief architect for the Perth theatre project was William Alexander (no evidence that he was a relation to George), who was born in Dundee, the son of Charles Alexander, then proprietor of the Dundee Courier. William only ever designed 2 theatres – Perth and His Majesty’s Theatre, Dundee. He eventually became Dundee’s Chief Architect, a post that he held for some 33 years, during which time he designed many socially important and philanthropic buildings for Dundee with a suggestion of friendship and sponsorship by Andrew Carnegie. William was also involved in designing an extension to the Albert Institute, which became the McManus Gallery of today.
Perth Theatre opened in Sept 1900 and sadly, just a few years later, William The lodgings were cleared away as a civic reform in the mid 1800s, and the site Alexander died after a short illness and the partial amputation of one leg. was redeveloped by the Evangelical Union Church (otherwise known as the Morisonian Kirk). The foundation stone for that new building was laid in July 1862.
‘it’s more than a stage, it’s giving people a chance to dream and get out of their daily lives’
Star Acts
Janet Dibley Perhaps best known for her role in Eastenders where she played Lorna Cartwright from 1997 to 1998, actor Janet Dibley played her first professional role in Godspell at Perth Theatre. She recently returned to Perth for the first time since then, playing Jackie in Jackie the Musical in Perth Concert Hall. She took some time out during the run to share her memories. Godspell in Perth Theatre was my first professional job away after drama school. I had seen David Essex in the musical so it was very exciting for me. It was during the Joan Knight era at Perth Theatre and the show was directed by Andrew McKinnon with John Scrimgeour as musical director.
When I was here then I only had eyes for the stage, so it is only coming back now - for the first time since then - that I truly appreciate what a beautiful place Perth is. My first impressions of the theatre were - this is fantastic, it felt like it was ours, I felt ‘I belong here, this is me’. Perth has always felt special to me - it’s like your first boyfriend, you don’t forget your first job. This first thing I did when I got here with Jackie the Musical was to take a walk and find the theatre - it is lovely to go back, it feels really nostalgic. Perth Theatre is unique - it’s a jewel in your High Street, it’s great that you are restoring it, I am thrilled to come back and wave the banner! Theatres are so important in a community, it is more than a stage, it’s giving people a chance to dream and get out of their daily lives and particularly with the youth work that you do - it’s not necessarily to make young actors, it’s to give young people an expressive way to be and to communicate, which is so important growing up.
Your Theatre Your Heritage Your Future
‘Perth Theatre is unique - it’s a jewel in your High Street, it’s great that you are restoring it, I am thrilled to come back and wave the banner!’
We recently wrapped up a deal with KeepSafe Storage Centres to support the Transform Perth Theatre project. With three facilities in Perth and Dundee, KeepSafe provides space for businesses and individuals needing storage space. The company, based in Perth, has been serving the Perthshire and Tayside and Angus areas for more than 25 years. www.storageunits.company/
‘it’s an exciting time for Perth Theatre and we are thrilled to be a part of it. We also can’t wait to see the innovative arts and learning that we know will happen through the newly transformed Perth Theatre’ Anne Smith managing director Keepsafe Storage Centres
Restore … The beautiful B-listed Edwardian auditorium will be meticulously conserved, the ‘gods’ will be reinstated and an orchestra area will be created. Improvements to the auditorium will ensure that theatre-goers enjoy high quality creative experiences.
Build … A new 200-seat studio theatre will meet the demand for staging small to mid-scale performances including drama productions, music events, comedy gigs, children's workshops, family events and local community performances.
Your Theatre Your Heritage Your Future
Create … Dedicated creative learning areas will provide space for our growing community, education and outreach programme and a new home for Perth Youth Theatre, the oldest of its kind in Scotland.
Improve ... There will be ground floor access and a public lift to all other levels. The High Street entrance will be retained offering shoppers and visitors a direct route into the building. Perth Theatre will be more welcoming than ever before!
Thanks to our funders and partners
If you have any comments, feedback or stories to share contact the development team 01738 472731 transform@perththeatre.co.uk Horsecross Arts Ltd is registered in Scotland, no SC301328 and a charity no SC022400. Registered office: Perth Concert Hall, Mill Street, Perth PH1 5HZ