By Joy Watters, arts reporter

DUNDEE’S McMANUS Galleries is next weekend the venue for the launch of the National Theatre of Scotland, which puts the city’s senior citizens centre stage.

Closed since October for refurbishment, the building will reopen for a celebration of the memories and stories, particularly of dance hall days, of a group of Dundee men and women aged 68-98.

The NTS launch will take place at 10 venues from Shetland and Stornoway to Dumfries, each production exploring the theme Home.

Director of the Dundee event is Kenny Miller, formerly head of design and associate director at the Citizen’s Theatre, Glasgow. He spoke about the event yesterday as the main gallery, the Albert Hall, was transformed into a dance hall.

He explained why he had chosen care homes as his theme. “My mother was the matron of an old people’s home just outside Manchester. The thing that struck me was the way the old people were treated—no one spoke to them. It was awful.

“I saw with my own mother, who died a couple of years ago, that although her body could no longer do anything, her mind was alert.”

Miller has given residents of four homes in the city a voice. For three weeks he and two of the cast, plus film director David McKay, got to know the people and listened to their memories. The team visited Turriff House, Janet Brougham House, Craigie House and Menzieshill House.

Miller clearly took delight in listening to their tales, funny and heartbreaking, often struck by the courage of previous generations, such as a woman who walked from Glasgow to Dundee to get a job.

The old people were filmed as they talked. The production is based around the film. “It’s naive, not deep, and about the fun the old people had celebrating life,’’ Miller explains.

Actresses Sally Reid from Perth and Lorna McDevitt of London will fire questions at the screen. Andy Clark of Blairgowrie, a former trainee with the Rep ensemble, will link the action as a music hall comed- ian with some risque patter.

“The production is done in a modern way,” added Miller. “The people who are in the film and their families are coming on Saturday. I don’t know what they will make of seeing themselves on screen.”

The show is at 7.30 pm on February 24 and 25. Tickets are available from Dundee Rep box office.