Stuart McDonald MP visits Lanternhouse

Cumbernauld Theatre Trust welcomed Stuart McDonald MP into Lanternhouse to meet the team and to be shown around Cumbernauld’s new performing arts venue.

The MP for Cumbernauld, Kilsyth & Kirkintilloch East was accompanied on a tour of the building and its state-of-the-art facilities by Sarah Price, CEO of Cumbernauld Trust, Alex Linkston (Cumbernauld Theatre Trust Board Member) and members of the Cumbernauld Theatre team.

Located in the heart of Cumbernauld, on the Cumbernauld Academy campus, Lanternhouse houses two performance spaces – a 300-seat auditorium and a studio theatre and a dance studio.

Stuart McDonald MP said: “I was delighted to visit Cumbernauld Theatre and tour the terrific new Lanternhouse venue. As well as an exciting programme of performances already in place, they have great plans for getting the local community into the venue. I’m sure it will be a cultural beacon for the town for many years to come.”

Lanternhouse opened its doors to the public in October this year with an Autumn Season of theatre, dance, music, comedy and an inclusive programme of creative learning activities.

Sarah Price, Chief Executive of Cumbernauld Theatre Trust, said: “The launch of Lanternhouse this season has been a fantastic success and, despite set-backs from Covid-19, our community has been generous in their support, eager to get involved, keen to take part in our programme and to lead activities.

“Lanternhouse already feels like the community’s cultural home, and we are so thankful for the support we have had to bring this facility to our audiences.

“In three months, we have produced three new theatre shows, with outstanding direction from Kate Nelson for Romeo and Juliet, Fiona McKinnon for Robin Hood and the creative team of Tortoise in a Nutshell, Alex Bird, Arran Howie and Matt Addicott for our co-production of Hibernate. These new works, which were created specifically for our community, have been presented alongside new music, traditional folk, visiting Theatre, singer-songwriters and comedy nights welcoming performers from across Scotland, supporting the cultural economy and bringing fun and entertainment back into our lives.

“We have supported contemporary visual artists such as Nicole Stead, Jim Colquhoun and Murray Wason working in residence to deliver a number of socially engaged projects with groups from the community, building creative confidence and enabling reflective, creative self-expression.

“We have devised and delivered a range of participatory classes in theatre and performance making skills for young people and adults, sensory play for younger children and we are continually creating opportunities for everyone to take part.

“As we now look ahead to 2022, we are eager to engage and work alongside the community to deliver a vibrant, inclusive and relevant cultural programme for Cumbernauld and the surrounding communities.”

The Theatre’s programme also includes a number of socially engaged arts projects, some already underway and many planned to increase access to a variety of artistic activities including photography, contemporary dance and creative writing, led by professional artists.

Feedback from audiences to date includes:

“… a stunning venue with pleasant staff.”

About a visit to Hibernate: “I took my sons to see Hibernate yesterday. It was their first experience of live theatre and my first experience post lockdown too – we all thoroughly enjoyed the show. Staff were accommodating and helpful when we arrived and the show itself was really sweet and kept both boys enraptured.”

Tickets for the full programme of live performance are on sale online on the new website: www.lanternhousearts.org and by visiting or telephoning our Box Office: 01236 732887. You can also download a brochure from our website too.