Theatre’s time to reflect

Covid-19 crisis has offered opportunity to take stock

THE artistic director of Perth Theatre admits the events of 2020 have proved some of the most difficult in the venue’s 120-year history.

But as the Tayside entertainment institution gets ready for its milestone birthday on Sunday, Lu Kemp said the Covid-19 lay-off has given the theatre some much-needed time to reflect on what it offers the community.

She said: “Part of what is interesting about cultural institutions is that they inevitably reflect the time we live in.

“The Covid-19 crisis has been very hard on the theatre sector as a whole, and on our team.

“This moment, though, does force some necessary reflection and, we hope, change – it gives us the opportunity to look really closely at how we serve the community, and how we can do that better.”

Over the past 120 years, the theatre has welcomed huge names such as Edward Woodward and Donald Sutherland, as well as a local lad in Trainspotting star Ewan McGregor.

“Theatre at its best has always been the centre-point of a community’s conversation, a place of diversion and entertainment and a place to explore how we think about the world,” said Lu.

“When it’s functioning well, the theatre brings people together in lots of different ways.

“Its history is what makes it so unique – it’s been around longer than many working theatres.

“But theatre isn’t the building, it’s the community that inhabit it and ours is particular to Perthshire and to the different communities that live and work here.”

The theatre has moved many of its classes online, including singing groups and creative sessions.

Grants from Creative Scotland, The Gannochy Trust and The National Lottery Heritage Emergency Fund have helped it deal with pandemic.

“This will help us create a programme of theatre, music and other activities to deliver in different settings to new audiences while the theatre remains closed,” Lu added.

Lu Kemp is artistic director of Perth Theatre.