Tron Theatre
Encyclopedia
The Tron Theatre is located at the corner of Trongate
and Chisholm Street, in the Merchant City area of Glasgow
, Scotland
.
From its early years as a theatre club
, the Tron has grown into a thriving multi-faceted venue. Home to the award-winning Tron Theatre Company, it is a producing house
for contemporary theatrical work and also functions as a receiving house
for a diverse visiting programme of theatre, comedy and music from Scotland, the UK and abroad. Its Education and Outreach department offers a range of activities from drama workshops for children and young people, to creative writing for adults and professional development opportunities for theatre students and practitioners.
. In 1980 the Club took over the almost derelict 1795 James Adam designed Tron Kirk
, replacing the destroyed Close Theatre in the Gorbals
, the club's previous venue. Following hard work and commitment from its members, the theatre opened its doors on May 10, 1981 with a celebratory party. Two days later the first season of short plays opened with a production of Eine Kleine Nacht Musik, directed by Ida Schuster-Berkeley, in the Victorian Bar.
(1986 to 1996), the Tron established itself as a powerhouse of both new writing and dynamic productions of classic texts, making good use of the available Scottish talent. Leading artists to emerge from this period include Alan Cumming, Forbes Masson, Peter Mullan
, Craig Ferguson and Siobhan Redmond, as well as musician Craig Armstrong (Baz Luhrmann's Romeo and Juliet and Moulin Rouge). Many of these artists maintain a continuing association with the Tron.
From 1996 to 1999 the company was led by Irina Brown and productions included David Greig's award winning "The Cosmonaut's Last Message to the Woman He Once Loved in the Former Soviet Union," as well as a dynamic international programme.
During 2000 the Tron Theatre Company presented two world premieres of plays by Scottish writers: "Our Bad Magnet" by Douglas Maxwell and "Further than the Furthest Thing" by Zinnie Harris. "Further than the Furthest Thing," directed by Irina Brown, was a co-production between the Tron Theatre Company and the Royal National Theatre. The production premiered at the Edinburgh International Fringe Festival 2000 to universal critical acclaim, winning four major awards before a London run at the National Theatre, a subsequent transfer to the Tricycle Theatre, London and a tour of South Africa.
In 2002 Neil Murray was appointed Director of the Tron, serving as Artistic Producer for the Company. Shows produced by the Tron in this period include Iain Heggie's "Love Freaks," "Possible Worlds" by John Mighton (as the centrepiece of the Canadian Six Stages Festival), Forbes Masson's "Jack and the Beanstalk" and "Cinderella" and Chris Hannan's "Shining Souls" in a co-production with v.amp productions which was awarded Best Production in the Critics Awards for Theatre In Scotland in 2003.
The Tron continues to support and premiere the work of both emerging and established Scotland-based playwrights. Previous productions include the world premiere of David Greig's "San Diego" (2004 EIF,) Anthony Neilson's "The Wonderful World of Dissocia" in 2004, this time in a collaboration with EIF and the Theatre Royal, Plymouth. "The Wonderful World of Dissocia" subsequently went on to win 5 out of 10 awards in the 2005 Critics' Awards for Theatre in Scotland. The production was also revived in 2007 in conjunction with the National Theatre of Scotland, touring the UK including performances at the Royal Court Theatre, London.
Murray left in 2005, to take up the post of Executive Director of the National Theatre of Scotland, and between May 2005 and May 2006 the post of Director was held by Ali Curran, formerly of the Peacock Theatre at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin. The Tron produced three new works during this time: the premiere of "Ubu the King," a co-production with Dundee Repertory Theatre, the Barbican, Old Vic and Bite:05, adapted by David Greig and directed by Dominic Hill; the European premiere of John Mighton's latest work, "Half Life" co-produced with Perth Theatre and Canadian based Necessary Angel; and its annual Christmas panto, written by Forbes Masson, "Weans in the Wood." From 2006 until 2008 Gregory Thompson was Artistic Director and the tron produced "The Patriot" by Grae Cleugh, "Antigone" and co-produced "The Wall" by D C Jackson
with Borderline Theatre Company
.
In April 2008 the Tron appointed a new Director Andy Arnold, previously of the Arches Theatre Company.
Trongate
Trongate is one of the oldest streets in the city of Glasgow, Scotland.Located in the area of the Merchant City commonly known as "Old Glasgow", it is the main route into the central area from the East End...
and Chisholm Street, in the Merchant City area of Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
From its early years as a theatre club
Amateur theatre
Amateur theatre is theatre performed by amateur actors. These actors are not typically members of Actors' Equity groups or Actors' Unions as these organizations exist to protect the professional industry and therefore discourage their members from appearing with companies which are not a signatory...
, the Tron has grown into a thriving multi-faceted venue. Home to the award-winning Tron Theatre Company, it is a producing house
Producing house
A producing house is a theatre which produces its own shows in-house. Theaters which do not produce their own material are known as receiving houses....
for contemporary theatrical work and also functions as a receiving house
Receiving house
A receiving house is a theatre which does not produce its own repertoire but instead receives touring theatre companies, usually for a brief period such as three nights or a full week...
for a diverse visiting programme of theatre, comedy and music from Scotland, the UK and abroad. Its Education and Outreach department offers a range of activities from drama workshops for children and young people, to creative writing for adults and professional development opportunities for theatre students and practitioners.
History
The Tron Theatre Company started life as the Glasgow Theatre Club in 1978, the brainchild of Joe Gerber, Tom Laurie and Tom McGrathTom McGrath (playwright)
This article is about the Scottish playwright. For other people named Tom McGrath, see Thomas McGrath.Tom McGrath was a Scottish playwright and jazz pianist....
. In 1980 the Club took over the almost derelict 1795 James Adam designed Tron Kirk
Kirk
Kirk can mean "church" in general or the Church of Scotland in particular. Many place names and personal names are also derived from it.-Basic meaning and etymology:...
, replacing the destroyed Close Theatre in the Gorbals
Gorbals
The Gorbals is an area on the south bank of the River Clyde in the city of Glasgow, Scotland. By the late 19th century, it had become over-populated and adversely affected by local industrialisation. Many people lived here because their jobs provided this home and they could not afford their own...
, the club's previous venue. Following hard work and commitment from its members, the theatre opened its doors on May 10, 1981 with a celebratory party. Two days later the first season of short plays opened with a production of Eine Kleine Nacht Musik, directed by Ida Schuster-Berkeley, in the Victorian Bar.
Artistic legacy
Under the Artistic leadership of Michael BoydMichael Boyd
Michael Boyd is a British theatre director, and current artistic director of the Royal Shakespeare Company. He has regularly collaborated with stage designer Tom Piper since they first worked together on a pantomime for the Tron Theatre in Glasgow.-Early years:Boyd was born in Belfast, Northern...
(1986 to 1996), the Tron established itself as a powerhouse of both new writing and dynamic productions of classic texts, making good use of the available Scottish talent. Leading artists to emerge from this period include Alan Cumming, Forbes Masson, Peter Mullan
Peter Mullan
Peter Mullan is a Scottish actor and film-maker who has been appearing in films since 1990.-Early life:Mullan, the sixth of eight children, was born in Peterhead in the northeast of Scotland, the son of Patricia, a nurse, and Charles Mullan, a lab technician who worked at Glasgow University. He...
, Craig Ferguson and Siobhan Redmond, as well as musician Craig Armstrong (Baz Luhrmann's Romeo and Juliet and Moulin Rouge). Many of these artists maintain a continuing association with the Tron.
From 1996 to 1999 the company was led by Irina Brown and productions included David Greig's award winning "The Cosmonaut's Last Message to the Woman He Once Loved in the Former Soviet Union," as well as a dynamic international programme.
During 2000 the Tron Theatre Company presented two world premieres of plays by Scottish writers: "Our Bad Magnet" by Douglas Maxwell and "Further than the Furthest Thing" by Zinnie Harris. "Further than the Furthest Thing," directed by Irina Brown, was a co-production between the Tron Theatre Company and the Royal National Theatre. The production premiered at the Edinburgh International Fringe Festival 2000 to universal critical acclaim, winning four major awards before a London run at the National Theatre, a subsequent transfer to the Tricycle Theatre, London and a tour of South Africa.
In 2002 Neil Murray was appointed Director of the Tron, serving as Artistic Producer for the Company. Shows produced by the Tron in this period include Iain Heggie's "Love Freaks," "Possible Worlds" by John Mighton (as the centrepiece of the Canadian Six Stages Festival), Forbes Masson's "Jack and the Beanstalk" and "Cinderella" and Chris Hannan's "Shining Souls" in a co-production with v.amp productions which was awarded Best Production in the Critics Awards for Theatre In Scotland in 2003.
The Tron continues to support and premiere the work of both emerging and established Scotland-based playwrights. Previous productions include the world premiere of David Greig's "San Diego" (2004 EIF,) Anthony Neilson's "The Wonderful World of Dissocia" in 2004, this time in a collaboration with EIF and the Theatre Royal, Plymouth. "The Wonderful World of Dissocia" subsequently went on to win 5 out of 10 awards in the 2005 Critics' Awards for Theatre in Scotland. The production was also revived in 2007 in conjunction with the National Theatre of Scotland, touring the UK including performances at the Royal Court Theatre, London.
Murray left in 2005, to take up the post of Executive Director of the National Theatre of Scotland, and between May 2005 and May 2006 the post of Director was held by Ali Curran, formerly of the Peacock Theatre at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin. The Tron produced three new works during this time: the premiere of "Ubu the King," a co-production with Dundee Repertory Theatre, the Barbican, Old Vic and Bite:05, adapted by David Greig and directed by Dominic Hill; the European premiere of John Mighton's latest work, "Half Life" co-produced with Perth Theatre and Canadian based Necessary Angel; and its annual Christmas panto, written by Forbes Masson, "Weans in the Wood." From 2006 until 2008 Gregory Thompson was Artistic Director and the tron produced "The Patriot" by Grae Cleugh, "Antigone" and co-produced "The Wall" by D C Jackson
D C Jackson
D.C. Jackson is a Scottish playwright. His first full length play The Wall premiered at the Tron Theatre in Glasgow in 2008. It was produced by Borderline Theatre Company and was nominated for several awards including the Best New Play at the Critics' Awards for Theatre in Scotland and the Saltire...
with Borderline Theatre Company
Borderline Theatre Company
Borderline Theatre company is a touring theatre company based in Ayr, Scotland.Its alumni include the actors Billy Connolly and Robbie Coltrane. Recent successes include the award-winning, critically acclaimed plays The Wall and The Ducky by D C Jackson....
.
In April 2008 the Tron appointed a new Director Andy Arnold, previously of the Arches Theatre Company.