At its 1st April meeting Anstruther Rotary welcomed Dr Alan Tricker, who presented an illustrated talk on the Byre Theatre. The meeting benefited from Dr Tricker’s profound knowledge of the theatre’s history; he having served it in many ways for over 40 years.

We heard that 2013 marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of the very original theatre by St Andrews Play Club – in the empty farm byre on Abbey Street. This ‘Byre 1’ served well until 1969 when Abbey Street was widened. It was demolished and made way for ‘Byre 2’ - with 140 seats and a bar – and which was built at a cost of £30,000. Byre 2 was opened on 18th April 1970 by Andrew Cruikshank.

This in turn was demolished in 1996 to make way for the present ‘Byre 3’ theatre, opened in 2001 at a cost of £6.2 million. We heard something of the history of productions over the 80 years – both amateur and professional and of the tradition of “The Open’ by A B Paterson – a show about the Open Championship in St Andrews in the 1950’s.

But we also sadly heard of recent financial difficulties, of efforts to secure additional funding during the final weeks, but that unfortunately culminated in the company closing on 25th January this year and finally going into liquidation on 4th February.

But Dr Tricker also spoke of hopes for a new future; of the involvement of Fife Council and Creative Scotland with the aim of enabling Fife Cultural Trust to take over the Byre as one of their Fife theatres. Perhaps even in time for a 2013 panto.

Following questions a vote of thanks was proposed by Bill Batchelor, who confessed he had once appeared on the Byre stage himself – but had immediately decided it was best left to those with talent!