This year the Rep marks its 80th anniversary and celebrates 20 years of our resident acting Ensemble. We’re celebrating with stories that have a particular resonance to Dundee, and can also reach beyond to the wider world. Peter Arnott’s Tay Bridge is a brand new play that tells the stories of those caught in the famous bridge disaster of 1879. A-Z of Dundee, directed by Ewan Donald, comes home to the Rep stage after a successful tour to local community centres earlier this year. Oor Wullie will have his own show at the Rep before touring the country in 2020, while Emily Mouse returns as a seasonal treat for our younger audiences.

We’ll tell the story of Dundee’s own Jim McLean in Smile, a new play about his life directed by Sally Reid. Irene Macdougall then directs a new production of one of Shakespeare’s most controversial plays, Measure for Measure.

This year we also welcome new Artistic Director, Joan Clevillé, to Scottish Dance Theatre. Having previously danced with the company, Joan has built a reputation in the Scottish dance community and developed international demand for his work. We’re thrilled that he has joined us at this exciting time.

Scottish Dance Theatre is proud to stand as a creative ambassador for Dundee as we embark on a four-week tour in South America, followed by the Edinburgh Festival Fringe where we’ll perform RITUALIA and Looping: Scotland Overdub. In Dundee, audiences will have another chance to see The Circle and Process Day. We’re also proud to present The Great Big Dance Show, our family-friendly celebration of dance, and Sputnik, a programme of bold new work created and performed by our company dancers. You can get involved too, at our regular dance classes with something for all ages and levels of experience.

This season of celebration begins with Ian McKellen on Stage. Sir Ian ushers in a variety of productions including the classic Jane Eyre, choreographer Wayne McGregor’s award-winning Autobiography, and comedy from Tommy Tiernan, Craig Hill and TapeFace.

Younger audiences will be enthralled by Scottish Ballet’s Wee Hansel and Gretel, as well as Slug, Little Red and Whirlybird. We’re also excited to announce that Francis Rossi from Status Quo will be performing in Spring 2020. Dundee Rep was founded just five days after World War II began, at a moment of immense global significance when the need of artistic expression and reflection were all too real. In another 80 years time, we will be on the cusp of the 22nd century. We believe that over the coming years, organisations like Dundee Rep and Scottish Dance Theatre will be vital in helping to shape the world though the ideas and stories that we create, present and engage in.

We hope you’ll help us celebrate this very special birthday!

Andrew Panton
Artistic Director/Joint-Chief Executive

Liam Sinclair
Executive Director/Joint-Chief Executive