Dundee Repertory Theatre, Building image, Architect, Scotland, Project, Photo, Design

Dundee Rep, East Scotland : Information + Images

Dundee Rep - Scottish Theatre : Refurbishment by Nicoll Russell Studios, Tayside

Dundee Rep Theatre Dundee, Scotland The Rep could be considered as our architectural manifesto because it illustrates our interest in: craft, place making, context, appropriateness, humanity, sensitivity, and detail all in a single project which sets out to inspire its resident actors and heighten the experience of its audiences. It reverently completes Dundee's only Georgian square located immediately east of the University, and cleverly conceals the scale of the fly tower on the diagonal at the rear of its almost square plan. The Rep honestly underlines how it was constructed with an almost brutalist pride, but it is the Rep's dramatic engagement with its audience, which is perhaps it most important architectural legacy. Dundee Rep photos from Nicoll Russell Studios A two storey glazed elevation firstly presents a 'shop window' to the square. This elevation is partly angled to engage with the pedestrian desire line across the square and illustrates the journey of the audience from the entrance, via the box office, up a grand staircase or wall climber lift, which are both externalised, to the interval bar at first floor level and finally to the auditorium beyond. On the night of a performance the Rep seems to inhabit the square, drawing the audience into its embrace, and heightening the buzz of their anticipation as they climb and are seen to approach the auditorium. Once the visitor is within the building a very compact foyer links all the public spaces on the ground and first floors, set below a stepped concrete ceiling formed by the auditorium above. These spaces are all the more dramatic because of their compact size. Even a modestly successful performance seems full. The buzz in the two storey foyer is heightened by the voids either side of the interval bar which is formed as a bridge linking the left and right hand sound lobbies. These lobbies step down the scale and lead the audience into the magical world of the theatre, which they literally touch by seeming to emerge onto the stage itself before taking their seats in a sudden hush. Dundee Rep Theatre images / information from Nicoll Russell Studios Dundee Rep Theatre - Further Information The orginal building was completed in 1982. It had a 450-seater auditorium. An extension completed in 1992 added a Dance Studio, workshop, wardrobe, rehearsal facilities. Expansion In late 1998 the Dundee Rep was awarded a Scottish Arts Council Lottery Grant towards its proposed £3.2m cost. The theatre expansion was designed to improve the auditorium, upgrade facilities, aid accessiblity. The new theatre was completed in Oct 2000. Dundee Rep Theatre building image from RSA Jun 05 The company began in 1939 but its building burnt down in 1963. Land was donated by Dundee University to allow building work to start in 1979.

Civic Trust Award 1984
RIBA Award 1986

Scottish Architecture

Dundee Repertory Theatre Refurbishment : Nicoll Russell Studios



Scottish buildings by Nicoll Russell Studios - Selection
Byre Theatre, St Andrews
Dundee Rep Theatre
Scottish Dance Theatre

Dundee Contemporary Arts
Richard Murphy Architects

image from Richard Murphy Architects
Dundee Contemporary Arts

Queen Mother Building, Dundee University Campus
Page/Park Architects

photo © Keith Hunter
Dundee University building

World Architecture : e-architect - key buildings across the globe

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Dundee Rep Theatre - page : adrian welch / isabelle lomholt

Dundee Repertory - Website: www.dundeereptheatre.co.uk