As the building closes its doors to commence its exciting transformation, audiences can look forward to seeing Perth Theatre out and about in venues across the area in the New Year.
The first of the regular items to find a new stage are the popular monthly traditional music sessions which have, until now, been held in Perth Theatre’s Redrooms café bar. The Horsecross Sessions have found a new home in Perth’s most intimate venue; Greyfriars Bar. Held on the first Sunday of the month at 7.30pm, the friendly and informal Horsecross Sessions are led by some of the finest traditional musicians around and are open to all players who would like to join in and for absolutely anyone to come along, have a drink and enjoy the music.
First to lead the session in the well-established Perth music pub is Perthshire fiddler and singer Patsy Reid on Sunday 5 January. One of the most admired musicians in the UK, the former Breabach fiddle player will be joined by multi-instrumentalist Ewan MacPherson and a host of local players for a toe-tapping evening of tunes. Other top-class musicians lined up to lead The Horsecross Sessions include Tim Edey, Jim Malcolm, Doris Rougvie, Ross Ainslie, Laura-Beth Salter and Laura Wilkie.
Perth Theatre’s Out and About drama season opens on Saturday 8 February in Birnam Arts Centre with Rantin’. A National Theatre of Scotland production in association with The Arches, Rantin’ draws on storytelling, live music and the Scottish folk tradition to stitch together visions of Scotland’s romantic past… part cosy living room gathering, part play, part gig session.
April sees the return of the popular A Play, A Pie and A Pint series presented by Perth Theatre, Traverse Theatre and Òran Mor. Love with a Capital L by Tony Cox is in Birnam Arts Centre from Monday 7 until Friday 11 April. Hilda Matheson, Head of Talks at the BBC in the 1920’s, takes a step too far when she commissions her lover and her homosexual husband to speak on the subject of ‘Marriage’. The audience can take their seats for a heated and frequently funny editorial meeting between Hilda and Director-General John Reith.
Further works in progress in the Out and About programme include new Perth Theatre commissions by playwrights Peter Arnott and Alan Bissett. Community groups including Perth Youth Theatre and Horsecross Little Stars Acting, Singing and Dancing workshops for under 5s will be held in community campuses and other Perth venues throughout the closure period. And the Scottish Ensemble is getting in on the act taking Perth-born international pianist Alasdair Beatson out on a three venue Piano Promenade when it returns for its second Perth residency in June.
Colin McMahon chief executive for Horsecross Arts, the creative organisation behind Perth Concert Hall and Perth Theatre said:
“Perth Theatre is a busy place, not only with our regular theatre production seasons, but with community groups, music and join-in sessions. While the venue is restored and redeveloped for future generations of theatre lovers, we are committed to bringing work to our audience. We will be making theatre happen in various alternative locations including pubs, village halls and community centres and relocating our popular community groups and music sessions to appropriate venues within easy reach of participants. We are grateful to Greyfriars Bar, the Birnam Arts Centre and our other partner venues for welcoming us and our audiences into their performance spaces and we look forward to discovering new theatre and music lovers across Perthshire who will join us in the transformed Perth Theatre when the venue reopens.”
For tickets and information for all Out and About performances contact Horsecross Arts Box Office on 01738 621031 visit www.horsecross.co.uk