Lyth Arts Centre

Location: Lyth, Caithness
Capacity: 60-seater theatre, gallery, café bar
Programme: Theatre, music, visual arts
 

Director’s Statement

I feel I have been very lucky to have an opportunity to join in the evolution of Lyth Arts Centre at this exciting juncture of its existence. The re-opening of Lyth has been met with great enthusiasm from the community in Caithness and we have seen the membership of our ‘friends’ scheme double to the highest it has been ever. We also have been lucky enough so far this season to have the rare joy of being oversubscribed for all our performances so I feel we will have to maintain that momentum by keeping the programme at Lyth as varied and creative as we can.

As for other irons in the fire, since September, a programme of outreach educational projects has commenced with local schools and feedback so far has been very favourable. Over the coming year the new website at www.lytharts.org.uk will also be extended. We also intend to offer not only residential courses and workshops in a variety of artforms for the community and visitors but also rehearsal space for theatre companies and performers. In the future, Lyth Arts Centre aims to evolve into a key arts agency for the North of Scotland and with a lot of hard work and motivation I believe this is possible and I welcome a chance to be part of it.

 Finally, some information on the new venue. Lyth Arts Centre is a former village school set deep in the Caithness countryside, 15 miles from Thurso and 10 miles from Wick. A registered charity, founded in 1977, Lyth Arts Centre has consistently aimed at promoting work in theatre, music and visual art of the highest standard.

 The main studio works both as a 60 seat theatre and as a gallery. Most of its programme is devoted to presenting professional artists, both national and international, but the centre also acts as a stepping off point for local artistic endeavour. The current 2004 season has seen a six part exhibition and will run to around 30 live performances.

 The centre was closed in 2002-03 while an ambitious building project was taking place. The Re-Launch Weekend at Lyth ,held on 24th & 25th July this year, was a celebration for all the community in Caithness after this major 2-year renovation. Over 350 visitors turned out to enjoy the extra 300 square metres added to the centre’s indoor space.

The centre now boasts an extended performance programme running from March to December. It has fully accessible facilities for disabled visitors and performers alike, a spacious and comfortable foyer with open-fire plus café bar, and a new annex building providing accommodation for up to 10 performers.

The centre has improved and accessible changing and backstage facilities, a new stage piano, and boasts state of the art stage sound and lighting facilities. Outside, there is an enlarged car park and a veranda and established sheltered garden.

This renovation was made possible with a mixture of private funding and grants from the Scottish Arts Council Lottery Department and Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise. The centre receives annual revenue funding from the Scottish Arts Council and the Highland Council.

Aisling Bryce, their current director, originally hails from Dublin but has lived in Scotland for many years.

Aisling addresses the big questions:

When was the venue established?

In 1977, by former director, William Wilson who tirelessly nurtured the centre for 27 years.

What famous names have taken to the stage?

I have consulted William and he has named Carol Kidd, George Melly, Tommy Smith, Theatre de Complicité and Earl Okin for starters. Andy Goldsworthy, Henry Moore, Graham Sutherland and George Wylie have also exhibited here.
 
What are your big ideas for the future of the venue?

Just to get on with it.

Does the venue have a ghost?

The aforementioned – and very much living – Mr William Wilson!

What was your worst disaster as director?

So far, so good (cue: apocalypse).

And what was your biggest triumph?

Since I’m just out of the starter blocks, I’ll not jump the gun with any triumphs just yet!

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

Purely for selfish reasons, as I’m Irish, I’d love to see the likes of Christy Moore or Mary Black to come here to perform but if they can’t make it I’m sure I could do with U2 instead!

Why should people look forward to visiting your venue?

Because it is unique, interesting and holds the importance of the artist and artistic expression in any form at the core of its being.

© HI~Arts, 2004