Transform Perth Theatre newsletter January 2016

‘we are delighted to have the opportunity to restore this iconic landmark for the people of Perth and surrounding areas’ Robertson Construction Tayside

Welcome

January 2016

Since our last update, work has continued on the completion of the detailed design for the new Perth Theatre to allow the final tender process to be undertaken. Further investigative works have been carried out on site including a programme of extensive archaeological evaluation in advance of the main construction phase starting.

An exciting fundraising milestone!

With the launch of Perth Concert Hall’s giant Transform Perth Theatre display, we have reached an exciting milestone on our fundraising journey.

We are calling out to anyone with a connection to Perth Theatre to join the #PlayingMyPart campaign and support the final push to raise £1.5m to fully kit out the theatre when it reopens in autumn 2017. See next pages for full details.

Find out about the many ways to support the restoration and redevelopment of Perth Theatre at www.transformperththeatre.co.uk

Your Theatre Your Heritage Your Future

Calling all actors, back stage staff, creatives, audience members ‌

Playing my Part Theatre lovers can help raise the profile of the Perth Theatre transformation by joining the

Your Theatre

#PlayingMyPart campaign.

Your Heritage

Anyone can get involved by taking a picture of themselves with the #PlayingMyPart sign in Perth

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Concert Hall or filming a short video clip and posting on social media using the hashtags #TransformPerthTheatre and #PlayingMyPart. Their images could then be incorporated into the large-

Barrie Hunter, Beauty and the Beast

scale Transform Perth Theatre display in Perth Concert Hall or even appear on the 22-screen Threshold Wave! There are also lots of suggestions for fundraising activities on the Transform Perth Theatre pages of the Horsecross Arts website. Dedicating a seat in the restored auditorium or new studio theatre is the perfect gift for regular theatre-goers and businesses of all sizes can associate themselves with this exciting project with a bespoke sponsorship option.

And of course, donations are invited via the Transform Perth Theatre web pages and in the various collection tins around Perth Concert Hall.

For more information contact the Horsecross Arts Development Team on 01738 472731, email transform@perththeatre.co.uk

Alison Williamson, Horsecross Arts

Play your Part A gift of £20 or more ...

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Receive a Perth Theatre supporter’s pin badge

Your Heritage

A gift of £50 or more …

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Be acknowledged in Perth Theatre’s reopening programme

A gift of £250 or more …

Dedicate a seat in the new studio theatre

A gift of £400 or more …

Dedicate a seat in the fully restored Perth Theatre auditorium

A gift of £500 or more …

Support a Perth Theatre production shot on our ‘Wall of Fame’

A gift of £1000 or more …

Be acknowledged on the Perth Theatre Donor Wall

‘about as close to a perfect pantomime as you will find’ Sunday Herald

Perth Theatre Out and About Once again, Perth Concert Hall stepped in to stage Perth’s annual family panto Beauty and the Beast.

Thousands of excited audience members booed, hissed, laughed and sang their way through this fantastic show which, in a nod to its past and future home, played under a replica of Perth Theatre’s proscenium arch. National and local theatre critics heaped praise on the cast, set, music and direction.

‘beautiful home-cooked Scottish panto, done to perfection’ *****The Scotsman

The 306: Dawn Looking ahead to May, we are thrilled to be presenting an exclusive coproduction with National Theatre of Scotland, the world premiere of The 306: Dawn.

The 306: Dawn tells the tragic and little-known true story of British soldiers executed by their own side for desertion or cowardice during WW1. For added authenticity and atmosphere, the play will be staged in a barn at Dalcrue Farm, Pitcairngreen and will feature a special dawn-time performance.

Your Theatre Your Heritage Your Future

‘a very good example of a compact, late Victorian auditorium design with a good decorative scheme’ Simpson and Brown, Conservation Architects

Your new theatre The loving restoration of Perth Theatre’s B-listed late Victorian, early Edwardian auditorium will increase accessibility and comfort whilst maintaining the original warmth and grandeur. Features such as walls, plasterwork, seating, flooring and lighting will be repaired and replaced and mechanical ventilation systems will be introduced. The original decorative interior of the theatre with walls predominantly red and mouldings accented in cream and gold will be replicated. Carpets, stage curtains and other original furnishings will also be replaced. Minor modifications will be made to seating layouts to improve sight lines.

The upper circle ‘gods’ will be reinstated, creating three rows within the original layout. A new technical lighting gallery and follow spot space will be created at the rear of the upper circle.

Originally the intention was to reopen the small orchestra pit at the front of the stage, as indicated on the original theatre plan drawings, but investigations have since revealed that this pit was never built! Instead, a new orchestra area will be created. The fly tower and systems within will be fully refurbished. The meticulous restoration work will take place in consultation with leading conservation architects Simpson & Brown.

Your Theatre Your Heritage Your Future

‘Horsecross has been pivotal in my decision to study drama ... and left me with so many memories to treasure’ Christopher McDougall, Youth Theatre Member

Creative Learning News In December four Perth Youth Theatre participants landed roles in Perth panto Beauty and the Beast. Many of the fantastic reviews made particular comment about the young cast. ‘a tremendous cast reinforced by local youngsters’ ****The Herald ‘a brilliant team of young dancers’ *****The Scotsman

Star Awards Success Horsecross Arts was recently announced as the winner of Perth Chamber of Commerce’s Commitment to the Community Business Star Award 2015! Despite tough competition the judging panel said they were blown away by the scope and reach of the Horsecrosss youth, education and community activities and ambitious plans for future growth. Our participants and local communities are at the heart of everything we do, so please take a bow – this award is as much yours as it is ours!

Your Theatre Your Heritage Your Future

Creative Learning News Perth Theatre – Research, Record and Reveal Project

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In October we launched the Perth Theatre Drama Collective - a

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heritage drama project for adults with learning disabilities and their carers. Facilitated by a Horsecross Director-tutor and

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Trainee Director the project took elements of the heritage of the theatre and used them with the group to devise a show.

In partnership with the Friends Unlimited Network (an Enable initiative) we recruited 12 participants. At the first session we brought along two pantomime Dame costumes from our 2013 production of Cinderella for the participants to try on and use to create characters.

The group were really taken with the idea of developing their own pantomime. As such we brought copies of the Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty (2014) and Mother Goose (2012) scripts into following sessions, for them to use as research. Throughout the project the participants developed into an ensemble who supported each other to create a funny and clever final performance. Perth Theatre Fairytale Murder! was performed by the group to an audience of family and friends in Perth Concert Hall’s Norie-Miller Studio.

‘Perth Theatre was very important to me … it was a place you wanted to get to, like home, a great big family … I have the fondest memories’

Star Acts

Una McLean Your Theatre

Currently familiar to a whole new generation as Molly O’Hara, the ‘mother from hell’ in River City, Una McLean spent over 25 years as a Perth Theatre regular.

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Una first came to Perth Theatre, not long out of drama school when

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Marjorie Dence asked her to play Sally Bowles in I am a Camera in 1956. She ‘jumped at the chance’ to reprise the role she had first played at the Byre Theatre and was invited to stay on as part of the company.

Under Joan Knight, Una made frequent appearances in Perth Theatre, playing alongside famous faces of the day including her first panto as Princess to Edith McCarthur’s principal boy. David Steuart, Roy Kinnear and Roger Kemp were among the company. She fondly recalls touring to the Borders with Perth Theatre when this was an innovative concept and still treasures friendships forged with local people who took visiting actors into their homes.

Her extensive theatre grounding is something that Una carries with her to this day as she celebrates over six and a half years playing a lead role in Scotland’s iconic soap.

Una McLean pictured with Walter Carr

‘I am very glad that I was theatre grounded, I use that in everything I do’

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