History
Mull Theatre was founded in 1966. Established in a converted coach house in the grounds of a Free Church Manse, its performance space has retained an unique atmosphere. Its founders were Barrie and Marianne Hesketh (both subsequently awarded OBEs), two actors who had settled on Mull to bring up their family.
They took their idea into the pages of the Guinness Book of Records as the world's smallest theatre as they produced a regular season of plays, as well as mounting small-scale tours all over Britain and into Europe. Marianne died in 1984 and when Barrie left the island the subsequent year, the company was kept going, first by his son Nick, then by a dedicated board of local supporters who, under the direction of David Pitman, engaged a professional team for annual seasons of plays.
The company has had good years and bad years; artistic development and financial struggles! In 1995 the board of directors was re-constituted and a new series of aims and objectives were outlined. The company took the brave step of employing a full-time artistic director and under the direction of Alasdair McCrone, it has developed a reputation for quality drama. Its work encompasses repertory, touring, children's theatre, new writing and commissions. From a first arts council touring grant in 1997, the company has now become one of Scotland’s core funded touring theatre companies.
Copies of Taking Off: The Story of Mull Little Theatre by Barrie Hesketh are available from Mull Theatre