Dundee Repertory Theatre (Closed for re-arrangement)

This material is held atUniversity of Dundee Archive Services

  • Reference
    • GB 254 MS 316
  • Dates of Creation
    • 1930s-2022
  • Name of Creator
  • Physical Description
    • 16 linear metres plus

Scope and Content

/1 Press Cuttings. 1973 - 1978. /2 Press Cuttings. 1945 - 1992. /3 Press Cuttings. 1990 - 1991. /4 Press Cuttings. May - November 1991. /5 Press Cuttings. 1995 - 1996. /6 Press Cuttings. 1996. /7 Press Cuttings. 1996 - 1997. /8 Press Cuttings. 1998. /9 Press Cuttings. 1998 - 1999. /10 Press Ads and Cuttings. 1992 - 1996. /11 Press Cuttings. 1993 - 1997. /12 Programmes, Posters and Press Cuttings. January 1993 - March 1995. /13 Programmes and Press Cuttings. April 1995 - October 1997. /14 Programmes, Posters and Press Cuttings. November 1995 - February 1998. /15 Programmes, Mini-Posters and Press Cuttings. March 1998 - February 1999. /16 Miscellaneous. 1947 - 2004. /17 Press Releases. 1988 - 1989. /18 Photos. 1977 - 1989. /19 Photos. 1972 - 1985. /20 Photos. 1978 - 1983. /21 Dundee Dance Co. Photos. 1986-1988 and n.d. /22 Photos. 1974 - 1977. /23 Photos. 19`65 - 1975. /24 Photos. 1983 - 1988. /25 Photos and Contacts. August 1992 - November 1993. /26 Photos & Contacts. 1996 - 1998. /27 Photos. 1995 - 1996. /28 Photos. 1993 - 1995. /29 Miscellaneous Photos. 1956 - 1964. /30 Programmes. 1974 - 1979. /31 Programmes. 1943 - 1991. /32 Programmes. 1982 - 1998. /33 Programmes. 1941 - 1991. /34 Programmes. 1982 - 2003. /35 Programmes. 1944 - 1954. /36 Programmes. 1948-1990. /37 Box of Caricatures. n.d. /38 Compact Disc and Tape Cassettes. 1993 - 2007. /39 Leaflets. 1982 - 1990. /40 Programmes. 1944 - 1990. /41 Programmes. 1948 - 1956. /42/1-2 Photos & Contacts (2 folders). 1982 - 1993. /43/1-3 Correspondence (3 folders). 1960 - 1965. /44 Miscellaneous. 1930 - 2007. /45/1-2 Photographs. 1930s-1990s. /46/1-2 Papers Relating to the Construction of the Rep Theatre (2 boxes). June - August 1978. /47 Framed photograph of a group of people at City Chambers. 25th June 1990. /48 Cartoon of a scene from 'Ten Little Niggers' in square envelope. 17th March 2003. /49 Scrapbook of Press Cuttings. November 1952 - November 1954. /50 Pencil portrait of Robert Robertson /51 'Dundee Repertory Theatre', by Linda Caston. 2010 /52 Folder of Production Photographs 1982 - 2007 /53 Mounted Production Photographs /54 Mock-up Boards 1988 - 1990 /55 Blue Box 1964 - 1991 and n.d. /56 Posters 1960s /57 Posters 1970s and 1980s /58 Posters 1990s, 2000s and n.d. /59 Large Posters. 1995 - 2004 /60 Large Posters. 1994 - 2003 /61 Large Posters. 1993 - 2002 /62 Posters [Non-Rep productions] 1979 - 2003 and n.d.
Further material, including models and photographs of sets have been accrued but not yet catalogued

Administrative / Biographical History

Dundee Repertory Theatre was founded in 1939 out of a collaboration between Robert Thornely who had managed the last touring company to perform at Dundee and who was looking for a home for his professional company and the amateur company the Dundee Dramatic Company. The first theatre was housed in a disused jute mill, and became known as the Nicoll St Theatre. Between 1946-1955, the Dundee Repertory Theatre Company included a Touring Company regularly did three week tours, visiting several burghs around Angus and North Fife.
The Nicoll St premises were destroyed by a fire in June 1963, and the Company continued to perform in the Palace Theatre and Camperdown Park during the summer, before moving to the former Dudhope church building on Lochee Road. The Lochee Road Theatre served as the Rep's home until the new Dundee Rep Theatre was opened in 1982. Work on this modern theatre began in January 1979 on land donated by the University of Dundee, raising over £200, 000 through a public appeal to finish the building.
Dundee Rep Ensemble was established in 1999 and is the only permanent full-time company of actors in Scotland.
Dundee Rep is also home to The Scottish Dance Theatre, formally known as Dundee Rep Dance Company, which began as a community company in 1986, and is one of the few full time ensembles in the UK. Both companies work with communities in Dundee and across the region

Arrangement

Usually chronological within series.

Access Information

Open for consultation subject to preservation requirements. Access must also conform to the restrictions of the Data Protection Act (2018), General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR, 2018) and any other relevant legislation or restrictions. Clinical information is closed for 100 years.

Acquisition Information

Deposited by Dundee Repertory Theatre

Note

Dundee Repertory Theatre was founded in 1939 out of a collaboration between Robert Thornely who had managed the last touring company to perform at Dundee and who was looking for a home for his professional company and the amateur company the Dundee Dramatic Company. The first theatre was housed in a disused jute mill, and became known as the Nicoll St Theatre. Between 1946-1955, the Dundee Repertory Theatre Company included a Touring Company regularly did three week tours, visiting several burghs around Angus and North Fife.
The Nicoll St premises were destroyed by a fire in June 1963, and the Company continued to perform in the Palace Theatre and Camperdown Park during the summer, before moving to the former Dudhope church building on Lochee Road. The Lochee Road Theatre served as the Rep's home until the new Dundee Rep Theatre was opened in 1982. Work on this modern theatre began in January 1979 on land donated by the University of Dundee, raising over £200, 000 through a public appeal to finish the building.
Dundee Rep Ensemble was established in 1999 and is the only permanent full-time company of actors in Scotland.
Dundee Rep is also home to The Scottish Dance Theatre, formally known as Dundee Rep Dance Company, which began as a community company in 1986, and is one of the few full time ensembles in the UK. Both companies work with communities in Dundee and across the region

Other Finding Aids

Accession box lists and hard copy list of original catalogue available - ask a member of staff

Physical Characteristics and/or Technical Requirements

Made up of paper, photographic and audio-visual materials

Archivist's Note

Description compiled by J Adams, January 2017. Rearranged to incorporate accruals by J Merchant, 2023 [in progress]

Conditions Governing Use

Reproduction is available subject to preservation requirements. Charges may be made for this service, and copyright and other restrictions may apply; please check with the Duty Archivist.

Appraisal Information

Some duplicate material removed

Custodial History

The collection was kept by the Theatre and deposited with the Archive over several years

Accruals

Expected

Related Material

MS 328 Rosemary Hooper Dundee Repertory Theatre Photographs; MS 375 Herschell's Dundee Repertory Theatre Programmes; MS 376 Baxter's Dundee Repertory Theatre Programmes; MS 377 Stewart's Dundee Repertory Theatre Collection; MS 378 Kydd's Dundee Repertory Theatre Programmes

Location of Originals

Material relating to the Dundee Repertory Theatre can also be found in The Scottish Theatre Archive, University of Glasgow.

Additional Information

Published

Draft

MS 316

Subjects