About Us
Theatre Broad is a broad-based theatre company, commited to producing plays from a broad range of styles, writers and cultures.
About the Company
A Broad Brief
Theatre Broad is a professional touring theatre company based in Stirling, dedicated to providing regular, affordable, quality Theatre to people in the Stirling area, and then touring across Scotland and beyond.
Artist-founded and artist-driven, Theatre Broad strives to promote quality production values.
Our aim is to provide audiences with the opportunity to see the best available plays, from a broad range of styles, writers and cultures.
We are also committed to bringing live theatre to people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds, and presenting productions that are accessible and relevant, but, most of all, entertaining.
We are anxious to have feedback from our audiences, so that we can fashion a theatre company that is of real and lasting enjoyment and benefit.
History
Theatre Broad was launched in 2004 following the successful production of ‘A Broad Taste – The Revue’ which opened the International Food Festival, Aberfoyle in October 2003.
Since that time the company has produced nineteen plays, two revues, six musicals and two Murder Mystery Events since its launch in 2004.
Community Roots
In 2007, the company was approached by Forth Valley College, Falkirk to provide drama sessions for disabled students.
This relationship lead to our award winning ‘Community Roots’ programme in association with Forth Valley College, Stirling, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire, but includes disabled participants of all ages from the Stirling, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire community. The participants receive drama, dance, singing and film sessions and appeared in specially devised productions where they are supported in the rehearsal room and in performance by professional actors and creative’s.
Commissions
Until 2009 the company worked exclusively in the Stirling area fulfilling commissions for Stirling Council’s Festivals and Events.
In October 2012, the company was commissioned by NHS Forth Valley in the production of an Internet resource on Sexual Health for young people in the community.
Touring
In 2010, the company felt the time was right, and took the decision to broaden the area of activity to include a touring schedule. This allowed the company to take better advantage of the work put into Stirling based productions and to reach a wider audience.
After discussions with Equity, other theatre companies, and the Scottish Charities Board, it became evident that a not-for-profit status was right for the Company. This allowed us to apply for funding from a wide range of Charities, but plough profits back into the ‘Community Roots’ programme or use as ‘matching’ funding for touring grant applications.
FAREWELL TO TANGEE.
In 2016, we said a sad farewell to Tangee Lenton, co-founder and Executive Director of the company, who took the decision to retire from the professional theatre. She will be remembered for her many fine acting performances, most notably: DORIS in ‘Same Time, Next Year’ (main picture); LEONORA in ‘Seven Woman’ by J.M. Barrie; and Helga Ten Dorp in Deathtrap. In addition to acting in all the plays, Tangee designed the sets and costumes for most of the productions. Her artistic flair is greatly missed.
Past Productions
2018
Toured LUDUS – playful love throughout Scotland and Cumbria, returning to many of the Venues on our tour list, but also playing at new Venues including Inverness and Nairn in the north of Scotland. It is hoped that a further tour of this production will take place in 2020.
2017
A playwriting workshop produced four new plays written by disabled members of the community. One play was produced in December 2018, with the remaining three to be produced during 2019/20.
2016
Bruce’s Quest, a production in association with the Community Roots Theatre Company, included drone filming sequences and green screen filming was produced in Stirling and performed at Stirling’s Tolbooth.
2014
SuperNatural – the Musical was written, produced and performed at Stirling’s Tolbooth Theatre.
2013
Toured Ira Levin’s comedy/thriller Deathtrap throughout Scotland and into Cumbria. Funded by Creative Scotland, this production played to great acclaim from The Mill Theatre, Thurso, in the north of Scotland to The Heron Theatre, Cumbria. A pilot scheme, allowing disabled people to attend the performance for £1/Carer goes free in half of the venues proved successful, Theatre’s where the scheme was in place saw a 60% rise in disabled people attending Theatre.
2011 / 2012
The company re-mounted J.M. BARRIE – PETER PAN MAN for a Scottish tour playing at twelve venues throughout Scotland from The Webster Theatre, Arbroath, in the north east to the Theatre Royal, Dumfries in the south.
2010
Flights of Fancy by Anne Stenhouse and J.M. BARRIE – PETER PAN MAN played at The Byre Theatre, St. Andrews; and at The Albert Halls, Stirling as part of Stirling Council’s ‘Off The Page’ Festival.
2007
In 2007 Flights of Fancy by Anne Stenhouse was produced for ‘Off The Page’ Festival.
2006
Golfing Genius by Gill Bastock played as part of ‘500 Years of Golf in Stirling’ in 2006.
In 2006, the company commissioned new writing for their production J.M. BARRIE – PETER PAN MAN which played at Stirling’s Tolbooth after a rural tour of Stirlingshire and Dunbartonshire.
2005
The Lady’s Not For Burning by Christopher Fry and the Historical Comedy Oor Wallace new writing by Gill Bastock was commissioned for ‘Wallace 700’ Festival in 2005.
2004
The play: Same Time, Next year by Bernard Slade was produced in association with The Tolbooth, Stirling, for the Autumn Season of 2004.
2003
The Revue’s: A Broad Taste and Broadly Speaking by Carol Metcalf which opened Stirling’s Food Festival in 2003 and 2004.
For Theatre Broad
Artistic Director
Ensemble Actors
Associate Actors
Des O’Gorman
Vince Handley
James Fleming
David Parker
Rebecca Fergus
Hannah Gold
John Wilde
Jamielee McPherson
Alan McLeish
Peter Williamson
Harry Mennie
Tony Close
David Stirling
Brian Cullie
Harry Glass
Duncan R. Edwards
Charles Donnelly
Danny Stoba
Jonathon Darque
Carole Cassidy
Katy-Anne Monaghan
Carrie Mancini
Keara Murphy
Sean Alexander
Associate Playwrights
Gill Bastock
Anne Stenhouse
Musical Directors
Mark Harvey
David Watson
Robert Lay
Jim Lightbody
In Remembrance
(1928 - 2008)
Porter Milgrim in ‘Deathtrap’ by Ira Levin in 2007
King Vamp in ‘Charmed – The Musical’ in 2008