Dundee Repertory Theatre, Tay Square, Dundee

Dundee Repertory Theatre, Tay Square, Dundee, is a purpose-built theatre in a modern monumental style, constructed between 1979 and 1982 to the designs of Dundee-based architects Andrew Nicoll and Ric Russell (initially of Robbie and Wellwood, later Nicoll Russell Studios). The building was extended by the City of Dundee District Council Architects Department in the early 1990s, and by Nicoll Russell Studios in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The design is contextual within a historic urban square and comprises deconstructed Modernist geometrical forms, with elements of Brutalist materiality and classical monumentality. The building remains in use as a theatre and occupies a square site on the west corner of Tay Square, in the centre of Dundee.

Architectural Overview

The composition consists of a large concrete blockwork cube framing a double-height glazed entrance elevation, with an angled, metal-clad fly tower rising behind. The interior contains a 455-seat auditorium, with two levels of glazed foyers tucked beneath its stepped underside. The fan-shaped plan of the auditorium has been used as a decorative motif throughout the building, from the shape of the windows and ventilator grills to pieces of internal decoration. There are two large extensions to the north and southwest corners, which are built in a similar style and materials.

The main (northeast) elevation comprises a large, double-height glazed entrance, framed by a post-and-lintel arrangement of three concrete blockwork components. The expanse of frameless glazing to the centre has minimal support and the large horizontal section of concrete blockwork appears to float above the entrance foyers below. The glazing is divided horizontally by a curved concrete stair, which cantilevers out from a vertical concrete core. The underside of the stair creates an external shelter and the exposed ends of the steps feature the decorative fan motif of the auditorium. Parts of the elevation are angled, splaying outwards into Tay Square.

The northwest elevation has an angled, three-storey, four-bay projection to the left with an overhanging second floor. The central part of the elevation comprises a full-height extension that projects northwards (built in the late 1990s and raised in 2002–04). It has a chamfered northwest corner with a cantilevered corner window on the top floor, and a large double-height stage door with the fan-shaped motif expressed in its bracing. The remaining right side of the elevation has advancing and recessed bays with tall corner windows.

The southwest (rear) elevation is blank. The south corner comprises a full-height extension dating from around 1990. The ground floor level has blockwork walls with a chamfered central bay and a recessed clerestory. On top is a large double-height projecting pod with large, frameless corner windows, black metal cladding to the walls and a piended roof. The southeast elevation is largely blank with a continuous central clerestory and two large decorative ventilator grills in the fan-shaped motif.

The walls are largely buff-coloured concrete blockwork. The windows are either frameless or have heavy, vertical pole mouldings in dark-stained timber. The building is made up of multiple blocks of varying heights, which all have different roofs. Generally, these are flat but those to the corner blocks and fly tower have piended elements in dark corrugated steel. The roof over the auditorium follows the fan-shaped plan of the auditorium. That of the north wing (2004) is pyramidal with a skylight to the apex.

Interior

The interior was seen in 2021. The layout of the building was partially altered by the changes and additions that took place from the late 1980s until the early 2000s. There has been some refurbishment of the interior decorative scheme, particularly the front of house areas, but overall, this largely involved the soft furnishings and floor coverings. On balance there is a high degree of survival of original fixtures and fittings.

The building's layout is primarily configured around a stage at the centre of the plan with a fly tower above and various ancillaries below and to either side. The auditorium is raked with a geometric, fan-shaped plan-form that radiates out from the stage and is set at an angle to Tay Square. The open-plan front of house area is spread over two levels and is housed beneath the stepped underside of the auditorium. It is fully glazed to the elevation fronting Tay Square. The circular layout of the public areas of the building begin from the main entrance into the box office foyer and the ground floor restaurant. A curved staircase and lift (a later addition) then lead to the upper foyer, which contains a café/bar and exhibition space, with walkways taking visitors to the auditorium. There is a large dance studio and workshop in the north wing (added in the late 1990s and raised in 2004), a paint shop and wardrobe store to the west, and a studio and rehearsal room in the south corner (added around 1990).

The interior is largely functional but meticulously consistent in material and design with elements of refined detailing which contribute to how the spaces are used and experienced. There are exposed surfaces and pared back finishes throughout that include pale blockwork walls and ceilings of struck concrete, which are contrasted by dark-stained timber slats with exposed beams and dark handrails and balustrades. There is a strong geometric form throughout the interior, such as the angle of the beams over the café counter (which was reinforced by the striped pattern of original carpet, which has been replaced). The underside of the auditorium is stepped, and the upper foyer has balustrades of glass and metal (which replaced the original, full-height balustrades of thin vertical metal rods). The ceiling and walls of the auditorium are black. There is some decorative detailing which is expressed as the fan-shaped motif, appearing on light fittings, beams, doors and handrail fixtures. In the backstage areas some original features survive, including built-in furniture and signage, some of which incorporates the fan-shaped motif.

Historical Context

The Dundee Repertory Theatre (the Dundee Rep) was originally formed in 1939 and is one of the oldest surviving repertory companies in Scotland. The original theatre was in the Forester's Hall on Nicholson Street, but this burnt down in 1963. Following the fire, the Rep operated from a marquee before moving to the converted Dudhope Church on Lochee Road. However, it was acknowledged that a long-term, purpose-built theatre was required.

Initially, proposals to convert part of the Caird Hall (designed by James Thomson, 1914–23) into a 500-seat theatre were discussed, but this scheme was too costly and was postponed in 1967. A site on Tay Square was then donated by the University of Dundee, with a joint theatre and multi-purpose hall being proposed. However, as funding was not forthcoming, the University went ahead and constructed Bonar Hall between 1975 and 1977 to the designs of Gillespie Kidd and Coia. The proposed theatre site on Tay Square was then used for parking and accommodated around 50 cars.

In 1973–74, plans were drawn up for a new theatre on the Tay Square site but these were rejected on the basis of cost, which due to high inflation, had risen from £750,000 in January 1974 to an estimated £1.6 million by the end of that year. In 1975, two alternative design options were considered. One was for a prefabricated building which had a 30-year lifespan and an estimated cost of £552,000. The other option was for a permanent structure, which had an estimated cost of £556,000, plus fees. The latter option, which was designed by the local architectural firm of Robbie and Wellwood (in which Richard Russell and Andrew Nicoll were partners at that time), was eventually selected.

Due to the inflation rates of the period, the design was repeatedly stripped back as a way of preventing the costs from spiralling. The project brief was reconsidered with the aim now being "the minimum necessary accommodation and standard of finish". This included a reduction in the capacity of the auditorium, from 650 seats to 460 seats. This led to a number of key elements, such as the workshop and fly tower being removed from the design but many of these were eventually reinstated into the final design.

Funding for the new building came from local, national and European sources, including from the Scottish Arts Council (which was part of the Arts Council of Great Britain, 1965–85), the Scottish Tourist Board, local councils and the new European Regional Development Fund. It was perceived that the new theatre would make an important contribution and focal point for the social and cultural life of the city. As Dundee's industrial sector was in sharp decline, it was also hoped that it would act as an economic stimulus by helping to change perceptions of the city.

Dundee Rep is a repertory theatre, or 'rep'. These are subsidised, non-profit theatres, usually with a stable company of actors that perform a mix of classic and new productions. The repertory theatre movement had gathered pace in the interwar period and evolved in the regions, supporting local actors and writers and introducing audiences to a wide variety of theatre at an affordable price. Between 1950 and the mid-1980s, this type of theatre was favoured by the funding bodies and came to be the dominant form of regional theatre in Britain. As a result, the previous commercial touring circuits went into decline due to lack of funding and rise of TV ownership.

Construction of Dundee Rep began in January 1979 and the foundation stone was laid by the renowned actor, and first rector of the University of Dundee, Sir Peter Ustinov, on 5 May 1979. The work almost stopped due to rising prices and inflation but an additional £200,000 was raised through a public appeal and the building was eventually completed in 1982. The present building was opened on 8 April 1982 with a final cost of £1.2 million. The original footprint of the building is shown on the Ordnance Survey map of 1986.

The design was highly celebrated. It received a civic commendation from The Civic Trust Award in 1984 and was awarded the RIBA Architecture Award in 1986. In 2016, as part of the RIAS' Festival of Architecture, it was voted one of Scotland's top ten buildings of the last 100 years. It was also described as "a bravura composition of modern architecture" and "an outstanding example of good modern architecture" by the Royal Fine Art Commission for Scotland.

Later Alterations

The local authority took a stake in the building when it stepped in to prevent the theatre from closing down in the 1980s. Between 1988 and 1992, the building was extended and partially altered by the Architects Department of the City of Dundee District Council (project architect, Colin Wishart). This was to primarily facilitate its growing community and education department, which included the Rep Dance Company and the Community Dance Team.

The most notable change was the addition of the large extension to the southwest corner, where there was previously a small amphitheatre between the Rep and the Bonar Hall. This extension was built to house the City Festival Headquarters and was noted, on its opening in 1990, to include a rehearsal room and a dance studio, as well as additional wardrobe space, and essential backstage facilities. The work also involved the excavation of an area to the rear and under the stage for use as a dance studio, but this suffered problems with water ingress and has since been altered to house offices and stores.

From the mid 1990s until the mid 2000s the theatre underwent a multi-phase programme of refurbishment works to improve the auditorium, upgrade the facilities and aid accessibility. The work was carried out by Nicoll Russell Studios and involved stripping the fabric back to the original and making upgrades to the services and some of the finishes. An extension to the workshop was added to the north during the late 1990s, which involved the excavation of the existing courtyard space. This was designed with enough strength in the roof structure to support a further extension, which was built between 2002 and 2004. This contains a large dance studio, which had been previously located under the stage, as well as dressing rooms and ancillary accommodation for the Scottish Dance Theatre.