Henderson Theatre Explained

The Henderson Theatre
Address:Shotts Community Education Centre, Kirk Road
City:Shotts
Country:Scotland
Publictransit:Shotts train station
Parking:Car Park
Owner:North Lanarkshire Council
Operator:North Lanarkshire Council
Capacity:147
Opened:8 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.

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] [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.

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'.

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 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,[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

References

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

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Henderson Theatre".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.