Scottish Dance Theatre to get revamped dance studio
24/07/2001
The Scottish Arts Council today awarded a National Lottery grant of £662,325 for a new dance studio for Scottish Dance Theatre (SDT) within Dundee Rep Theatre, making the venue one of the best-equipped in Scotland.
This Lottery grant is one of several awarded by Scottish Arts Council to support the theatre sector in Scotland, including awards of £1.8 million to His Majesty’s Theatre in Aberdeen and £324,375 to the Little Theatre in Nairn.
James Boyle, Chairman of the Scottish Arts Council, said: "The Scottish Arts Council has continually stressed that for Scottish theatre to strengthen and develop we need to secure a strong infrastructure to enable great work to take place. Through investment in quality buildings we are creating the environment in which artists and technicians can best display their talents, and audiences can best appreciate the work on offer."
Scottish Dance Theatre is Scotland’s principal contemporary dance company and the only one in the UK to be based within a professional theatre. The grant will create a fully accessible studio which will give a much increased space for rehearsal. The studio will also be used for informal performances and enable Scottish Dance Theatre to expand its educational workshops.
Scottish Dance Theatre’s Artistic Director Janet Smith said: "I am delighted that the company will soon have the size and quality of studio we need to maintain and develop our standards. Dancers and choreographers are very dedicated and hard working and the National Lottery has begun to make a real difference to the quality of their working lives throughout the UK. Dance is booming in Dundee as it is also home to the new Scottish School of Contemporary Dance.
"We are thrilled to be recognised through this award that also allows us to open our doors and share our working practices as well as to encourage dance making and performance with the professional and local community.""
The grant to His Majesty’s Theatre in Aberdeen will fund a new five level extension incorporating a rehearsal/education space, a new foyer with café, restaurant/bar, dressing rooms, toilets, and corporate hospitality facilities.
His Majesty’s Theatre, a Grade A listed building, opened in 1906, is one of the major touring venues in the north of Scotland and the only venue between the central belt and Inverness capable of staging large scale musicals, opera and ballet. It has an average annual audience of 217,000. Audiences will benefit directly from the physical improvements, which will enhance the overall theatre experience with improved front of house facilities and access. The project will also reach out to new audiences by creating a rehearsal space to support education and community use throughout the day.
The grant of £324,375 to the Little Theatre in Nairn will fund a major revamp of the theatre building. Improvements will include an expansion of the stage area, additional height in the auditorium, new retractable seating, better technical facilities, improved changing facilities, public toilets and foyer space and an upper floor extension to create meeting/rehearsal/workshop space."
Contact email(s)
media.office@scottisharts.org.uk
Issued by: Scottish Arts Council
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