The Lemon Tree

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The Lemon Tree is a popular music, theatre, and dance venue in Aberdeen, Scotland.

[edit] History

The building that houses The Lemon Tree began life as St Katherine's Club, which was built in the 1930s by the Young Women's Christian Organisation, as an activity centre to keep young ladies off Aberdeen's streets.

It hosted regular, strictly alcohol-free dances, under the watchful eyes of the two ladies who ran the building and scores of local residents met their future spouses at such occasions. Many believe that the spirits of the two women still watch over The Lemon Tree, although some of their rules appear to have become somewhat sidelined.

In the 1980s, St K's (as it became known) was home to various community arts groups and a vegetarian restaurant, with what now constitutes the main performance space being divided up between the different collectives.

The site has always been funded by Aberdeen City Council, and, at the turn of the 1990s, one of its Councillors, David Clyne, had the idea to create a permanent home for the swelling audience that was attending the city's rock, theatre, and comedy Alternative Festival, held annually in October.

After two years of planning and at a cost of £600,000, The Lemon Tree opened in 1992. The arts groups were rehoused to make way for a 550-capacity downstairs performance space and cafe, with a first floor area converted into a 150-capacity studio theatre.

"The remit remains the same today as at its inception," says Music Programmer Andy Shearer, "To programme the best touring rock, folk, world, jazz, blues, comedy, theatre, and dance; to create new work with relevance to the northeast and to provide a platform for local talent."