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 theatre and arts group in Dundee, Scotland. It creates its own shows and also hosts performances from other companies. These shows include plays, musicals, dance, comedy, and opera. It is also the home of Scottish Dance Theatre, a main contemporary dance company in Scotland. The Rep building is in Tay Square, which is a cultural area in Dundee.
Contents
History of the Dundee Rep
How the Theatre Started
Dundee has had many theatres over the years. In the early 1900s, many theatres became cinemas. By the 1930s, Dundee did not have a special theatre just for plays. Robert Thornely, a theatre manager, wanted to find a home for his acting 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 began. It was a mix of professional actors and amateur helpers. People thought it was strange to focus on plays during World War II. But the company performed new plays every week during the war and for many years after. In June 1963, a fire destroyed their building. The Rep had to move around for a short time. They found a temporary home in a converted church. They stayed there for 18 years.
Building the New Theatre
In the late 1970s, plans were made for a new, special theatre building. The University of Dundee gave the land for free. Work started in January 1979. Robert Robertson, the artistic director, helped oversee the building. Rising costs almost stopped the project. But the public raised a huge amount of money, £200,000, in a city facing 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 was great for connecting with the audience. It won awards for its design in 1984 and 1986. Robert Robertson retired from the Rep 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 and education programs. It also added a dance studio and improved workshops. In September 1999, the Rep started a new and exciting project. They created a permanent group of 14 actors.
The 2000s and 2010s
James Brining became the artistic director in 2003. During his time, the company created over 50 shows. The permanent group of actors became famous internationally. They were the first UK company to tour to Iran in 30 years. They performed Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale there. They also visited Mexico and Japan with other plays.
The company worked with many top theatre groups in the UK. They performed in major venues across Scotland. Their shows included Shakespeare, musicals, classic American plays, and new works. They also created shows for children and young people.
In 2004, a new £1 million dance studio was built. This studio became the home for Scottish Dance Theatre. The Rep also asked writers to create new plays and adapt old stories.
In 2007, the Dundee Rep Ensemble created Sunshine on Leith. This musical featured the songs of The Proclaimers. It became a Scottish favourite and was seen by over 200,000 people. In 2013, a movie version of the musical was released.
In May 2015, Nick Parr became the new chief executive officer. He worked with Jemima Levick, who was the artistic director. Jemima Levick left the Rep 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. They presented the world premiere of Let The Right One In. They also worked with the Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh, on Time and the Conways. They also presented the Scottish premiere of David Greig's Victoria.
The Rep is now home to more than 20 actors who live and work there. In 2022, the building was given a special status. It was listed as a Category A building by Historic Environment Scotland. This means it is a very important example of theatre design from after World War II.
The Future of the Rep
In September 2018, there were talks about the Rep moving to a new building. Andrew Panton, the artistic director, said the current building was getting too small. He suggested a new theatre could seat 800 to 1000 people. This would be much larger than the current 400-seat capacity. He thought this could be a big cultural project for Dundee. As of August 2025, these plans have not happened yet. This might be because of the COVID-19 pandemic and fewer people returning to theatres.
Artistic Directors
- 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 famous actors started or performed at the Dundee Rep.
Richard Todd began his acting career with the company in the 1930s. He returned after serving in World War II. Rowena Cooper also started her career here in the 1950s.
In 1962, Lynn Redgrave performed in Rookery Nook and The Merchant of Venice. Steven Berkoff and Dundee-born Brian Cox also appeared in The Merchant of Venice. Brian Cox has gone on to star in many TV shows and Hollywood movies. In the mid-1960s, actors like Jill Gascoine and Vivien Heilbron were part of the company. Visiting actors like James Bolam and Michael York also had short seasons. Hannah Gordon was at the Dundee Rep from 1962 to 1963, as was Donald Sutherland.
In 1987, Alan Cumming was at the Rep in The Slab Boys and Cuttin' a Rug. Other famous actors who performed here include Miriam Margolyes, Joanna Lumley, and Geoffrey Hayes. Geoffrey Hayes was known for hosting the children's TV show Rainbow.
Actors from Doctor Who
Several actors who played The Doctor in the British sci-fi TV series Doctor Who performed at the Dundee Rep.
In the 1940s, William Hartnell played the first Doctor. He performed in two plays at the theatre: The Rookery Nook and Ghost Train.
In the early 1990s, David Tennant appeared in several shows. He had a role in The Princess and the Goblin. He later became famous on TV and played the Tenth Doctor and the Fourteenth Doctor.
Ncuti Gatwa started his career at the Dundee Rep in 2013. He was part of a special program for new graduates. He performed in several roles, including one in David Greig's Victoria. Ncuti Gatwa later became the Fifteenth Doctor.
Joanna Lumley, who played a version of the Doctor in a special Comic Relief episode, also starred in plays at the theatre.
Other Rep alumni who have appeared in Doctor Who include Alan Cumming, Miriam Margolyes, and Brian Cox.
Archives
The Dundee Rep keeps its old records and items in archives. These cover the period from about 1936 to 2010. They are held at Archive Services, University of Dundee. The archives include programs and photos of famous actors. You can see pictures of Joanna Lumley, Michael York, David Tennant, and Gregor Fisher performing there. Some items from the Rep's collection were shown in an exhibition in Dundee in 2009 and 2010.
