AN LANNTAIR in Stornoway

Director’s Statement: Roddy Murray

THE ORIGINAL An Lanntair – as a venue – bears little resemblance to that which opened in October 2005. But there is a strong thread of continuity in key personnel and in the programming ethic and philosophy.

Creatively An Lanntair is a lantern – a beacon – a lighthouse. The venue is both a receptacle and an instrument for the organisation’s vision, energy and ideas. We have a fully flexible 200-seat auditorium with moveable seats and ‘disappearing’ walls, which has the capacity and capability of accommodating everything from theatre and concerts to ceilidh, club-nights, cinema, conferences, even weddings. Not to mention gallery, education rooms, meeting rooms and a great bar and restaurant. It’s generous, comprehensive, distinctive, and it’s intimate.

Director Roddy Murray and programmer Alex Macdonald come up with the answers.

NORTHINGS: When was the venue established?

RODDY: An Lanntair opened on 8 March 1985. The current venue opened on 1 October 2005. That breaks down roughly into the first 10 years to take root and develop; the second to campaign for and deliver the new centre. The second half felt longer.

NORTHINGS: What famous names have taken to the stage?

ALEX: It depends on your definition of “famous”. Personally I was particularly pleased to see Michael Duchet appear in An Lanntair as part of the Savoy Duchet Cajun Band – literally the most famous Cajun outfit in the world. But, equally dependant on what you are into, people have been excited by appearances by Martin Simpson, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, actress Una Maclean, writers Ian Banks and Muriel Gray, the T’ang Quartet from Singapore or Fergie Macdonald. All are famous in their own way! These days we can add Julie Fowlis to that list of the “famous” as well.

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

ALEX: As far as the performing arts programme is concerned, I would just like to continue providing a balanced programme for the public. Literally Pirates of Penzance one day and Pirates of the Carribean the next. I hope that never changes.

I also hope that we continue to promote the Gaelic and traditional arts in particular. We have so many talented singers, artists, writers and musicians from the Islands who now have a state of the art venue on their doorstep.

RODDY: The big idea, strategically, is really about extending out from the venue – putting more spokes on the hub. Helping develop the artistic community locally and internationally.

NORTHINGS: Does the venue have a ghost?

ALEX: Not at the moment, but given that we now also show film, when we do I hope its Johnny Depp.

NORTHINGS: What was your worst disaster?

ALEX: Disasters are few and far between, thankfully, and there’s nothing we haven’t been able to cope with.

RODDY: Maybe you’re forgetting Sunday 16 December 2007 when the main hot water boiler burst in the top floor plant room. By the time I was notified, it had percolated through the staff room, stairwell, restaurant servery and main kitchen, dissolving acres of plasterboard in the process and frying the electrics. Water was about a foot deep in the main switch room and we had to put emergency calls in to TRANSCO and SSE. Only during annual maintenance, 3 weeks later, when the forestage came up, did we realize that it had also flooded under the hardwood floor in the auditorium. Which had buckled, and from which we subsequently pumped about 3,000 litres.

NORTHINGS: And what was your biggest triumph?

RODDY: “…these two imposters….” The biggest triumph is that the place actually got built. It was a close thing indeed a few times. The shame is that it was difficult to enjoy it at the outset as there were so many operational issues to overcome and consolidate. One challenge segued into another.

ALEX: Getting the place up and running in time for the Mod in October 2005. Since then, I would say creating our own events such as “Lewis Women” or “Dhachaidh”, or releasing our second CD “The Days Flash Past”. We don’t just stage events, we create them as well. Most recently it would be winning the Venue of the Year in the Scottish Traditional Music awards.

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

RODDY: I’d still like Bob Dylan, but would settle happily for Gillian Welch.

ALEX: At the moment I would like it to be guitarist Jerry Douglas, who I saw recently at Celtic Connections. And I think that may be achievable with a word in the right ear, so watch this space.

AJ: Why should people look forward to visiting your venue?

ALEX: I think those that haven’t been here yet will be pleasantly surprised. We offer a programme that is comparable with any arts centre in Britain, but in a unique environment. Several people have commented that the building could be in any city in the world – but one look out the window reminds you that it certainly isn’t just any other place.

RODDY: Great staff, professionalism, proficiency, hospitality, technical back-up, acoustics, audience and ambience. I remember Martin Taylor saying on stage that he wanted to move in here!

© HI-Arts, 2008

Links

• An Lanntair