DIY shows can go on with the help of PFT
Pitlochry Festival Theatre is offering families an illustrated online book to help them create a theatre tent in their own home or garden.
‘How to Build Your Own Theatre’ will highlight how everyday household items can be used by budding theatre-makers who can also win a family ticket for a show in 2021.
The move is to celebrate what would have been the opening night of the PFT’s 2020 season last month and the 69th anniversary of the acclaimed Highland Perthshire theatre opening up as a ‘tent theatre’ in 1951.
Brainchild of the project is Pitlochry’s artistic director Elizabeth Newman, who explained: “We’re all finding it so sad that we can’t welcome our wonderful audiences to the theatre this summer, and very many of our visitors are sending such lovely, but sad messages, saying how much they are missing coming to see us too.
“I wanted to find a way to make sure they could still visit us somehow, so I came up with the idea that they could build their own theatre at home.
“With some incredibly talented Pitlochry Festival Theatre artists – Barbara Hockaday, Adrian Rees and Trudy Rees-Marklew - we’ve created a fully illustrated guide of ‘How to Build Your Own Theatre’.
“Our theatre originally started in a tent, not a building, so we imagined it would be fun to build the original festival theatre.
“It also includes a story and songs for children and families of all ages to perform together, and how to make the props, costumes and set for the performance.
“We can’t wait to hear about how everyone’s got on.”
Theatre designer Adrian Rees said: “I had the most wonderful grandparents.
“My most vivid childhood memories are making dens, forts and theatres in their kitchen. This was after we had already made toffee and fudge.
“We used old blankets and towels draped over the kitchen chairs and table, held on with pegs. We used our toys to tell stories and act out plays. They have stuck in my head all my life.
“It’s from those memories I have imagined ways to recreate the amazing Pitlochry Tent Theatre with things you might find around your house.”
The project has been supported by the Holy Trinity Scottish Episcopal Church, (part of The Highland Perthshire Linked Charge) of the Diocese of St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane.
Pitlochry Episcopal Church minister Liz Baker said: “We are thrilled to collaborate with Pitlochry Festival Theatre. We are so excited that so many families and groups across Highland Perthshire will receive this great resource, and across Scotland too.
“Like the theatre, our churches spend lots of time telling stories to help and support people make sense of the world around them.
“This feels like an important time to offer something like this to the public.”
Pictures of entries can be emailed to marketing@pitlochryfestivaltheatre. com or posted to Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Port Na Criag, Pitlochry, PH16 5DR. Entries will be displayed on the Pitlochry Festival Theatre website with the winners decided by the theatre’s artistic director Elizabeth and awardwinning theatre designer Adrian Rees.
To download a copy of ‘How To Build Your Own Theatre’ go to www. pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com