On behalf of our Board of Trustees we would like to invite you to a Pre-Planning Application meeting of our Charity to review our latest project – The Depot. We are proposing to undertake a Building Extension at SMPC to include a new “Eco” theatre, museum and documentation centre.

Over the past quarter of a century SMPC has hosted a large variety of groups and organisations  to deliver shows, workshops, courses, master-classes and birthday parties to promote masks, puppets and associated art forms. The current Centre provides an extraordinary atmosphere in which to learn, discover and celebrate the arts and is the only dedicated space of its kind in Scotland (www.maskandpuppet.co.uk). It has, however, become too small to accommodate existing demand and in order to remain sustainable and to protect our legacy we now need to grow and expand.

In partnership with Up-Front Arts and The Architects Design Ltd we now wish to provide an improved visitor experience while improving the facilities, outward appearance, car parking provision and landscaping of the existing building.

Our plan involves building forwards of our existing stores with a flexible timber frame building connected by a glass atrium corridor to our current cafe/foyer. The theatre space will have a gallery at first floor height to allow for puppet bridges in many positions. There will also be a pit in the floor to allow rod puppets to be operated at the same height as marionettes. The sloping roof shape is to allow for lighting bars and is designed for the acoustic of the space.

There will also be a lift to the first floor which will access the Museum Gallery, Documentation Centre and Interpretation Spaces plus an internal staircase/fire escape,

We shall be presenting our plans, drawings and ideas for your consideration under the terms of The Town and Country Planning Regulations 2008. You are most welcome to attend.

RSVP Wine and Cheese. Please reply by Sunday 12th March 12.00pm.

Dr. Malcolm Y. Knight, FRSA

Executive Director