PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release – Tuesday 6 October 2015
A news announcement on the National Theatre of Scotland’s new centre for creativity, production
and talent development in Glasgow.
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National Theatre of Scotland launches new campaign to raise up to £1.9 million towards
the £6.475 million for the Company’s new permanent headquarters, designed by Hoskins
Architects.
The new building to be named Rockvilla, in recognition of the industrial and social heritage
of the canal-side area surrounding Speirs Wharf in Glasgow.
Glasgow-based creative design studio, Pidgin Perfect, revealed as winner of competition to
create a new artwork for foyer of Rockvilla.
At a glittering yesterday at 200 St Vincent Street, attended by celebrated theatre, TV and film artists,
the National Theatre of Scotland launched an innovative fundraising campaign to complete the
finance for the Company’s new permanent headquarters in the Speirs Wharf regeneration area of
north east Glasgow.
Construction work on site is due to begin in October 2015, to be completed by summer 2016 during
the National Theatre of Scotland’s 10th birthday year. The total estimated project cost for the new
building is £6.475 million with £4.579million already secured. The plans for the new building,
designed by Hoskins Architects, were revealed earlier this year, as a unique and major resource for
the Company and Scotland’s theatre industry. The building will provide 3700 sq. metres (40,000
sq.ft) of space over two levels, with three rehearsal rooms of varying scales, creative development
spaces, a Learning and Community suite, a working wardrobe facility, production workshop and
technical store, office space, meeting room facilities and social areas. Over 3,000 people including
writers, artists, school students, teachers and community participants are expected to use the
facility each year. The National Theatre of Scotland will make space available to emerging artists and
small independent theatre companies.
Some of Scotland’s best known actors, who have worked with the National Theatre of Scotland be
attended the fundraising campaign launch event including Blythe Duff (The James Plays and
Beautiful Burnout, Be Near Me) Ian McDiarmid (Be Near Me), Greg Hemphill (Appointment with the
Wicker Man) Julie Wilson Nimmo (Tutti Frutti, 365, Men Should Weep), Lorraine McIntosh (Men
Should Weep, Let the Right One In and Beautiful Burnout). At this event the National Theatre of
Scotland will revealed to assembled guests the intention to name its new building Rockvilla, paying
homage to the area’s industrial and social heritage. Alan Cumming has supported the campaign,
providing the voiceover for a short film which will premiere at the event and will be released online
at nationaltheatrescotland.com, to mark the launch of the campaign.
The first documented use of the name Rockvilla was in an 1860 Ordnance Survey map, and it is likely
that the name derives from the extensive quarrying industry that once existed in this area of
Glasgow surrounding the canals. Several local buildings and establishments have borne the name
Rockvilla, notably Rockvilla School (demolished in 1996) and Rockvilla Church, which still stands
today on Saracen Street with its new name, Possilpark Parish Church and the wider area is referred
to as Rockvilla Basin. The National Theatre of Scotland is proud to reclaim the name Rockvilla, as it
takes up residence in this historic area and newly -regenerated cultural quarter of the City, alongside
organisations including The Whisky Bond, Scottish Opera and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
Following a widely-publicised submission process earlier in the year, for an eye-catching new art
work based on the map of Scotland for the foyer area of Rockvilla, the winning piece of design by
Glasgow-based Pidgin Perfect will be unveiled at the event tonight.
The award-winning creative team at Pidgin Perfect was selected, from nearly 50 applications, for
their beautiful and high-impact design for a new National Theatre of Scotland map. The map will
stand in the entrance foyer, created from an ornate laser-cut sheet, into which bespoke, translucent
'Beacons’ will be placed, aligning with significant features in the Scottish landscape: cities, towns,
geographical or areas of particular cultural interest.
The National Theatre of Scotland is inviting friends and supporters to light up their favourite part of t
Scotland by “buying a Beacon” in the new map. Each Beacon will represent a place chosen by a
supporter. Donors might wish to choose to light up their hometown, a beautiful beach, a family
holiday spot, or the place where they saw their favourite National Theatre of Scotland production.
The Beacons themselves will be fabricated from cast acrylic resin creating an arresting, colourful and
detailed constellation of support.
Back lighting on the laser cut map will illuminate the ‘Beacons’ and bring out details embedded
within them. A complementary ‘key’ will be placed adjacent to the map, listing the places which
have been lit up providing further opportunity to acknowledge donors’ support. In this way, a
beautiful new artwork will be created, mapping out a community of local, national and international
support that stretches across Scotland and beyond, offering a memorable and accessible means of
people being able to participate in the campaign for support of the Company’s new building.
Whilst the physical map will live in Rockvilla, its web-based counterpart will enable supporters to
interact with the map from wherever they are in the world. The digital version of the map means
donors can light a Beacon and send a message to Scotland that can be viewed online from
anywhere.
Laurie Sansom, Artistic Director of the National Theatre of Scotland says
“For the first time ever, we have the opportunity to create a space where we can bring together our
company, our collaborators and all of our communities. A place of imagination, learning and play,
not just for the National Theatre of Scotland but for the entire nation. We’re already 70% of the way
towards our income target. Now, every pound we raise will reduce our on-going costs so that more of
our funding can go directly into creating new work, developing new talent and engaging
communities. It’s a hugely exciting project and we’re looking forward to people from across Scotland
joining us on this journey."
Commenting on being offered the commission, Marc Cairns of Pidgin Perfect, says
"Pidgin Perfect is excited to have been chosen from almost fifty entries to deliver this special
commission for the National Theatre of Scotland. Our studio works across a variety of disciplines and
will draw on imagination, technology and craft to create an eye-catching artwork for Rockvilla, that
will acts a springboard for further fundraising activities.
We are looking forward to engaging with the wide range of skills and expertise at National Theatre
of Scotland to develop the artwork and create something that truly expresses the values and
ambitions of the organisation."
Financial update on the capital project.
The following funding has been secured:
● £2million Scottish Government grant
● £500,000 Glasgow City Council
● £594,481 Vacant and Derelict Land Fund
● £400,000 The Robertson Trust
● £75,000 The Wolfson Foundation
● £10,000 The Binks Trust
● £1million during the quiet phase of the campaign in major gifts
The Scottish Government has agreed to provide a loan funding facility permitting the project to
progress. The Company is launching this final-stretch appeal in order to reduce the need for loan
financing, reduce on-going expenditure, maximise the application of any available resources for the
creation of new work and investment in developing emerging young talent.
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For further information, interviews and images please contact
Emma Schad - Press Manager – emma.schad@nationaltheatrescotland.com
Tel: +44 (0)227 9016 M: +44 (0)7930 308018
Jim Fletcher - Project Manager: External Affairs and Development
Email: jim.fletcher@nationaltheatrescotland.com Mob: +44 (0) 7768 455667
Twitter: @NTS_Jim
You can follow the National Theatre of Scotland’s press office on Twitter @NTS_press
The campaign will be launched online at 5.30pm on Monday 30th September:
www.nationaltheatrescotland.com/rockvilla
Join the conversation: #rockvilla
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Notes to Editors
About the National Theatre of Scotland’s new building
The new National Theatre of Scotland Creation Centre, designed by RIBA award-winning architects
Hoskins, will enable the Company, for the first time, to house all its rehearsal and production activity
under one roof and address the urgent need to move from current locations. The National Theatre
of Scotland will develop the disused building in Glasgow’s Craighall Road, in the Speirs Wharf
regeneration area of the north of the city, and turn it into a major resource for the whole of the
Scottish theatre industry. The canal-side building will provide the Company with approximately 3700
sq. metres (40,000 sq.ft) of space over two levels, doubling the space of current rented
accommodation and provide a flexible, fit for purpose space with three rehearsal rooms of varying
scales, creative development spaces, a Learning and Community suite, a working wardrobe facility,
production workshop and technical store, office space, meeting room facilities and social areas.
About the National Theatre of Scotland
The National Theatre of Scotland is dedicated to playing the great stages, arts centres, village halls,
schools and site-specific locations of Scotland, the UK and internationally. As well as creating
ground-breaking productions and working with the most talented theatre- makers, the National
Theatre of Scotland produces significant community engagement projects, innovates digitally and
works constantly to develop new talent. Central to this is finding pioneering ways to reach current
and new audiences and to encourage people’s full participation in the Company’s work. With no
performance building of its own, the Company works with existing and new venues and companies
to create and tour theatre of the highest quality. Founded in 2006, the Company, in its short life, has
become a globally significant theatrical player, with an extensive repertoire of award-winning work.
The National Theatre of Scotland is supported by the Scottish Government.
www.nationaltheatrescotland.com
About Hoskins Architects
Founded in Glasgow in 1998, Gareth Hoskins Architects Ltd. is one of the UK’s leading architectural
practices. With studios in Glasgow and Berlin the practice is involved in a wide range of projects
across Scotland and internationally. Though having an established reputation for the design of arts
and cultural buildings, the company undertakes interesting projects of almost any size, across a wide
variety of sectors. From private houses and exhibition design to national public institutions and large
commercial developments, the firm strives to produce elegant, well-crafted buildings that generate
a sense of place, belonging to their location and becoming enjoyable places to live, work and play.
Their considered approach, including that of engaging people in discussion throughout the design
process, has led to their involvement in a number of exemplar and award winning projects, often
delivered with Local Authority and Public Body clients, setting the standard for the highest quality in
design. Contact details and sample projects can be found on their website at
www.hoskinsarchitects.com
About Pidgin Perfect
Pidgin Perfect is an award-winning multi-disciplinary creative studio based in Glasgow. Bringing
together people, clients and places to help build better communities for everyone. Pidgin Perfect has
a unique multi-skilled approach combining participation, research and design that places the
community at the heart of its projects. Pidgin Perfect works as and with artists and designers to
promote the imaginative role that they can play in the creation of aspiring places. Pidgin Perfect
believes that meaningful participation, strategic research and socially driven design are
interdependent and that the best results are achieved when these elements combine. Having fun is
a serious part of our process and through collaboration, storytelling and a unique understanding of
context we work to deliver socially rich outcomes. From installing a temporary cinema on the banks
of the River Clyde; to developing visual briefs for key regeneration projects across Scotland;
designing a theatrical banquet in Venice; landscaping greenspaces in Glasgow’s Pollokshaws,
delivering permanent public realm works for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and
developing a new artist quarter in the historic Barras Market; Pidgin Perfect creates architecture
projects that truly allow for engaging experiences, building lasting relationships and bringing
communities together. www.pidginperfect.com
ENDS