Galaxy of stars in Fair City

A galaxy of stars have performed in Perth over the decades.

Many have gone on to wider fame on TV and cinema including Liza Goddard, Edward Woodward, Kevin Whatley, Denis Lawson and his nephew Ewan McGregor.

Donald Sutherland starred in a season of performances in the early 1960s, including Robinson Crusoe.

There has also been a whole host of Scottish names, including Russell Hunter, alongside his wife Una McLean, Walter Carr and Alec Heggie. The theatre moved to its High Street home in 1899. A time capsule buried in the foundations included a copy of The Courier from October 4 of that year. The building boasted an 800 all-seated auditorium. Badly damaged by fire in 1924, Perth Theatre was bought 11 years later by Marjorie Dence and David Steuart who opened the first repertory company in Scotland.

In the first three years 144 plays were performed, and in the following 50 years more than 1,000 plays were produced.

Marjorie Dence died in 1966 and the theatre was left to the Scottish Arts Council.

In 1987 – nine years before Trainspotting – Ewan McGregor left school aged 16 and started his acting career at Perth. He worked as a stagehand at the theatre and had small roles in productions while he saved funds for a trip to London to audition at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts.

There is much to see at the exhibition.