Our History

New Paragraph

The Theatre was the brainchild of Mr James Bissell who, in 1960, was a member of an amateur dramatic club, but was filled with the desire to begin an amateur theatre group in Bishopbriggs. His idea being that in time there would be a theatre built housing an amateur club completely run by amateurs but bringing professional performances from time to time to the town.

He contacted a friend of his, Mr Donald McBean, a producer of amateur dramatics, and met him in a café, telling him of his dream. They then and there drafted a constitution for the Players

A meeting was held in Bishopbriggs High School on 1st April 1960, 84 people attending, and the Antonine Theatre was born.  A steering committee was formed under the chairmanship of James Bissell. At that time the Balmuildy Theatre was in the process of being built, but eventually it was named the New Memorial Hall, a hall with a stage. The first play by the Antonine Players, “WHEN WE ARE MARRIED”, dated 25th-26th January 1961, was performed in the new hall, (which was found not to be suitable for dramatic productions). The cast included James Bissell, John Faith, Margaret Wilson, Nan Curdy and Margaret Graham; who could be called founders. James Grimshaw, who moved to Canada, was stage manager and he was made an Honorary Life member of the Group.

A Scout hut was purchased for rehearsals and sited in Springfield Road. Balance Sheet for the first year show an annual rent to Railway, £15 per annum, Rates £15 and erection of Hut £20.

The Group was at that time known as The Antonine Players and Junior Theatre Group. Three years later the Antonine Singers joined with the Players and so the group became known as the Antonine Theatre Group.

All this time the need for a theatre was growing and several suggestions were made, Councilor D Forrester, who became the first President of the Group, arranged that a hut be made available to the group, to be sited alongside the Scout Hut. This was bought in sections, but unfortunately between heavy rain falls and the gales of 1968 this plan literally collapsed.

The Group carried on their activities during this period and were very active in the Burgess week of 1966, a Revue being held on 1st June 1966. A Grant Variety Show held on Friday 3rd June 1966 was compered by the late Jack Radcliffe. The idea of using Brackenbrae Farm came from Mr Bissell, himself a Councilor on the Town Council. He heard that plans were afoot to pull down Brackenbrae House and it was then that he pleaded the cause of the theatre to have the derelict Granary for use as a theatre. The Group’s assets were £400. It was agreed that we could go ahead, and the Town Council were very helpful and generous at this time. Harrison the builder, who built the theatre as designed by         Mr Tom Allan, was paid by the Council with the Theatre Group repaying the loan. Provost D Bruce laid the foundation stone on June 1st 1969. The first performance in the Fort Theatre was a joint show by drama and singers, “THE HOLLOW CROWN” on 25t-27th November of the same year.

Mr Albert Keighley was the second President from 1962-1974, Mr James Proctor from 1974-76, Mr James Bissell from 1976 to present day.

The building of Phase 2, which included Lounge, Kitchen, Dressing Rooms and Bar, this again with help from the Council, was finished in 1973.

So the dream had finally come to pass. Over the ensuing years the Group has gone from strength to strength, the style changing somewhat. Management Committees throughout the years have been extremely hard working, and always at the helm, was Mr James Bissell. The drama section in the mid eighties won 10 trophies in festival productions.

In 2002 the Fort underwent a full refurbishment with thanks to many funding bodies including: East Dunbartonshire Council, Scottish Arts Council and The National Lottery. The Antonine Theatre Group members also fund-raised at every opportunity to aid the development.  A new green room was built on the ground floor, new toilets for both cast and patrons. New lighting and sound equipment was installed and the old fixed auditorium seating was replaced with movable seating racks to enable maximum use of the space for different events.

New Paragraph

Doctor Who star Peter Capaldi formed Glasgow fan club as a 15-year-old with stars in his eyes

By The Newsroom

Wednesday, 7th August 2013, 5:07 pm

The 55-year-old – who grew up in the town near Glasgow – formed his self-styled ‘Dr Who Fan Club – Glasgow Branch’ in March 1974 with friend Simon Clegg.

Peter wrote two letters to the ‘Radio Times’ that year about Doctor Who – one announcing the formation of the club, the other to praise a Doctor Who special run by the Times.

Old friend Simon grew up in the same area as Peter and was his co-star in his acting debut – a play called ‘An Inspector Calls’ at the Fort Theatre, Bishopbriggs, on March 9, 1974.

Peter was an active member of the Antonine Players and played a policeman – little knowing that a police box of a very different kind was moving towards him decades down the line.

Simon, who now lives in Melbourne, said: “Who would have thought a boy from Bishopbriggs would be Doctor Who? Well, he always talked about it.

“The club joining fee was 20p. Scarves to be procured at Simon and Peter’s expense by supplying wool skeins to a member of the Fort Theatre, Phillipa Stevenson, who made them on her knitting machine.

“Apart from himself I was the sole member.

“Peter spent a lot of time up at the Fort and his catchphrase was ‘splendid Sarah’ – an expression used by the then-Doctor Who Tom Baker to assistant Sarah-Jane Smith.

“He was a nice guy, vibrant, creative and possessed of the crucial ingredient – high self-esteem. I always thought it would lead to fame, but I never thought it would take so long. I always liked Peter. Good on him.”

And guess what – 39 years and 15,000 kilometres from Bishopriggs – Simon still has his Doctor Who scarf.

He added: “Peter got his actor’s Equity card playing one of the criminals at the Crucifixion carrying a cross across a stage at The King’s Theatre, Glasgow.

“He then went to Glasgow School of Art. He formed a band with Craig Ferguson (of ‘The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson’) called The Dreamboys.”

Simon, who studied theatre at Glasgow University, emigrated in 1996 and worked for a while as a drama teacher in Victoria, Australia.

Bishopbriggs Theatre group to mark WWI centenary

Photograph Jamie Forbes 8.2.14 BISHOPBRIGGS Fort Theatre - Fraz Zaib (16) from Bishopbriggs and Robert Tombe (20) taking part in World War 1 show.

The Fort Theatre team will stage ‘The Great War - Portrayed Through Drama, Song and Poetry’ from Thursday, March 13 to Saturday, March 15.

It will give a uniquely local perspective of the war which tore through Europe and beyond between July 28, 1914, and November 11, 1918.

The stories will be told using a selection of letters, photos, poems and songs - many of which have been sourced from the archives at Kirkintilloch’s William Patrick Library.

The Fort Theatre is now looking forlocal people to get involved, both on stage and to loan any relevant items they might have in their loft or garage - from tin hats to relatives’ letters home.

The spokeswoman said: “We really want to attract more 18 to 30-year-olds to the theatre and hope that a show like this will interest them.

“We want as many people in the community as possible to get involved - even if it’s just coming in for a taster.”



https://www.kirkintilloch-herald.co.uk/news/bishopbriggs-theatre-group-mark-wwi-centenary-2658625