Dundee Repertory Theatre facts for kids
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Dundee Rep
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| Location | Dundee, Scotland |
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| Type | Repertory theatre |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1979–1982 |
| Opened | 8 April 1982 |
| Years active | 1931–present |
| Architect | Nicoll Russell Studios |
| Tenants | |
| Scottish Dance Theatre Dundee Rep Ensemble |
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| Website | |
| https://dundeerep.co.uk/ | |
The Dundee Repertory Theatre, often called the Dundee Rep, is a famous theatre and arts group in Dundee, Scotland. It's a special place where they create their own plays and shows, and also welcome performances from other companies. You can see all sorts of shows here, like plays, musicals, dance, children's theatre, comedy, jazz, and opera.
The Rep is also home to the Scottish Dance Theatre, which is Scotland's main modern dance company. The theatre building is in Tay Square, right in the middle of Dundee's "cultural quarter." It's known as one of the best theatres in the UK, with over 70,000 people visiting each year!
Contents
A Look Back: The Rep's Story
How the Theatre Started
Dundee has had many theatres over the years. In the early 1900s, many theatres became cinemas. By the 1930s, Dundee didn't have a dedicated drama theatre anymore.
A theatre manager named Robert Thornely wanted to find a home for his professional theatre company. He teamed up with the Dundee Dramatic Society, an amateur group. They had bought an old jute mill to use as a performance space.
In May 1939, the Dundee Repertory Theatre officially began. It was a mix of professional actors and amateur support. Even though World War II was starting, the company performed weekly shows.
In June 1963, a fire completely destroyed their building. The Rep had to move around for a bit. They eventually found a temporary home in a converted church. They stayed there for 18 years!
Building the New Theatre
The theatre company worked with the local council and the Scottish Arts Council. They agreed to build a brand new theatre on land given by the University of Dundee. Work started in January 1979.
The artistic director, Robert Robertson, helped make sure the new theatre was built. Building costs went up, so they launched a public appeal. People in Dundee raised an amazing £200,000! This was a huge help, especially since the city was going through tough economic times.
The new theatre opened on April 8, 1982. It was designed by Nicoll Russell Studios, architects from Dundee. The building was a big success! It had a 455-seat auditorium, which means it had one of the best stages in Scotland for connecting with the audience. It even won awards for its design. Robert Robertson retired in 1990.
In April 1992, Hamish Glen became the new artistic director. The building was made bigger that same year. This allowed for more space for community programs, a dance studio, and larger workshops. In 1996, the theatre won a big award for the Best Overall Production in the UK. In 1999, they started a new and exciting idea: a permanent group of 14 actors called the Rep Ensemble.
The 2000s and 2010s
James Brining became artistic director in 2003. During his time, the company created over 50 shows. The Rep Ensemble became known around the world. They were the first UK company to tour to Iran in 30 years! They also visited Mexico and Japan with their plays.
The company worked with other top theatre groups in the UK. They performed in many major venues across Scotland. Their shows included everything from Shakespeare to musicals, and plays for children and young people.
In 2004, a new £1 million dance studio was built for the Scottish Dance Theatre. The Rep also asks playwrights to write new plays and update classic stories. This helps keep the theatre's work fresh and important for today's Scotland.
In 2007, the Dundee Rep Ensemble created Sunshine on Leith. This musical featured the music of The Proclaimers. It quickly became a Scottish favourite, seen by over 200,000 people. In 2013, a film version of the musical was released.
One special project was touring their play The Winter's Tale to Iran. This was the first major cultural event shown in Iran in 25 years by a British company. The set for the play was even built in Iran!
In May 2015, Nick Parr became the new chief executive officer. He worked with Jemima Levick, who was the artistic director. Jemima Levick left in 2016. Joe Douglas then became the Associate Artistic Director in April 2016.
From 2016 to Today
In July 2016, Andrew Panton was appointed the new artistic director. He took over from Joe Douglas the next year. Since then, Dundee Rep has worked with the National Theatre of Scotland on shows like Let The Right One In. They also teamed up with the Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh.
The Rep is now home to over 20 performers who live in the area. They perform both locally and internationally. The theatre continues to grow and aims for bigger and better things. It is now the most awarded theatre in Scotland. The Dundee Rep Theatre has become one of the top theatres in the UK that creates its own shows.
In 2022, the theatre building was given a special status. It was listed as a Category A building by Historic Environment Scotland. This means it's seen as a "rare and exceptional example of post-war theatre design."
What's Next for the Rep?
In September 2018, there were talks about the Rep possibly moving to a new, specially built theatre. The artistic director, Andrew Panton, said the current building was getting too small. He suggested a new theatre could seat 800 to 1000 people, much more than the current 400. This would allow for different audience sizes.
He thought this could be part of the Rep's 80th anniversary in 2019. It could also be the next big cultural project in Dundee after the V&A Dundee opened in 2018. As of 2023, these plans haven't happened yet. This might be because of the COVID-19 pandemic and fewer people returning to theatres.
The Rep Ensemble: A Special Acting Group
The Rep Ensemble is a permanent group of actors at the theatre. It started in 1999 and has been very successful. They perform many different shows, including a yearly Christmas pantomime. They also put on challenging versions of famous plays like A Doll's House.
Having the Ensemble means the theatre can offer workshops and other ways to connect with the community. This wouldn't be possible for a theatre without its own group of actors. The Ensemble also created the successful musical Sunshine on Leith, which has toured three times. The Rep Ensemble has won many awards. They continue to achieve the goals set by Hamish Glen when he started the project.
Artistic Directors of the Rep
- Robert Robertson (1973–1992)
- Hamish Glen (1992–2003)
- James Brining (2003–2012)
- Phillip Howard (2012–2015)
- Nick Parr (2015–2017)
- Jemima Levick (2015–2016)
- Joe Douglas (2016–2017)
- Andrew Panton (2017–present)
Famous Actors Who Performed Here
Many well-known actors started or performed at the Dundee Rep.
Richard Todd began his acting career with the company in the 1930s. He returned to perform after serving in World War II. Rowena Cooper also started her career here in the 1950s.
In 1962, Lynn Redgrave appeared in a play called Rookery Nook. She also played Portia in The Merchant of Venice. This play also featured Steven Berkoff and Dundee-born Brian Cox, who has become famous in TV and Hollywood films.
In the mid-1960s, actors like Jill Gascoine, Vivien Heilbron, Charmian May, and Stephen Yardley were part of the regular company. Visiting actors like James Bolam and Michael York also had short seasons. Other past actors include Ann Way.
Hannah Gordon was at the Dundee Rep from 1962 to 1963, as was Donald Sutherland. Vivien Heilbron and Heather Ripley were also members in the 1960s.
In 1987, Alan Cumming performed at the Rep in two plays from John Byrne's The Slab Boys Trilogy. Other famous people who performed here include Miriam Margolyes, Joanna Lumley, and Geoffrey Hayes (who hosted the children's TV show Rainbow).
Doctor Who Stars at the Rep
Several actors who later played The Doctor in the British sci-fi show Doctor Who performed at the Dundee Rep!
In the 1940s, William Hartnell, who played the first Doctor, performed in two plays at the theatre.
In the early 1990s, David Tennant appeared in several shows, including The Princess and the Goblin. He later became famous on TV and played the Tenth Doctor and the Fourteenth Doctor.
Ncuti Gatwa, who plays the Fifteenth Doctor, started his career at the Dundee Rep in 2013. He performed in several roles, including one in David Greig's Victoria.
Joanna Lumley, who played a version of the Female Doctor in a special Comic Relief episode, also starred in plays at the theatre.
Theatre Records
The records of the Rep, from about 1936 to 2010, are kept at Archive Services, University of Dundee. They include programs and photos of stars like Joanna Lumley, Michael York, David Tennant, and Gregor Fisher performing at the theatre. Some of these materials were shown in a big exhibition about Dundee and theatre in 2009 and 2010.
