Coupar Angus pupils to be hit by dose of Fever!
Book inspired by landmark local Beech Hedge hits shelves again in aid of good cause
Military charity Help for Heroes is to benefit from the proceeds of a rereleased book.
Initially available last November, ‘Peep Through The Beech Hedge And Find Meikleour’ was the result of a two-year research project by Margaret Laing.
The keen amateur historian, who lives in Blairigowrie, explained the idea snowballed following a chance telephone call from Arthur Barty, whose grandfather, William, was part of the Barty family who were blacksmiths in Meikleour for more than 100 years prior to the village’s Smiddy being turned into a garage by the Wilks Bros in the 1960s.
Arthur Bart has his own claim to fame in that he served as the Queen Mother’s chauffeur for 27 years prior to her death in 2002.
In addition to the Beech Hedge, which was planted in 1745/46, Margaret’s eighth literary offering details the history of the likes of the Neolithic Cleaven Dyke, Kinclaven Castle, Meikleour itself and its various historic artefacts and local characters.
Copies are available from the Meikleour Hotel, C&W West in Coupar Angus and Mitchell’s in Blairgowrie. Local school pupils will be given the chance to try their hand at opera later this week ... writes Johnathon Menzies.
Scottish Opera’s touring production Fever! is to be rehearsed and performed at Coupar Angus Primary School on Friday this week.
Created especially for children in P5-7, the show features music by Alan Penman and lyrics by Allan Dunn – the same duo behind other Scottish Opera offerings for young people such as The Undersea World of Bubble McBea (2008) and Revolution! (2009).
Teachers at participating schools are issued with support packs to allow the pupils to be introduced to the production’s various songs in advance.
A team of performers and arts education specialists then spend a day rehearsing and preparing the pupils for a choreographed, full-costumed performance of Fever! for parents, friends and schoolmates.
A spokesperson for Scottish Opera explained the show follows a young boy who becomes ill with a mysterious disease.
While his doctors desperately try to find a cure, members of the press rush to the hospital, clamouring for a big story.
As the doctors try to calm the situation, a possible cure is discovered and injected into the boy, and the production gets into full swing.
The spokesperson said: “Fever! takes pupils on an exciting journey, learning the benefits that biomedical science offers humanity, looking at the basic mechanics of the human body, and exploring the impact of press and media on today’s society.
“The production is designed to help teachers deliver core elements of the Curriculum of Excellence such as social studies, history, technologies, literacy and citizenship.”
Scottish Opera’s director of outreach and education, Jane Davidson, added: “Our annual primary schools tour is one of the longest-established programmes at Scottish Opera – every year around 10,000 children see or take part in these performances.
“This year, we have brought back the ever-popular Fever!, a production that gives pupils not just the chance to perform, but also to learn more about the process of putting an opera or theatre performance together.
“We aim to give students the chance to explore their creativity, build confidence, develop new skills and, most of all, have a great time doing all of that.”
Scottish Opera’s annual primary schools tour began in 1974 and is the longest-running of any of the organisation’s education and outreach projects.
Scottish Opera itself is the largest performing arts organisation in Scotland and was founded by Alexander Gibson in 1962.
• Do you have something you would like to have included in the Blairie’s Ticket section?
Entries can be sent via email to news@blairgowrieadvertiser.co.uk or call 01738 493265.
Our annual primary schools tour is one of the longest-established in Scottish Opera