Henderson Theatre

Last updated
The Henderson Theatre
Henderson Theatre
AddressShotts Community Education Centre, Kirk Road
Shotts
Scotland
Coordinates 55°49′13.5″N3°47′34.4″W / 55.820417°N 3.792889°W / 55.820417; -3.792889
Public transitShotts train station
ParkingCar Park
OwnerNorth Lanarkshire Council
OperatorNorth Lanarkshire Council
Capacity 147
Opened8 April 1982

The Henderson Theatre is a 147 seat studio theatre in Shotts in North Lanarkshire. It was built in April 1982 by converting part of the former Calderhead Junior Secondary School, which was built in 1876 and closed in 1965 when it became Shotts Community Education Centre. [1] The theatre is named in honour of notable local actor and drama teacher James Archibald Henderson and is currently owned and managed by the local authority, North Lanarkshire Council.

Contents

Location

The theatre is sited in Shotts Community Education Centre [2] in Kirk Road, Shotts in Lanarkshire - 300 metres from Shotts train station and 3 miles from Junction 5 of the M8 motorway.

History

Voluntary organisation Shotts Arts Guild was founded in 1978, with the aim of promoting arts and culture in the town and the surrounding villages. [3] After an earlier attempt to gain financial support for the building of a theatre had failed in 1973, [4] it set out to demonstrate demand for cultural events in the area. It did this by providing transport to cultural events in Edinburgh [5] and Glasgow [6] and organising a programme of events in the Shotts Community Education Centre [7] [8] and Calderhead High School. [9] [ page needed ] [10]

In 1982, after five years fund raising by the community, with match funding from Strathclyde Regional Council, Motherwell District Council and the Scottish Arts Council, a 147 seater theatre was opened, and named after James Archibald (known as Archie) Henderson. [11] It quickly became a receiving house for touring companies on the Scottish theatre circuit.[ citation needed ]

As well as running a regular programme of events, Shotts Arts Guild broadened access to the arts and cultivated home grown talent, arranging for the performers visiting the theatre to visit local schools. [12] It provided music tuition from 1988, purchasing violins and other instruments for the students, and giving them the opportunity to perform in front of a live audience. [13] [14]

The theatre has been used less frequently for arts activity since the mid-1990s, but is still used by local churches and community groups. A voluntary organisation, Spotlight Shotts formed in Spring 2023 with the aim of refurbishing and bringing the theatre back into regular use. [15] The first live performances for a number of years were staged in 2023 by 'In Motion Theatre Company' [16] and Shotts based theatre company 'Theatre Presto'.[ citation needed ]

Name and opening

James Archibald Henderson was born on the 9 October 1899 [17] and died in September 1982 aged 82. [18] [19] He began his working life as a coal miner and started out his acting career in Shotts Amateur Dramatic Society in 1916, eventually becoming a member of the Scottish National Theatre Society and the Scottish National Players. [20] He played all over Scotland and London, returning to Shotts to form several drama groups - the YMCA Players, Shotts Labour Party Drama Team, Shotts Miners' Welfare Players, Shotts Bertram Players and was active in Shotts Community Drama Association. [21]

The theatre’s opening ceremony, which reflected his status as something of a local hero, [22] was compered by one of Henderson’s famous former students and long-time friend, film and theatre actor Andrew Keir, who was also born and brought up in Shotts. Opening the theatre Councillor James Burns said “I pay tribute to all the hard work and enthusiasm which has brought this project to fruition “...”It is fitting that it is named after Archie Henderson whose total dedication to drama for more than 60 years has been of benefit not only to Shotts but to the whole of Scotland.” [23] The ceremony was followed by a performance of Joe Corrie’s play “In time o’ strife” staged by 7:84 Theatre Company. [24]

Notable Performances

Since it opened in 1982, the theatre has hosted professional and amateur productions of theatre, dance, music, puppetry, storytelling and film, alongside participatory workshops. [25]

Some of the most notable performances were by renowned Scottish and UK touring theatre companies 7:84, [24] [26] Wildcat, [27] [28] [29] [30] Traverse Theatre Company, [31] [32] Communicado, [33] Theatre Workshop, [34] [35] Hull Truck Theatre Company [36] as well as Scottish Opera Go Round, [37] Scottish Chamber Choir, [38] the Telemann Ensemble [39] and the Whistlebinkies [40] .

Notable Performers

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References

  1. ↑ "New school now in use" . Wishaw Press and Advertiser. 3 September 1965. p. 15 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  2. ↑ "District Round-up -Shotts" . Wishaw Press and Advertiser. 17 June 1983. p. 18 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  3. ↑ "Arts for Shotts" . West Lothian Courier. 26 May 1978. p. 18 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. ↑ "Shotts Plans Theatre" . West Lothian Courier. 19 October 1973. p. 8 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. ↑ "District news round up" . Wishaw Press. 15 April 1983. p. 15 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. ↑ "District News Round Up - Shotts" . Wishaw Press. 10 November 1978. p. 13 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. ↑ "Shotts Arts Guild in good heart" . West Lothian Courier. 13 March 1981. p. 34 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. 1 2 "A Shotts Premiere for Play" . Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser. 6 March 1981. p. 2 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  9. ↑ Brogan, Colm (1982). "Dramatic spirit of the Shottonian wins through". Glasgow Herald.
  10. ↑ "Shotts, Allanton Craigneuk" . Wishaw Press. 16 October 1981. p. 18 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  11. ↑ "Theatre Opens to Honour Archie" . Wishaw Press and Advertiser. 9 April 1982. p. 20 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  12. ↑ "District News Round Up - Shotts" . Wishaw Press. 19 May 1989. p. 27 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  13. ↑ "District Round Up - Shotts" . Wishaw Press. 21 October 1988. p. 23 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  14. ↑ "Strings and Things at Henderson Theatre" . Wishaw Press. 22 March 1991. p. 23 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  15. ↑ Spotlight Shotts (22 September 2023). "Who we are". SpotlightShotts.org.
  16. ↑ Thomson, Ross (3 April 2023). "Shotts theatre to host new play inspired by writer's experience in community". Daily Record.
  17. ↑ "Statutory Register of Births Scotland ref 701/253".
  18. ↑ "Statutory Register of Deaths Scotland ref 569/234".
  19. ↑ "Archie Henderson Of Shotts Dies At 83" . Wishaw Press. 10 September 1982. p. 16 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  20. ↑ "A New Work Performed By The Scottish National Players". The Glasgow Herald. 26 December 1928. p. 8.
  21. ↑ Russell, Helen (21 April 1978). "A lifetime of Theatre and Drama for Archie" . Wishaw Press. p. 11 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  22. ↑ "Shotts calling". HeraldScotland. 24 March 1994. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  23. 1 2 "New Theatre Opens". Motherwell Times. 8 April 1982. p. 19.
  24. 1 2 In time o'strife a play in three acts by Joe Corrie 1982. 7,84 Theatre Company. 1982. OL   20198675M.
  25. ↑ "Shotts Arts Guild are back in business" . Wishaw Press and Advertiser. 24 May 1991. p. 27 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  26. ↑ "Arts Guild are back - with a vengeance" . West Lothian Courier. 17 May 1991. p. 6 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  27. ↑ "Arts Guild Autumn Season" . Wishaw Press. 29 August 1986. p. 19 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  28. ↑ Cairns, John (20 March 1992). "District News - Shotts" . West Lothian Courier. p. 21 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  29. ↑ "ARTS- Shotts Arts Guild's autumn programme" . West Lothian Courier. 8 August 1986. p. 6 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  30. 1 2 "Shotts Arts Guild Season" . Wishaw Press. 4 September 1987. p. 2 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  31. ↑ "HENDERSON THEATRE SHOTTS" . Wishaw Press. 5 August 1994. p. 23 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  32. ↑ "District News- Shotts" . West Lothian Courier. 24 March 1989. p. 16 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  33. ↑ "District News Round Up - Shotts" . Wishaw Press. 11 March 1988. p. 23 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  34. ↑ "District News -Shotts" . West Lothian Courier. 2 December 1988. p. 16 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  35. 1 2 "District News Round-up" . Wishaw Press. 3 April 1987. p. 21 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  36. ↑ "District News -Shotts" . West Lothian Courier. 29 April 1988. p. 6 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  37. ↑ "District News Round-up - Shotts" . Wishaw Press. 20 November 1987. p. 27 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  38. ↑ "District News Round-up - Shotts" . Wishaw Press. 25 November 1983. p. 19 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  39. ↑ "Ensemble Return to Shotts by Special Request" . Wishaw Press. 17 June 1983. p. 18 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  40. ↑ "Entertainments" . Wishaw Press. 6 September 1991. p. 39 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  41. ↑ "District News" . West Lothian Courier. 11 March 1988. p. 6 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  42. ↑ "District News Round up - Shotts, Allanton" . Wishaw Press. 27 March 1981. p. 21 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  43. ↑ "District News Round-up -Shotts" . Wishaw Press. 6 October 1989. p. 23 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  44. ↑ "Entertainment for all tasts in Arts Centre's new programme" . Wishaw Press. 31 January 1992. p. 23 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  45. ↑ "Music Listings" . The Scotsman. 14 March 1992. p. 51 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  46. ↑ "Special night at Shotts theatre" . Wishaw Press. 4 June 1982. p. 24 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  47. ↑ "Theatre Rocked by Live Music" . Wishaw Press. 12 June 1992. p. 35 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  48. ↑ Alistair, Mabbot (23 September 1996). "Album Startdust - Critical acclaim awaits two of Scotlan's most promising bans" . The Scotsman. p. 14 – via British Newspaper Archive.
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