Aros Centre

Location:  Portree, Isle of Skye
Capacity:  197 seat venue; 150 seat restaurant
Programme:  Music, drama, dance, children’s shows, cinema, comedy

Director’s Statement

Talla Shomhairle was built by Aros in 1998, with the desire to promote the Gaelic arts in a comfortable, well-equipped venue.  It was an extension to an already established Heritage Centre, and following a visit to Ireland, my fellow directors and I saw a centre in Cashel which was very much like the type of thing we thought we’d like to have in Skye.

After the feasibility study, it became apparent that to sustain such a venue, we would have to present a general arts programme, which we have continued to do, but with an emphasis on traditional music, and we also do cinema and conferences.

This year, we have refurbished what was our original static historical exhibition, and have made the space more multi-purpose, adding a small 40-seat auditorium and a further conference room.  Talla Shomhairle itself is a multi-purpose theatre, with fixed, raked seating, a good lighting rig, quality PA, and video and film projection facilities.  We also have 16 track digital recording facilities, and an infra-red headset system which acts as an aid for people with hearing difficulties, as well as being available for simultaneous translations at Gaelic and other conferences.

As part of our profile of the Aros Centre, HI-Arts Journal caught up with venue director, Arthur Cormack.

When was the venue established?

Arthur: The venue was opened in July 1998.

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

Arthur: In traditional music, we have had Richard Wood, Jonny Hardie & Gavin Marwick, Phil Cunningham & Aly Bain, Battlefield Band, Slàinte Mhath, Duncan Chisholm & Ivan Drever, Sheena Wellington, Arthur Cormack, Dick Gaughan, Calasaig, Cluanas, Andy M Stewart, Ishbel MacAskill, Kenna Campbell, Alyth MacCormack, Anne Martin, Anna Murray, Ingrid Henderson, The Barra MacNeils, Trinity of Small Pipers, Christine Primrose & Alison Kinnaird, The McCalmans, Barrage, Ossian, Old Blind Dogs, Scottish Step Dance Company, Tamarack, Savourna Stevenson, Jerry Holland, Alasdair Fraser, Bùrach, Jim Hunter, Mary Ann Kennedy, Angus Grant, Cliar, Dr Angus, Allan & Iain MacDonald, Iain MacFarlane, Jock Tamson’s Bairns, BEL, Dòchas, Ceòlbeg,Tamarack, Claire McLaughlin & Marianne Campbell, Fred Morrison and many more.

In other types of music we have had Scottish Opera Go Round, Essential Scottish Opera, Bert Jansch, Susheela Raman, Mr Boom, Eddi Reader, Albert Lee, Gordon Giltrap, Lorraine Jordan, Midge Ure, Rob Hall Duo, Mike Whellans, Timeline, Mr McFall’s Chamber, Rudsambee Choir, Tam White and Jim Hunter, and on and on…
What are your big ideas for the future of the venue?

Arthur: We want to be able to continue to offer a varied programme, and to continue to offer the best deal we can to visiting musicians.
Does the venue have a ghost?

Arthur: Not as far as I know!

What was your worst disaster as director?

Arthur: Haven’t really had too many disasters.  The odd mix up with artists arriving and having different expectations as to what they were to get from the gig, but that was because they didn’t read the contract!  We’ve also, on occasion, had very small audiences for some pretty stunning musicians, which is always disappointing for them and for the venue.

And what was your biggest triumph?

Arthur: Selling out for Cliar!!!!

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

Arthur: I’d really like to have someone mega like Billy Connolly or Daniel O’ Donnell to pull in punters who never go to anything.  Skye is a small place, and Portree only one village within the island.  But there are still people who have never set foot in Talla Shomhairle – even regular eaters at Aros!  I always feel that if we could get them in for something, and experience the venue, they would come back.  We could never afford something like that, so the star in question would have to come because they wanted to play the venue!

Why should people look forward to visiting the Aros Centre?

Arthur: It is the best theatre in the Highlands outside Inverness, offering comfort, good facilities, sound and light.  It is small, so intimate, even when not full.  It is one of the most beautiful locations, and has one of the best views in the world!