RMJM Art Commissioning

Cultural

Art Commissioning: Tron Theatre

Glasgow

January 97

The Tron Theatre is situated on the Trongate, one of Glasgow's most historic areas. In recent years this area was perceived as being in decline due to Glasgow's commercial centre of gravity shifting westwards. This in turn, however, provided cheap rents of some warehouses and retail spaces which...

• Read more of this article
• Back to Projects menu

Cultural

Art Commissioning: Tron Theatre

Glasgow

January 97

The Tron Theatre is situated on the Trongate, one of Glasgow's most historic areas. In recent years this area was perceived as being in decline due to Glasgow's commercial centre of gravity shifting westwards. This in turn, however, provided cheap rents of some warehouses and retail spaces which was to become attractive to a number of arts organisations.

The Tron Theatre, considered in this context, is unique both as an activity and as an historic structure within the Trongate townscape and has become an anchor to the areas regeneration.

At the heart of the Merchant City, the Tron symbolises Glasgow's cultural history. Its 16th Century steeple dominates the Trongate and fronts the clean lines of the Tron Kirk built in 1793-95 by James Adam, in which the Theatre itself is located. Originally the Kirk was buried deep within the city block, resulting in a simplicity of design unlike most churches dating from this period.

The entire collection of the Tron Theatre buildings is listed in Category A buildings of historic interest by Historic Scotland. The Kirk is located to the south of the Medieval Tron Steeple built in 1586 and the new-baroque screen wall to the railway ventilation shaft by JJ Burnett of 1899. A series of Victorian brick out buildings lie to the south of the Kirk which have been utilised as bars, a restaurant, kitchens, dressing rooms and offices. Integration of new architecture includes a box office which lies enclosed on each side by these structures and also the bar and offices which complete the ‘urban block', both of which can be seen as complementary to the historical development of the Tron and surrounding areas.

The Tron is a public Theatre which produces and promotes a large amount of new Scottish work, employing home-based actors, directors and designers. The auditorium and its associated facilities, i.e. its café's and bars are used extensively by the local artistic and business communities. The Theatre acts as host to visiting companies and performers bringing new productions to Glasgow.

The increasing popularity of the theatre, and its growing reputation within the artistic community, meant it had begun to outgrow its somewhat adhoc arrangement of buildings. With inadequate administration facilities, a remote box office and poor sightlines within the theatre itself, it became increasingly obvious to the theatre that their present surroundings were in desperate need of improvement.

RMJM first became involved with the Tron Theatre in 1992 when they were appointed to undertake a feasibility study for the Theatre. Jointly funded by the Glasgow Development Agency and the Scottish Arts Council, the objectives of this feasibility study were to examine how the building could:

• accommodate a more efficient working theatre.
• be adapted to better integrate with the surrounding streetscapes and the Merchant City area of Glasgow.
• have a more obvious physical presence and become a focus of leisure / commercial activity.

This study culminated in the production of a feasibility report. Initially, however, no funds were available for implementation of the proposals contained within this report.

In 1993 the Government announced the National Lottery Guidelines outlining the possibility of funding for various charitable bodies and ‘good causes'. The Tron saw this as a potential way of achieving the proposals and applied for funding to carry out this work. In June 1996, the Scottish Arts Council awarded the Tron Theatre a £4.374m grant towards the cost of the proposed works.

To enable the Tron Theatre to continue business during redevelopment, the construction programme was phased over a two and a half year period. From December 1996, construction began with the Box Office and continued until completion of the final phases, the Auditorium and Enhanced Disabled Access Facitlies, in July 1999.

The Enhanced Disabled Access Facilities became possible following the SAC funding award to the Tron Theatre in December 1998. In addition to the fully accessible administration area and ancillary facilities for disabled users, a lift and stair was introduced to all levels, including direct access to the Studio Theatre, from within the interior of the building. This addition permitted greater choice for patrons with disability, providing access to seating areas in the upper house and also giving access to the control room for employees with disabilities.

Due to the design nature of this city centre redevelopment and enhanced access facilities as outlined above, we propose this project being eligible for the following awards; Urban Design Award, Centre Vision Award and the Access Award.

The art commissioning took a curatorial approach which sought to match the complexity and richness of the Merchant City, the Theatre's site and the new and existing architecture. The range of work reflects the Tron Theatre's broad and varied programme. The selection of artists included those whose work complemented RMJM's and those whose work counterbalances the architecture. Some of the art is very architectural in its own right (Richard Wright and Andrew Miller), some is sculptural (Kenny Hunter and Daphne Wright) and some is the result of a careful social and consultative process (Tracey MacKenna). All artists sought to reflect the nature of working within a dynamic, social and theatre environment.

 

Back to top