Accolade for Montrose Playhouse Project

Montrose Playhouse was presented with the Creative Town Award at the 2022 Scotland Loves Local Awards after judges heard about the vision and determination that brought the £3.5m transformation to life.

Little over a year after its opening, the three-screen cinema is closing in on 100,000 admissions - with the venue creating around 30 jobs, including a number of apprenticeships.

Organised by Scotland's Towns Partnership (STP), the Scotland Loves Local Awards recognise and reward the remarkable work taking place to improve communities and create a better future.

The Creative Town Award was sponsored by Creative Scotland.

After receiving the award, Montrose Playhouse Venue Manager Matt Buchanan said the accolade was a boost to the team and the project.

He said: “This is fantastic - a real vindication of the dedication, hard work, blood, sweat and tears which has gone into getting this project off the ground and over the line because it hasn’t always been an easy ride.

“This will help us put Montrose culturally on the map in Scotland.”

Opened in October 2021, the transformation - which took 10 years and included a £1 community asset transfer of the building from Angus Council to complete - featured a DIY SOS-style operation which involved more than 80 local people on site to strip the building back to a shell.

As well as its three screens, the Playhouse comprises a cafe bar, retail space and community activity rooms.

It also hosts events such as pre-loved school uniform markets while offering fruit and veg as part of a weekly foyer market which gives access to healthy food at a low cost, subsidised by the venue’s profits.

“The Playhouse is more than just a cinema for our community,” award judges were told.

For more information about the awards and the wider Scotland Loves Local campaign, can be found at www.lovelocal.scot and followed with #ScotlandLovesLocal on social media.