The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Dramatic life and times that started in an old jute mill
Dundee Repertory Theatre was founded in 1939 at a time when many of the old theatres in the city had converted into cinemas.
Acollaborationbetweenprofessionals with amateur support, it was born when Robert Thornely, manager of the last touring company to perform in Dundee, approached the Dundee Dramatic Society who had been looking for a place to perform and had bought an old jute mill.
Housed initially in Forester’s Hall in Nicoll Street/rattray Street, the company performed weekly repertory during the war.
When a fire completely destroyed the building in 1963, a nomadic existence followed before refuge was found in the converted former Dudhope Church on the Lochee Road of Dundee for a further 18 years.
Negotiations with then Dundee District Council and the Scottish Arts Council saw the decision taken for the company to have its own purpose-built premises on land donated by Dundee University.
After various funding challenges were overcome including £200,000 raised in a public appeal, the new theatre at Tay Square opened on April 8 1982, designed by Dundee-based architects Nicoll Russell Studios.
With a 455-seater auditorium, and regarded as one of the best stages in Scotland in terms of its relationship with its audience, it received a civic commendation from The Civic Trust Award in 1984 and in 1986 won the RIBA Architecture Award.
Further expansion took place in the 1990s and, in September 1999, it opened its doors to a permanent company of actors.
Dundee Rep Ensemble highlights in the years that followed included a pioneering tour of Iran with Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale and, in 2007, creation of Sunshine on Leith featuring the music of The Proclaimers.
Today, Dundee Rep and Scottish Dance Theatre sit at the cultural heart of Scotland and Dundee.
The company looks outwards, and aims to produce dance and theatre of national and international significance, for and with a diverse audience.
The ensemble has created a number of award-winning productions, establishing a reputation as one of the UK’S foremost theatre companies.
The Rep has developed co-productions with some of the UK’S other leading producers including the Barbican, the Young Vic, National Theatre of Scotland, Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh, Traverse Theatre Company, Paines Plough, Birmingham Rep and the Tron Theatre, performing in all of Scotland’s major venues.
At the heart of the Dundee Rep and Scottish Dance Theatre vision is the belief that artistic and creative experience of the highest quality should be open and available to all.