Mull Little Theatre facts for kids

The Mull Little Theatre was a special theatre located on the Isle of Mull in the Inner Scottish Hebrides. It started in 1963 in an old cowshed! Barrie and Marianne Hesketh created it. At first, it was called the Thursday Theatre. It offered entertainment for guests at the Druimard Guest House. This tiny theatre became very famous. It was even named the "Smallest Professional Theatre in the World" by Guinness World Records.

The original theatre closed in 2006. A new, bigger centre opened in 2008. This new place was in Druimfin, near Tobermory. It could host shows, rehearsals, and workshops. In 2013, the theatre joined with An Tobar. An Tobar is an arts centre in Tobermory. Now, they are known as An Tobar and Mull Theatre. They receive funding from Creative Scotland.

The Theatre's Amazing Start

The Mull Little Theatre began in a very unusual place. It was built inside an old byre, which is a cowshed. This happened in 1963. Barrie and Marianne Hesketh had a big dream. They wanted to create a theatre.

They started with small shows. These were for guests staying at their Druimard Guest House. People loved the performances. Soon, the theatre became well-known. It even earned a special title. The Guinness World Records called it the world's smallest professional theatre.

A New Home for Mull Theatre

The original little theatre had its last show in 2006. But the story didn't end there. A new, larger building was planned. This new place was called the Production Centre. It opened in July 2008.

The new centre is in Druimfin. This is just outside Tobermory. Tobermory is the main village on Mull. The new centre is much bigger. It has space for performances. It also has rooms for rehearsals and workshops. This means more people can enjoy theatre.

Joining Forces: An Tobar and Mull Theatre

In 2013, the Mull Little Theatre organisation made a big change. It merged with An Tobar. An Tobar is an arts centre in Tobermory. Together, they became "An Tobar and Mull Theatre."

This merger helped both organisations. They could share resources and ideas. They now work together to bring arts to the community. They are supported by Creative Scotland. This funding helps them continue their work. They offer many creative activities.

Famous Plays at the Little Theatre

Even though it was small, the Mull Little Theatre put on many great plays. They performed works by famous writers. These included both classic and new plays.

For example, they staged plays by William Shakespeare. The Tempest and Macbeth were performed. They also showed works by Oscar Wilde, like The Importance of Being Earnest. Plays by Anton Chekhov and George Bernard Shaw were also part of their shows. The theatre even presented new plays. Some were written by local Scottish authors. This showed their commitment to different types of theatre.