Team who created new town cinema scoops top award

The team behind the creation of a community cinema in a derelict swimming pool in Montrose has been awarded for both its creativity and commitment to the town.

Montrose Playhouse was presented with the Creative Town accolade at the Scotland Loves Local Awards 2022 after judges heard about the vision that made the £3.5 million project a reality.

Just over a year after its opening, the three-screen cinema is closing in on 100,000 admissions, with the venue creating around 30 jobs, including several apprenticeships.

After receiving the award, Montrose Playhouse venue manager Matt Buchanan said: “This is fantastic – a real vindication of the dedication, hard work, blood, sweat and tears which has gone into getting this project off the ground and over the line – because it hasn’t always been an easy ride.”

One award nomination stated: “Montrose Playhouse is a truly inspiring story of a town pulling together to improve its facilities and regenerate a derelict building.

“This was built by the community, for the community.

“Montrose Playhouse Project SCIO was brought to life by a group of local volunteers who felt the town needed a cinema.

“The cinema itself is stunning, with lots of remnants of the old pool within it, which resonates with the locals who used it for more than 60 years.” Organised by Scotland’s Towns Partnership (STP), the Scotland Loves Local Awards recognise the work taking place to improve communities and create a better future.

Opened in October last year, the transformation, which took 10 years to bring to fruition, featured a DIY operation which saw more than 80 local residents strip the building back to a shell.

As well as its three cinema screens, the Playhouse is also made up of a cafe bar, retail space and community activity spaces.

Elsewhere, Dundee City Council and Unesco City of Design Dundee’s Union Street project was named runner-up in the Streets and Spaces category.

The city centre street was temporarily closed to vehicles back in 2020 under Sustrans’ Spaces for People Programme to allow more space for people to socially distance in the Covid-19 pandemic.

Its popularity has led to Dundee City Council seeking to make the changes permanent.

Judges were told: “Union Street has demonstrated what is possible when you engage designers and communities to co-create their spaces.

“This project has been inspirational and has helped to make visible the impact that design can have on our public spaces.”

STP chairman, Professor Leigh Sparks, said: “The dedication of people to deliver for their community never fails to amaze us.”

PRIDE: Montrose Playhouse venue manager Matt Buchanan said the award was a fitting tribute to all volunteers.