New Tam O’Shanter production canters into Perth
12 January 2009
Horsecross is kicking off 2009 with playwright and director Gerry Mulgrew’s fast and furious adaptation of the classic Robert Burns tale Tam O’Shanter at Perth Theatre.
The only new professional theatre production celebrating Burns in his 250th anniversary year, Mulgrew’s Tam O’Shanter is a bawdy musical romp that, as well as retelling the tale of the much loved ‘drunken blellum’, explores the relationship between Tam and his long-suffering wife Kate, recreating elements of the world in which Burns was writing during the 1790’s.
Material from other Burns works finds its way into the production, which intertwines Mulgrew’s own Scottish verse with that of Burns: The Holy Fair and The Cottar’s Saturday Night allow Mulgrew to create scenes satirising religious fundamentalism and to give an insight into 18th Century Scots peasant life. Modern and local references are scattered throughout the often hilarious work, drawing inevitable parallels between today’s Scotland and the country of Burns’ ken.
Tam O’Shanter features Scottish actors Andy Clark of Blairgowrie who appeared in the Wizard of Oz at the Citizens’ Theatre, Glasgow over the seasonal period and Gerda Stevenson whose TV and film credits include Heartbeat, River City and Braveheart.
Mulgrew says:
“I have recited this poem many times at Burns suppers and it’s a special delight to be let loose on a dramatisation of it for the stage. The project has served as a catalyst to make me go back to Burns and read as much of him as I can. It has been astonishing to rediscover his passion, his political astuteness, his hilarious and deadly accurate satirising, as well as his wonderful dexterity with language, both Scots and English. I hope I can do him justice in the choral romp I am devising for Perth.”
2009 sees Scotland hosting its first Homecoming year, designed to mark the 250th anniversary of Scotland’s national poet, the international cultural icon, Robert Burns. From the weekend around Burns Night in January to St Andrew’s Day in November a country wide programme of exciting and inspirational Homecoming events and activities will celebrate some of Scotland’s great contributions to the world: Burns himself, Whisky, Golf, Great Scottish Minds and Innovations and our rich ancestral culture and heritage which lives on at home and through our global family.
Tam O’Shanter runs at Perth Theatre from Friday 30 January until Saturday 14 February. For tickets, call the Horsecross Box Office on 01738 621 031 or visit www.horsecross.co.uk
Notes to editors
1. Homecoming Scotland 2009 is a Scottish Government initiative managed by EventScotland in partnership with VisitScotland.
2. Homecoming Scotland 2009 seeks to motivate people of Scottish descent, as well as those who simply love Scotland, to come home and join us in a national celebration of our culture, heritage and the many great contributions Scotland has given the world: www.homecomingscotland2009.com
PERTH THEATRE SEASON 2008/9
Tam O’Shanter
Created by Gerry Mulgrew
Cast
Claire Benson
Andy Clark
Tom Freeman
Annie Grace
Robbie Jack
Brian MacAlpine
Aly MacRae
Kirstin McLean
Beth Marshall
Malcolm Shields
Gerda Stevenson
Production Team
Directed by Gerry Mulgrew
Set Designed by Gordon Davidson
Costumes Designed by Kenny Miller
Lighting Designed by George Tarbuck
Musical Direction by Aly MacRae
Musicians Annie Grace, Brian MacAlpine and Aly MacRae
Choreography by Malcolm Shields
Production Manager Gavin Johnston
Stage Manager Sandra Grieve
Deputy Stage Manager (On the Book) Christine Moffat
Assistant Stage Manager Naomi Jones
Chief Electrician Simon Sewell
Sound Technician Chris Reid
Technical Stage Manager Kris Smart
Head of Wardrobe Jennifer Melville
Wardrobe Assistant Helena Ferguson
Wardrobe Assistant Katie Langrick
Wardrobe Assistant Maggie Moffat
Wardrobe Assistant Monica Edgar
Set Built and Painted by Robin Peoples, Scott Bissett and Alan Melvin
Production Previews Thursday 29 January
First Night Friday 30 January
Production Closes Saturday 14 February
Media contact
Pam Dochard,
Media Relations,
pdochard@horsecross.co.uk,
tel 01738 477728,
mobile 07884 017199
ENDS
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