Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Venue celebrates
A look back at the history of the city’s Whitehall Theatre
ITS hallowed floorboards have been graced by acts from Deacon Blue to Sydney Devine.
And now the Whitehall Theatre is in the limelight for a major milestone as it celebrates its 90th birthday this year.
The theatre has taken many guises since it was built in 1928 and continues to attract household names.
But it’s not always been plain sailing for the West End venue — as financial woes almost caused the theatre to close a few years ago.
The theatre began life as the Alhambra before becoming a fulltime picture house in 1940, when it was known as the State Cinema.
Dundee Corporation bought the premises in November 1969 and altered it to become a civic community theatre.
The Whitehall is synonymous with variety acts, similar to the Pavilion Theatre in Glasgow, having welcomed Scottish music hall favourites Lex McLean, Kenneth McKellar and Andy Stewart.
Pop acts have also passed through the Whitehall’s doors from The Nolans to Deacon Blue.
Whitehall director Graeme Smith has had a lifelong affinity for the theatre since first stepping on to its stage in 1969.
Today, he helps attracts a host of acts to the venue.
He said: “I remember my first performance there with the Civic Theatre. We were the first to use it for a theatre performance.
“Since then, I’ve been involved with Downfield Musical Society and we’ve done shows there ever since.
“In terms of my own memories, I remember starring as Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar in the 1980s, which was incredible. Every time you got a standing ovation or just saw a fullhouse were highlights.
“It’s a community-based theatre