Before TMT, there was Golden Age Theatre…
Early in 1991, Flloyd Kennedy invited a number of Glasgow-based actors and theatre creatives to come together on a regular basis to explore, play and experiment with the text of Louis Nowra’s powerfully ambitious play dealing with a shocking incident in Australia’s history, The Golden Age. The idea was to develop some of the performance skills and concepts which had become available in Scotland as a result of Glasgow’s Year as European Capital of Culture. The Festival directors had insisted that all of the international companies who were invited to perform in Glasgow during that year (including The Maly Drama Theatre of St Petersburg, Peter Brook’s The Mahabrahata, Ingmar Bergman’s Swedish theatre company, Robert Lepage, The Wooster Group and many more) should also offer workshops to the local theatre community. Flloyd Kennedy was appointed to coordinate the workshop programme, so she had the privilege of attending most of them.
Pete Searle, then General Manager of Tramway Theatre, offered the group rehearsal space, and in May of that year, the group was invited to perform at Cumbernauld Theatre by its Artistic Director, Liz Carruthers.
Sue Hillman came on board to administer the project, Pete Searle became production manager and lighting designer.
The production was so well received, and the team agreed that the process had been such an enjoyable, as well as an inspiring experience, that we all decided to form a company. The initial company directors were Flloyd Kennedy as Artistic Director, Sue Hillman as Administrative Director, and Donna Bainbridge as assistant AD.
The company created at least one production a year until 1996, when Flloyd returned to Australia. It operated as an Independent Small Scale Profit Share Company, and ALWAYS had a profit to share.
SOME PRESS REACTIONS
SCOTLAND – Golden Age Theatre Company
CLOSER THAN EVER Richard Maltby Jr & David Shire (1995, Mayfest and Aberdeen) 1995
“… swept away by the sheer musicality and integrity of this show… cannot be recommended enough”
Aberdeen Press & Journal
“excellent musicianship, slick staging, ritzy choreography…” Glasgow Herald
THE PROMISE Alexei Arbuzov (1994 Scottish tour)
“a haunting quality piece of theatre” St Andrews Citizen
“Very much an ensemble piece … deserved better than the small audience which turned out”. Perth Courier
IPHIGENIA IN TAURIS Goethe (1993 Scottish tour)
“ .. phenomenal skills of the cast and the lucid precision of the direction.. without the clutter of props and machines to distract from the poetry of the drama and the dynamics of the characters’ emotions” The List
“..thoughtless directorial style.. rather effective plinky-plonky music.. still worth seeing”
Scotland on Sunday
“tightly paced direction, a pared-down set, eerily effective lighting and music..” The Herald
PERICLES William Shakespeare (1993 Edinburgh Festival Fringe) Golden Age Theatre
“audience left shocked to realise Shakespeare could be this good … enthralling ..nifty choreography… excellent acting ..action packed show – I loved it” Edinburgh Evening News
“…small space proves no restriction to Golden Age Theatre’s robust energy… they outreach their immediate environment to create a visually charged wider world… strength of the performances, tightly choreographed scenes, highly efficient lighting, striking use of music with a haunting score… truly absorbing” The Herald
THE LONELINESS OF THE LONG DISTANCE RUNNER Alan Sillitoe adapted by Steven Jamieson and Paul Brennan (1992 Mayfest, Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Scottish Tour and secondary schools tour)
“Superbly executed… performed with wit and raw energy” The Independent
“… highly charged and compelling performance” The Scotsman
“powerful and poetic script, stark staging and talented commitments… “ Dundee Courrier
“…quality production…poetry in motion” Edinburgh Evening News
“Minimally yet imaginatively staged and confidently performed … a funny, furious and passionate piece of drama” The List
THE GOLDEN AGE Louis Nowra (1991 UK premiere, Cumbernauld, Scotland)
“The cast are excellent, the music, sound and lighting unfaultable” Scotland on Sunday
“..the company’s integrity and careful preparation shine through … superb physical and spoken acting” The Scotsman
“ one of the most absorbing, moving and uplifting theatrical experiences of the year… “
Cumbernauld News & Chronicle