Focus on: The Tron 25th Anniversary
25 Years of the Tron
Tron back in time
About the Tron Theatre
August to December 2006 programme
On 10 May 1981 the Tron Theatre opened its doors for the first time with a celebratory party in its Victoria Bar. Two days later the first season, a series of short plays and jazz programmes, was performed in the Victorian Bar at lunchtime and in the evening the Glasgow Theatre club was born.
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The Tron Theatre started life as the Glasgow Theatre Club in 1978, the brainchild of Joe Gerber, Tom Laurie and Tom McGrath. In 1980 the Club took over the almost derelict Tron Kirk, and following much hard work and commitment from its members, opened its doors on 10 May 1981 with the celebratory party in the Victorian Bar. |
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Just 18 months later the main auditorium saw its first performance.
The original building on the site that Tron occupies was built in 1529 as a church of St Mary and St Anne. Tron takes its name from the weight beam or tron that once stood in the area weighing and taxing all goods that were brought in from the Clyde.
In 1793, the Hell Fire Club, an 18th century band of students, burnt down the church. The only part of the building that survived was 16th century clock tower that is still present today.
In 1795 James and Robert Adam designed a new church which remains the basis of the Tron's bar and restaurant today.
The first Artistic Director, Michael Boyd was appointed in 1984 and the Tron established itself as a powerhouse of both new writing and vibrant productions of classic texts, making full use of available Scottish talent. Leading artists to emerge from this period include Maureen Beattie, Peter Capaldi, Alan Cumming, Craig Ferguson, Forbes Masson, Peter Mullan, Siobhan Redmond, Elaine C Smith, and musician Craig Armstrong.
From these early years, as an innovative theatre club, the Tron has grown into a thriving multi-faceted arts venue, home to the award-winning Tron Theatre Company and host to the very best of British and International touring productions. It’s thriving Education and Outreach department offers a programme of activities for all ages, from storytelling, to workshops, drumming to animation and creative writing. This October the Tron Theatre enters a new chapter in its history as newly appointment Director, Gregory Thompson takes up the reigns.
Artists of the Tron
The Tron Theatre has launched the careers of some of Scotland's top artists such as Craig Ferguson, Eddie Reader, Peter Mullan and Siobhan Redmond (see below).
Other famous faces associated with the Tron are X-Men star Alan Cumming who began as an usher at the Theatre's gala opening and made his professional acting debut at the Tron as Malcolm in 'Macbeth' in 1985. Also Whoopi Golberg once played the spoons on the radiator in The Victoria Bar and Justin Ryan used to pull pints behind the Tron Bar.
Since its birth in May 1981 as the Glasgow Theatre Club the Tron Theatre has grown into a thriving arts venue with an in-house theatre company that prides itself on delivering high quality, exciting and inventive productions.
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The 25th Anniversary season is testimony to the excellence and diversity of programming with which the Tronhas come to be known by.
- Visiting Companies: Coisdeum Dance Theatre, Guy Masterson, a world premier from Boilerhouse, Lone Twin and many more.
- Sure Shots returns with its new writing from Douglas Maxwell & Catherine Grosvenor.
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The Tron will kick off the season with a one-off performance from Irish-based Coisceim Dance Theatre. Knots is a high-octane performance which examines the unravelling of relationships through a series of physical and verbal confrontations and is directed by Liam Steel. |
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And if one performance isn’t enough to satisfy your theatrical appetite, be sure to arrive 20 minutes before the start of Truman Capote to catch the latest bite-sized burst of theatre as Sure Shots returns to the Tron.
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Edinburgh-based Boilerhouse will also open their UK tour at the Tron with a brand new production Drenched. A tale of murder, obsession, sexual jealousy and rain, a lone woman weaves through the raindrops telling stories slowly drowning herself in an imaginary life.
Paddy Cunneen directs a stellar cast in the Tron Theatre Company production of Shakespeare’s 'The Tempest - a mythical orchestration of love, betrayal, revenge and forgiveness.
November kicks off with Lone Twin Theatre’s debut work Alice Bell. As part of the Tron’s ongoing initiative to support emerging directors, Lone Twin Theatre spent crucial time back in February as part of Tron Lab developing the company’s first approach to narrative-based theatre.
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For more information on events and shows please go to the Tron Theatre website. |
All images courtesy the Tron Theatre. |