Basic Site Details

Name: Green's Playhouse
City or county: Dundee
Country: Scotland
Parish:  
Status: B listed
Grid ref:
Notes: Now largely refurbrished after a fire. Restored by Cooper Cromar 1996-97.

Messrs George Green Ltd of Glasgow propose a new cinema to accommodate 4,000 on a site in the town. It is understood that Mr John Fairweather 182 Trongate, Glasgow is the architect.[Builder 11 January 1935 Page 122]

Contracts for the cinema in Nethergate to seat 4,200 persons for the George Green circuit, the Playhouse, Glasgow, are placed as follows: builder, Cowiesons, steelwork, Redpath Brown and Company; Reinforced concrete, Carmyle Concrete Company Limited, 2347 London-road, Glasgow, plumbing, electrical and firnishings, George Green and Company, 182 Trongate. Plans by Mr John Fairweather FRIBA 182 Trongate, Glasgow. [Builder 7 June 1935 Page 1089]

Alternative Names

The following alternative names are associated with this building/design:
 NameCurrent name?Notes
Item 1 of 1Mecca PlayhouseYes 

Building Type Classification

The building is classified under the following categories:
 ClassificationOriginal classification?Notes
Item 1 of 1Theatre  

Street Addresses

The following street addresses are associated with this building:
 AddressMain entrance?Notes
Item 1 of 1106, NethergateYes 

Events

The following date-based events are associated with this building:
 FromToEvent typeNotes
Item 1 of 6November 1934 Plans prepared, construction not yet begun 
Item 2 of 619351936Build/construction 
Item 3 of 61970 Alterations and additionsSteel advertisement tower above north facade clad in sheet metal
Item 4 of 61988 Rehabilitation£800,000 refurbishment
Item 5 of 61995  Fire destroyed everything but advertising tower. Completely rebuit for bingo, with advertising tower refurbished and stripped of 1970 cladding. Category of listing changed from A to B (only the tower is listed).
Item 6 of 619961997Reconstruction 

People

Design and Construction

The following individuals or organisations have carried out design/construction work. Where architects or practices worked together, matching letters appear beside their names in the Partnership Group column.
 NameRolePartnership GroupFromToNotes
Item 1 of 8John Alexander A19351936Consultant for auditorium
Item 2 of 8John Fairweather A19351936 
Item 3 of 8Joseph Emberton A19351936Consultant for tower
Item 4 of 8Alan W Stark C19961997Largely rebuilt
Item 5 of 8Cooper Cromar Associates C19961997Largely rebuilt
Item 6 of 8Kenneth Barclay White C19961997Largely rebuilt
Item 7 of 8Sandy Cooper C19961997Largely rebuilt
Item 8 of 8Thomas A Cromar C19961996Largely rebuilt

Clients

The following individuals or organisations have commissioned work on this building/design:
 NameNotes
Item 1 of 1Green, George 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this building:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 9Gifford, John2012The Buildings of Scotland: Angus and Dundee Yalep118
Item 2 of 9Gray, Richard1996Cinemas in Britain London: Lund Humphriesp113-4
Item 3 of 9Kenna, Rudolph1987Scotland in the Thirties Glasgow: Richard Drew Publishing 
Item 4 of 9McBain, Janet1985Pictures Past Edinburgh: Moorfoot Publishing 
Item 5 of 9McKean, Charles1987The Scottish Thirties: An Architectural Introduction Edinburgh: Scottish Academic Pressp67
Item 6 of 9McKean, Charles and Whatley, Patricia2008Lost Dundee: Dundee's lost architectural heritage Birlinn, Edinburghpp 197-9 - interiors illustrated
Item 7 of 9Naulty, Denis Michael2004Dundee Cinemas Dundee Civic Trust 
Item 8 of 9RCAHMS1992Dundee on Record RCAHMSImage of the front elevation (1989) p57
Item 9 of 9www.scottishcinemas.org.uk www.scottishcinemas.org.uk Scottish Cinemas website and database 

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this building:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 5Builder14 December 1934  p1049
Item 2 of 5Builder11 January 1935  p122
Item 3 of 5Builder7 June 1935  p1089
Item 4 of 5Dundee Courier and Advertiser28 August 1995   
Item 5 of 5Scotland on Sunday3 December 1995  'Faulty towers beside the Tay'

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this building:
 SourceArchive nameSource catalogue no.Notes
Item 1 of 3Courtesy of Neil DarlingtonInformation sent via DSA website Sent June 2009
Item 2 of 3Dundee Planning Department/NMRSDundee Approved Duplicate Plans (Originals in NMRS for dates 1867-1883; otherwise on microfilm)  
Item 3 of 3Historic Environment ScotlandListed Buildings Register25437