Start feeling Chistmasy to Emily’s festive songs
The curtain rises this weekend on a sensational new family show - Snow White and the Seven Dames is up and running from tonight.
The Perth panto returns to Perth Theatre a year to the day since the Edwardian auditorium opened after a tremendous refurbishment.
Families who gathered last year for the first night of the first show in the theatre’s main stage got a lot of memories - Provost Dennis Melloy dancing with Barrie Hunter the Dame and then a real life fire crew turning up on stage, carrying said Widow Twankie back into position, after the genie’s lamp went off with a bit more than just a wee puff of smoke...You could say it was a bit of a drama.
Now Barrie Hunter returns to play all seven dames in this year’s hilarious Snow White spoof. And rumour has it, beautiful Snow White is having a few problems with blotchy skin, so she may need a bit of help from more than just a magic mirror.
The cast were taking aim yesterday when Michael Dylan (Prince Posh Pants) and Kyle Gardiner (The Huntsman) made a fleeting appearance. Bag tickets for the festive show at www.horsecross.co.uk This coming Monday night’s performance in Perth Theatre’s intimate and comfortable music venue will make it start to feel a lot like Christmas.
Accordion player and traditional Scottish singer, Emily Smith, is coming to the Joan Knight Studio to play her ‘Songs for Christmas’ show with three other excellent traditional musicians on December 3.
Emily made her name in 2002 when she won the BBC Young Traditional Musician of the Year award.
Since then she’s made her own musical career path, establishing her place in the professional circuit with appearances on the Transatlantic Sessions, albums of her own compositions and fresh versions of traditional Scottish favourites.
The popular ‘Songs for Christmas’ tour that she brings to Perth is in its eighth year and it will go to 10 other towns and cities in December.
“It is something that came about almost by accident,” said Emily earlier this week.
“Firstly I met my husband, Jamie McClennan at an accordion festival in Prague. He’s a fiddle player and we ended up playing together.
“We live in Dumfries and Galloway and in the town of Thornhill, a friend of ours, Margaret, had a farm shop and traditional musicians regularly came to play there. I cut the ribbon when it opened.
“Jamie and I helped to promote the music for the farm shop and we helped to organise a regular flow of traditional musicians to play there. It was located in a handy spot, not far from the border so bands found it a good location to stop at
“But there wasn’t really anyone doing anything suitable for Christmas time, so we decided to put on a show ourselves.
“I really loved working to the theme, and we built the Christmas Songs touring show from there.
“It is a very family-friendly show with carols, but also some very old even ancient Scottish folk songs. We play contemporary Christmas songs and some I’ve written myself too.
“What I can promise, is it won’t be ‘run-of-the-mill’ music in any way.
“Playing with me is my husband Jamie McClennan on fiddle, Anna Massey with guitar and viola plus Ross Hamilton on electric bass. Together we perform upbeat instrumentals to tap your toe to and relaxing songs to bring you Christmas peace and joy.
“We have a lot of fun, as well as playing the tunes we play games with the audience, but don’t worry, no one has to leave their seat!”
Tickets for Emily Smith’s ‘Songs for Christmas’, on at 8pm, cost £17.50 from www.horsecross.co.uk
Michael Dylan (Prince Posh Pants) and Kyle Gardiner (The Huntsman) in Snow White and the Seven Dames Emily Smith