New Lanternhouse Theatre Bringing Beacon Of Light To Cumbernauld Communities

Cumbernauld Community Anchor Network (CAN) and Cumbernauld Family Hub are spotlighting the launch and innovation of Cumbernauld’s new Lanternhouse performing arts facility this week.

Lanternhouse, an initiative of Cumbernauld Theatre Trust, opened its doors to the public in October with a season of theatre, dance, music, comedy and an inclusive programme of creative learning activities.

Located in the heart of Cumbernauld, on the Cumbernauld Academy campus, Lanternhouse features two performance spaces, a 300-seat auditorium and a studio theatre and a dance studio. An 84-seat cinema and café and bistro are also part of the newly built complex.

Founded in 1963, Cumbernauld Theatre Trust is the only professional independent arts organisation in Cumbernauld and North Lanarkshire and serves a vital social, cultural and economic purpose in a community that is economically disadvantaged, with widespread material poverty and deprivation and low academic attainment.

As an established, professional producing creative arts charity, Cumbernauld Theatre Trust is both community-led and community conscious with activity that responds to the needs of the local community, whilst delivering outputs that achieve national and international recognition.          

And with the Lanternhouse venue now operational, Cumbernauld citizens will have the opportunity to enjoy many theatre, cinema and community arts performances during 2022. 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 coronavirus (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 recent 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.

“Moreover, 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.

“Going forward, 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.”

In December, Cumbernauld Theatre Trust welcomed Stuart McDonald MP into Lanternhouse to meet the team and to be shown around the new facility. The MP for Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East was accompanied on a tour of the building and its state-of-the-art facilities by members of the Cumbernauld Theatre team. He commented:

“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.”

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.

Cumbernauld Theatre Trust is a key part of the infrastructure of Scotland’s performing arts and is a Regularly Funded Organisation (RFO) within the Creative Scotland portfolio. It receives investment in support of its work from a range of sources including Creative Scotland and North Lanarkshire Council, Weston Culture Fund and Scottish Government’s Empowering Communities Programme via the Investing in Communities Fund.

The organisation is also supported by Screen Scotland, Equity Charitable Trust, Foyle Foundation, The Levenseat Trust, The Trades House of Glasgow Commonweal Fund, Land Trust, Robert Barr’s Charitable Trust, Hugh Fraser Foundation, The Robertson Trust and Patersons Quarries, our Friends, and donors.

Lanternhouse is a privately-owned property built through Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) investment and is jointly operated by North Lanarkshire Council and Cumbernauld Theatre Trust. The construction of Lanternhouse was financed via the SFT-managed hub community infrastructure programme for local authorities in support of Scottish Government’s National Infrastructure Mission to drive inclusive economic growth and build resilient places.

Cornerstone House Centre welcomes the Lanternhouse as a venue which will benefit Cumbernauld communities for many years to come, and extends its congratulations to Cumbernauld Theatre Trust for the outstanding achievement of its launch. For further information, please contact Sally Wilson, Marketing and Communications Consultant at Cumbernauld Theatre Trust, on 01236 732887 or email swilson@cumbernauldtheatre.co.uk.