Eden Court

Location:  Inverness
Capacity:  810 seat main venue; 76 seat cinema
Programme:  Music, drama, dance, comedy, children’s shows, visual arts
Director’s Statement

Eden Court is the only large scale theatre in the Highlands and as such my aim is very simple – that we put on as wide a range of high quality entertainment as we can and that everyone that lives in the Highlands wants to come and see something here.  I want to bring the best of international performers to the Highlands but I also want the best work being produced in the Highlands, both amateur and professional, to be seen here.

I want people to be able to see events that they are comfortable and familiar with but I also want some of the performances to challenge and stimulate the audience. The same ideas apply to our cinema programme where we aim to present an alternative to other cinemas in the Highlands. I hope that everything we present is of high quality but as we present around 150 different live performances and a similar number of films we do occasionally make mistakes.

Eden Court also offers education work and opportunities to participate in dance and drama. This ranges from “Bunny Beats” and “Tiny Tunes” (dance and music for 3-4 year olds) to adult dance and drama classes to a formal higher drama qualification. We have ten staff, based throughout the Highlands, who work in schools and communities offering drama, dance and craft tuition and also run intensive courses during school holidays. Perhaps this side of our work and the live performances come together best in the performances and films for young people which are nearly always accompanied by workshops.

I also hope that Eden Court looks after its audiences and that they feel able to tell us what we are good at, where we could improve and what performances they would like to see. Plenty of people already do so, but the more feedback we get the happier I am.

We publish four guides to our events “Eden Court” for all the live performances, “Cinema at Eden Court”, “Kids @ Eden” for up to 12 year olds and “Edge of Eden” for over 12s. They are all free and can be picked up at Eden Court and other places or by joining our free mailing (just ask the box office on 01463 234234).

Colin Marr, Director

As part of our profile of Eden Court, HI-Arts Journal caught up with the theatre’s director, Colin Marr.

When was Eden Court established?

Colin: The venue opened in 1976. This followed a great saga of strong support and opposition from different sectors of the public and local council.

What famous names have taken to the stage over the years?

Colin: There have been so many! Dionne Warwick, Adam Cooper, The Smiths, Eddie Izzard, Billy Boyd, Ardal o’Hanlon, Jools Holland, Mark Little, Terry Waites, David Essex, Belinda Carlisle, Sir Simon Rattle, Texas, Siobhan Redmond, Daniel O’ Donnell, Don Williams, Blazin’ Squad and Ken Dodd to name but a few.

What are your big ideas for the future of the venue?

Colin: I hope to undertake an ambitious building programme for Eden Court.  We would hope to add a second theatre, two new cinemas and some dedicated teaching spaces as well as modern offices and dressing rooms, upgrading all our catering facilities and providing good access for patrons with disabilities.

Does the venue have a ghost?

Colin: Yes, there is a well documented ghost known as the Green Lady who haunts the older part of the building (the “Bishop’s Palace” which dates from 1878). She is rumoured to be the wife of the one of the Bishops who hung herself in the building – although we can find no evidence of a Bishop and wife that could fit this story.

What was your worst disaster as director?

Colin: During the 2001 pantomime “Aladdin” the walls at the front of the theatre were being repaired when they were found to be in an unstable state. We had to close the theatre for three days and cancel 5 performances of the pantomime – which was sold out.

And what was your biggest triumph?

Colin: It is very difficult to choose one event that stands out – artistically attracting companies like Northern Ballet and artists like Dionne Warwick is always exciting but I think I am prouder of having brought a period of stability to Eden Court after years of uncertainty and of the way the staff have worked to deliver that.

If you could have any artist in the world for a one-off special, who would it be, and why?

Colin: For Eden Court I would like to bring the Royal National Theatre or the Royal Shakespeare Company because there are members of the audience who would love to see these companies and it would help put Eden Court on the map for other companies from south of the border.

Personally, the artist I would like at Eden Court for a one off special is Kylie Minogue. She understands the need for pop music to be of the moment, and that image and performance are every bit as much of the art as the music. She is the master of disposable music (I mean that in a good way).

Why should people look forward to visiting Eden Court?

Colin: For different reasons – depending on what they like. I hope that everyone can always find at least one thing in our programme to attract them. Once they’re here I believe that we look after our audiences well and that our technical staff always present the shows well.