The excitement of performing and presenting at Macrobert continues apace.  March saw fabulous productions from Dance Connection and SABOS – including a real-life marriage proposal on stage after one of the performances.  May will see the exciting culmination of the Scottish Community Drama Association’s One Act Play competition.  The Finals will be performed over three nights with a winner chosen on the last evening. 

We are also looking forward to welcoming a raft of young people to the venue to perform in June including Dollar Academy with their production of Grease; plus dance displays from three wonderful dance companies – Central Scotland Ballet School, Laura Gray School of Dance and Lynda Turner School of Dance.  Tickets for each will be on sale soon.   

We can only take booking enquiries for events which would be in 2024 as our venue is fully programmed until then.  If you wish to discuss an event taking place later this year then please complete an enquiry form and submit to events@macrobertartscentre.org  I look forward to hearing from you about it.

Contact Amy at programming

"The excitement of performing and presenting at Macrobert continues apace..."

blueGreen

The excitement of performing and presenting at Macrobert continues apace

Artistic Director, Julie Ellen's April blog

We have been working with the world famous A Play, A Pie and A Pint team to build on what they do, commissioning and producing new short plays from Scotland’s writers. This season we are co-producing three new pieces and each one gives more work to actors, directors, stage managers and technical colleagues, and all the other great people involved in making and presenting live performance.   

It is the first time we have had A Play, A Pie and A Pint shows at Macrobert and I think they bring something really special to our Live season. You get an actual pie and a drink as part of your ticket price. You also get to see some of the best playwrights in action and the easy to digest, under an hour format in the intimate setting of our Playhouse is a great way to experience a new play without even losing an evening. I’m delighted to be the Director of Welcome to Bannockburn and it feels very special to be amongst those who are creating that, The Merry Wives of The Wynford and The Great Replacement, they are an exceptionally talented and lovely group of people.  

I am committed to this partnership as part of finding new ways to share the best of Scotland’s home-grown talent with you and as a way of inviting you to come and take a chance to try something that you might not otherwise. I really hope you will be tempted by this and the many other shows we have coming here leading up to the summer.  

If you see me at Macrobert, do say hello, it is always good to meet you and to hear your views. 

Book tickets for A Play, A Pie and A Pint

"...they bring something really special to our Live season..."

orange

They bring something really special to our Live season

Lesleyburn Hart, writer of Welcome to Bannock

When I was asked to write a play to launch A Play, A Pie & A Pint at Macrobert Arts Centre, my first question was: how do I write for a local audience while telling my own story? There were things I was burning to write about – cultures of misogyny and public shaming - and I wanted to get to grips with those difficult subjects in a topical and entertaining way that also paid tribute somehow to the area.

I began researching the area, visiting, and asking local people about what characterises this part of central Scotland for them. Of all the wonderful and varied responses I received, the most common was: the history, and specifically, the Scottish Wars of Independence. It was in the Scots victory at the Battle of Bannockburn and Robert the Bruce’s subsequent bargain to release his wife, sister, and daughter that I found the inspiration for my play, and which allowed me to wrestle with its themes in a way that felt personal to me, local to the area, topical for Scotland right now, and – hopefully – universal. 

Lesley Hart, Writer
Welcome to Bannockburn

"How do I write for a local audience while telling my own story?"

blue

Over the last few months at Macrobert, every day seems to have got busier and busier as Macrobert’s vibrant live programme of local and touring work continues to return to pre-pandemic levels.  It has been joyous to have the venue buzzing with rehearsals and performances and there are some real treats to look forward to in the coming weeks with the return of SABOS and their production of Made In Dagenham and Dance Connection presenting Once Upon A Stage. 

Click here for details on how to book Macrobert Arts Centre for your event.

"It has been joyous to have the venue buzzing..."

tomato

"Every day seems to have got busier and busier..."

I started thinking about adapting Shakespeare’s The Merry Wives of Windsor around 2019, when fellow actor Janette Foggo and I sat in a coffee shop, talking the world to rights. Among the issues we were most passionate about was #MeToo and how we, along with most women (and men) we knew, wanted to confront the thorny issues of abuse of power by powerful men. As a writer I felt I had at least some of the tools to do that, and Merry Wives presented a perfect opportunity. 

It’s not the best-known play in the canon but like many of the comedies it’s an exploration of, and celebration of, female power and agency. It’s centred in a domestic rather than a world stage and, although it was written more than four hundred years ago, some of the male attitudes – seeing women as easy prey, or property, or powerless – have plenty of resonance and relevance for us, here, now. Those attitudes are both scrutinised and mercilessly lampooned in Merry Wives ('Shakespeare the Feminist: Discuss') and I wanted to capture that comedy while holding on to the underlying messages about respect and trust that the original play champions. I hope I’ve succeeded in doing that in updating the action to present-day Maryhill - at the same time, of course, as taking the opportunity for a couple of sideswipes at some well-known modern Falstaffs. You know who they are…

Linda Duncan McLaughlin is the writer of A Play, A Pie and A Pint's The Merry Wives of Wyndford, which is coming to Macrobert from Thu 1 - Sat 3 Jun.

Book tickets for The Merry Wives of Wyndford

Shakespeare: The Feminist by Linda Duncan McLaughlin

As I sat down to write this, for the first time I thought about how long it had been since I joined Macrobert? In those four years it’s been an adventure to say the least. 

Creative Learning became Creative Activities. A pandemic descended and we stayed at home. We designed and delivered an amazing digital programme for people to stay creative from the comfort of their home. We restarted our in-person activities in community spaces across Forth Valley, welcoming lots of brand-new participants to #TeamMacrobert. Macrobert City Hub was launched as a space to chat to our staff, and take part in creative activities. The list goes on and we’re by no means unique in the challenges we faced, but a key element of our success during this time has been our constant desire to share our love of the arts and bring joy to the lives of those people who participate.

We recognise that the social aspect of taking part in our activities is really important and that’s probably best demonstrated in our weekly Dance for Parkinson’s sessions at Cochrane Hall, Alva. Time is dedicated before and after dancing to chat, check in with each other and share what connects us with a cup of tea in hand. Oh, and a biscuit too. And did I mention that ours is one of the biggest DfP groups in Scotland?

So what’s next? We loved our time at the Thistles Shopping Centre, being in the heart of the city centre and having the opportunity for people to discover more about Macrobert and chat to us. We’re just finalising some details about the home for our regular activity, but we’ll let you know as soon as possible.

Full list of Classes and Workshops

"It’s been an adventure to say the least"

green

"it’s been an adventure to say the least"

University Archivist, Karl Magee, speaks on te work of Lindsay Anderson

As an archivist its always an exciting experience working with artists. They can approach the collections in your care in new and unexpected ways, producing stimulating and challenging new work as part of their encounter with the archive.

The archives of the filmmaker Lindsay Anderson have been a source of inspiration and exploration for the artist Stephen Sutcliffe for many years as he notes in his contribution to our exhibition Never Apologise which is on display in the Macrobert until the 21 May.

To coincide with our Anderson exhibition we are delighted to welcome Stephen to the Macrobert for a special event where we will discuss how the use of archives informs his creative practice. The event will also include the opportunity to watch a rarely-seen Anderson film chosen by Stephen for its contemporary echoes. Written by Alan Bennett The Old Crowd was a television play set at a dinner party taking place in a society fraying at the edges. Broadcast on ITV in January 1979 Anderson noted that it was greeted with “an almost flattering unanimity of outrage.” Does it still have the power to shock and challenge the viewer? You can decide for yourself on the 26 April.

Book tickets for The Old Crowd

“Thinking outside the box…”

SQIFF Director & Programme Coordinator, Indigo Korres, talks about the upcoming Trans-Generational Tour

SQIFF is back and going on tour from April until June 2023! 

The Trans-Generational Tour is bringing three beautiful screenings on inter-generational trans communities to six venues across Scotland; Inverness (we had an incredible time at Eden Court), Stirling (Macrobert Arts Centre), Glasgow (Glasgow Film Theatre), Hawick (Cornucopia Unit 4), Dundee (Dundee Contemporary Arts), and Stornoway (An Lanntair). 

The programme features films made by and with trans communities to explore journeys, experiences, and history. At MacRobert Arts Centre, SQIFF will be screening two programmes. The feature Framing Agnes, followed by a conversation with local trans and non-binary people on inter-generational trans experiences and creating space for the community. And Trans Parenting, a shorts programme that focuses on trans and non-binary experiences around family; raising families, forming families, and nurturing families.

Trans-Generational Tour project came to be as I was researching in the Digital Transgender Archive and talking to friends about trans histories in Scotland and came across a magazine from the 90s called the Tartan Skirt, where trans people in Scotland would communicate and share information on many things trans related. Around the same time, I watched the film Framing Agnes, which focuses on one part of trans history on the UCLA gender health research in the 60s and uses transcripts of archival interviews from trans patients that saw Dr Garfinkel, recreating those into a talk show. Because of that, I’ve decided to focus the programme mainly on trans lives, histories, intergenerational communities, and how younger trans people learn about our history through our trans elders. This tour is a celebration of trans lives.

Join us in cinemas across Scotland for this unique reflection on trans knowledge and how it is passed down from generation to generation of trans communities.

Director & Programme Coordinator, SQIFF (Scottish Queer International Film Festival)

Full Listings

"This tour is a celebration of trans lives"

Our development manager share's what it is like to be a fundraiser

When I get asked what I do for a living, then explain the details of my role, the response is often “That sounds like a difficult job”. And they’re right. I’m a fundraiser and raising money can be incredibly tough, especially during times of financial difficulties. 

Many people may not know that Macrobert is a charity and rely on fundraising to enable us to continue our work providing opportunities and activities for people throughout Forth Valley. We receive money from a range of places such as trusts and foundations and are lucky to have incredible donors and local businesses that continually support our work. 

While fundraising is difficult, the rewards are massive. The projects that we deliver are incredibly important for people throughout our communities. Recently, we received funding that will allow us to continue our Dance for Parkinson’s classes in Alva. Those living with Parkinson’s and their carer can attend these classes where specially trained Dance Artists help them to develop movement skills with particular focus on the fluidity of movement, balance, coordination, expression, posture, and rhythm. These classes not only provide the opportunity for physical development but can also help improve mental health through the important social aspect and peer support network.

Donating today will ensure that our work in communities helps even more people, providing them with opportunities they may otherwise not be able to access.

Find out more about how to support the work Macrobert does

“That sounds like a difficult job”

salmon

That sounds like a difficult job

As the first blog for our new website I wanted to give you some insight into the considerations of our Live Programme. 

When choosing work for our curated programme my colleagues and I try to satisfy what you, our audience tell us that you want. There is of course a range of people and tastes to consider, and we also want to offer different kinds of night out. Our challenge includes finding performances to entertain and also those that prompt new thoughts and conversation.  

To provide all this we are heavily reliant on the availability of quality work that has interesting stories and high production values. This is increasingly a challenge in financially difficult times.  We have been looking at how we can add strength to what is available for theatres of similar scale across Scotland and the skill of our inhouse staff has been engaged in co-producing so that quality work has the best chance of coming to the stage. The upcoming Play, Pie & a Pint and Shark in the Park are both great examples of these.  

In addition the local companies who perform and present here really enhance the programme through their choices of work and their commitment to sharing a love of theatre. It is great that so many of them are performing with us between now and the end of June.  

I hope you as well as looking at the show listing you will check the regularly changing content for this blog, hearing more about what goes on behind our Live programme and, having had a peep behind the curtain, you will find lots of different performances to come and enjoy at Macrobert.  

Check out our full listings

"Our challenge includes finding performances to entertain and also those that prompt new thoughts and conversation"

Our challenge includes

At Macrobert we are proud to offer a space for creativity, participation and collaboration. Stories of Macrobert is our opportunity to share the fruits of our work and those around us with you, our readers, visitors and co-creators.

In these articles, you’ll read about what’s happening in our venue, and our latest news and opportunities. You’ll discover what goes on behind the scenes at a production and hear from special guests as they share their own tales. Stories of Macrobert is your chance to experience it all with us. So please, do come in!

view our stories

Stories of Macrobert

Call me old fashioned - maybe even a little biased - but I believe it is impossible to recreate the experience of seeing a film on the big screen. I find the whole thing somewhat therapeutic. The feeling from the moment that the collective hush falls over the auditorium when the lights dim, that for two hours I have an escape. 

This February and March, it has been my privilege to bring an Audrey Hepburn mini-season to Macrobert. As I sat in our screening of Roman Holiday, there was a buzz around those in the audience as they chatted away as the ads played in the background. That chatter quickly dissipated as the lights fell and that familiar hush as all heads turn towards the screen where together we all gawked at the beauty of the princess, laughed at the absurdity of the tablecloth bed flip and how ‘a buck fifty’ could be stretched to include shoes, a haircut and an ice cream. The joint anticipation as we waited in line with Joe Bradley at the press event to get one last fleeting moment with Anne was palpable.

Of course, I had seen Roman Holiday before but never on the big screen, the way it was made to be seen, without distraction. Watching it this way, in my escape, it was like seeing the film anew all over again.

Check out the full listings here

"Call me old fashioned..."

Call me old fashioned...

We’ve had a productive start to 2023; as well as a refresh of the café seating area in January, long-anticipated work began to upgrade our comms system (it’s key to making the magic happen, communicating backstage and to our audience front of house). We’re in the final stages and very thankful to our partners who have worked with us to plan, design and install the system.

It can be challenging to identify and raise funds for such necessary practical works so it would be remiss of me not to give a grateful shout out to The Robertson Trust, Backstage Trust and Foyle Foundation whose joint funding allowed us to carry out the work. I know our in-house team and visiting companies alike are going to benefit from the upgrade.

I’m going to enjoy ticking it off my to-do list and continue working with colleagues to fund some other really practical works. ‘Like what?’ I hear you say, well there’s quite a list for our 50 year old bustling busy venue. First up our carbon management focus, a number of us participated in Creative Carbon Scotland’s SPRINGBOARD: Assembly for creative climate action, ideally timed ahead of Green Week on campus in March. Soon after we attended the UKCA 'Greening the Big Screen' conference to explore ways in which to improve carbon efficiencies in that area of our arts provision. Looking ahead to a net zero future can be daunting at times, it’s refreshing to be collaborating so widely across sectors to approach the challenges together.

Find out more about our venue and your visit

"I’m going to enjoy ticking it off my to-do list..."

plum

I’m going to enjoy ticking it off my to-do list...

The 2023 Culture on Campus exhibition celebrates the life and work of one of the most distinctive British filmmakers of the 20th Century.

The University of Stirling’s 2023 Culture on Campus exhibition celebrates the life and work of one of the most distinctive British filmmakers of the twentieth century. Born in Bangalore in 1923, Lindsay Anderson reflected British life and society through the lens of a series of remarkable films including This Sporting Life (1963), O Lucky Man! (1972) and If…. (1969), a poetic and surreal vision of revolt and rebellion at a public school, and one of the key British films of the 1960s.
Anderson’s contribution to British cultural life extended to his work as a film critic, author and theatre director. He was part of the generation that transformed the post-war cultural and artistic world in the 1950s and 1960s.
Never Apologise marks the centenary of Anderson’s birth by opening up the extensive collection of his personal and working papers held in the University of Stirling Archives. It presents an archival journey through Anderson’s filmmaking career tracing the documentary grit, Hollywood glamour and critical struggles of a life lived behind the camera. The exhibition features fresh new insights into Anderson’s life and work through contributions from actors, artists, academics and curators.

These personal responses to Anderson and his archive include memories of working with the director, favourite scenes from his films, overlooked aspects of his career and archival discoveries, all illustrated with previously unseen documents and photographs from a unique cinematic collection.
The exhibition is on display in the Macrobert Art House until Sunday 30 April 2023 and will be accompanied by events and screenings that will provide further opportunities to find out more about Anderson’s career and celebrate his work.
Culture on Campus is a collaboration between the Art Collection, University Archives and the Macrobert Arts Centre which aims to develop a creative environment where creative thinking and creative acts are at the heart of our identity as a place of learning. 

Never Apologise: An Exhibition from the Lindsay Anderson Archive runs from 23 Jan - 21 May 2023.

Macrobert News