Marjorie Dence

Marjorie Lillian Dence (14 June 1901 – 23 August 1966) was a British actress and the first female theatre manager and owner in Scotland. She owned and managed Perth Theatre from 1934 until her death in 1966. She left the theatre to the city of Perth in her will for the initial outlay of £5000.

Dence attended the University of London where she joined the local dramatic society. There she met fellow actor David Steuart, who went on to become her creative and business partner. They were both members of the Lena Ashwell Players. This was followed by 18 plays in weekly repertory. Finances were slim and the theatre closed for three months in 1937 and 1938 but the following year they created Scotland's first Theatre Festival just before the second world war started.

During World War II the theatre was organised and staffed by the company. The actors lived in the theatre and they undertook all the jobs necessary to keep the theatre running. When the theatre made a profit, those profits were shared equally with the company.

Dence was also a Justice of the Peace. She was made an MBE in 1952 for Services to the Festival of Britain. The Wire Women project was part of the VisitScotland Year of Stories, with community groups, creatives and cultural organisations sharing the stories of women.

Dence was No 17 of 20 wire sculptures set out in a trail around Perth city centre. The Dence sculpture was situated outside the Theatre's High Street entrance but was subject to vandalism whilst it was sited there.