Duncan Hendry

Duncan Frazer Hendry (9 November 1951 – 2 March 2023) was the former Chief Executive of Aberdeen Performing Arts and of Edinburgh's Capital Theatres.

Education and personal life Although born in Hillhead, Glasgow, Hendry attended George Heriot's School, Edinburgh and the University of St Andrews where he studied Psychology.

Aberdeen Alternative Festival From 1988 to 1998 Hendry was the artistic director of Aberdeen Alternative Festival which took place every October in Aberdeen. This multi-arts event featured performances in theatre, dance, comedy, music and visual arts in many city venues. It became one of the largest festivals in Scotland, second only in scale to the Edinburgh Festival.

In 1993 he brought James Brown to Scotland for the first time, with a performance at the Aberdeen Exhibition Centre.

Aberdeen Performing Arts Hendry, who had been manager of the Music Hall from 1997, became the general manager of Aberdeen's performing arts venues in March 1999. This included His Majesty's Theatre, the Music Hall, the Cowdray Hall and the Aberdeen Box Office. He was instrumental in moving the venues into a charitable trust, forming Aberdeen Performing Arts (APA) in 2004. He was a founding trustee of the Lemon Tree, Aberdeen and in 2007 when it faced funding challenges, saved it by incorporating it within APA. He remained as chief executive of APA until 2012.

Capital Theatres, Edinburgh

Hendry was Chief Executive of Festival City Theatres Trust, which later became Capital Theatres from 2012 to 2019.

When he retired he remained on the board of the campaign to raise the £25m for the redevelopment of the Kings Theatre. Additionally he was board member of Creative Scotland from March 2021, of Eden Court Highlands in Inverness, Edinburgh International Jazz and Blues Festival, a member and chairman of Edinburgh Cultural Venues Group, and chairman of Lung Ha Theatre Company.