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Brunton Theatre Company
- Latest News
Director - David
Mark Thomson
Company Base - Brunton
Theatre Musselburgh 0131 665 2240 Reviews list
20 Mins by Bus from central Edinburgh with simple but tasty cafe and bar,
good sightlines, modern auditorium
This theatre company developed a good reputations for varied productions.
They were caught in a battle for funding between East Lothian Council
and Scottish Arts Council SAC. East Lothian Council supported them since
the SAC withdrew funding some years ago. They were asked last year to
try to become fixed funding touring company with Brunton as a base by
mid 2002. This October the SAC turned down their application to become
a fixed funded touring company. The company who produced good quality
plays about 4 each year, much enjoyed by its local audience disbanded
after their last touring production at the end of April 2002.
Many in the Lothian area will be very sad to see this company fold for
they have provided quality entertainment in a part of the country where
there will be only two resident theatre companies producting regular seasons
of work - The Royal Lyceum and The Traverse both based in Edinburgh. The
Brunton will become solely a recieving house with theatre, music, dance
and films, a sad underuse of a good theatre building.
In January 2002 SAC did not give the Brunton Theatre Company any fixed
funding for its future though it said the Company can apply for project
funding which they have recieved in the past. The SAC already fix funds
three other Theatre Companies in the Area all in Edinburgh, The Royal
Lyceum, The Traverse and Theatre Workshop. East Lothian Council will continue
to support the Theatre Building, but as things stand it will be a recieving
house only.
In the work I have seen The Brunton Theatre Company produce
there was a warmth of performance and sense of delight in theatre coupled
with excellent casting of both local and more widely known talents. Thompson's
Shakespeare's were very accessible. Thomson gathered round him a very
strong and talented team.
At the moment I feel the theatre is underused with the bar only open an
hour before performances and insufficient telephone lines for the box
office. You can leave a message and ask them to phone back and they always
do but I think it should be possible to get through first time more often
than it is. It has a good restaurant which is friendly and accessible
with a varying menu
The theatre is in a central position in Musselburgh, and could be a more
of a social focus. Theatres need to be kept warm when there isn't a production
going on. Bars and restaurants with good opening hours do this, breaking
down the exclusiveness theatre can find itself clothed in if it only opens
its doors for performances.
Reviews of Past and current Shows
Season 2000 - 01
Teechers
| Aladdin | Hamlet
| and a very successful play for the Fringe which the guide didn't manage
to review
Season 2001 - 02
Come On Feel The Noise
| Sleeping
Beauty | Midsummers
Night Dream | Lachlan's
Choice Hotel
© Thelma Good 9 October 2001 and revised after,
most recent revision 2 May 2002
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