Music and murder on the anniversary of the assassination of King James I

PERTH: Evening of cultural events will mark 583 years since brutal killing of Scottish monarch

Historic St John’s Kirk will host an evening of murder and mayhem tomorrow to commemorate one of Perth’s grisliest chapters.

Academics have organised a packed line-up of entertainment to mark the 583rd anniversary of King James I’s assassination.

It is part of the ambitious Chapterhouse Project, which was launched in 2017 to locate the 15th Century Scottish ruler’s remains.

James’ reign came to a bloody end on February 21 1437 when he was brutally killed in the royal apartment of the city’s Blackfriars friary.

He is believed to have been buried in the royal tombs of the long-demolished Carthusian priory – known as the Chapterhouse – which was founded in 1429 by the king and his wife, Joan Beaufort.

The Chapterhouse Project is a collaboration between Stirling University and the University of Highlands and Islands. Experts have been working with local groups and individuals to reawaken interest in the Fair City’s rich, colourful and often violent medieval heritage.

The work will be celebrated at tomorrow’s anniversary bash, An Evening with King James I: Love, Blood and Ambition.

Professor Richard Oram, Dean of Arts and Humanities at Stirling University, said: “The evening celebrates the culture and music of the 15th Century Scottish court, and tells the story of James’ turbulent reign from his capture by English pirates in 1406 and his 18 years in captivity in England to his release, his marriage to Joan and return to Scotland in 1424.

“We will look at his struggle to assert his mastery of the kingdom and his eventual murder by his political opponents.”

During the event Prof Oram will read from the Kingis Quair – a 15th Century poem attributed to James – and Dr Lucy Dean will perform John Shirley’s contemporary eyewitness account of the king’s murder.

Music from the 14th and 15th centuries will be performed by Gaita, a Scottish ensemble that specialises in medieval music.

There will also be theatrical performances taken from Rona Munro’s play James I, The Key Will Keep The Lock, performed by stars Matt Roberts and Fiona Hamilton. The show looks at the king’s complex character and his behind-the-throne manipulations.

Acclaimed novelist Helen Grant will discussed her book Murder in Blackfriars, while local poet Jim Mackintosh will perform the first public performance of his work The Distant Bell, inspired by the destruction of the city’s friaries and monasteries.

The evening begins at 7pm and tickets can be booked in advance at the Eventbrite website.

The show will see a performance of an account of the killing.