University students take on Broadway classic Beauty and The Beast for annual show at the Gaiety Theatre

University of the West of Scotland students are set to perform Beauty and the Beast later this year.

The third and fourth year Performance ( Musical Theatre) students will have the opportunity to perform the internationally award- winning musical, which is based on Academy- Award winning Disney animated feature, at the Gaiety Theatre. from Wednesday, May 3, to Saturday, May 6.

In addition, UWS third and fourth year Technical Theatre students are going to play a key role in the delivery of the musical, assisting with production duties, including the design of sound and lights.

This production will transport the audience to the enchanted world of Broadway’s modern classic with all of the wonderful songs written by Alan Menken and the late Howard Ashman along with new songs by Mr Menken and Tim Rice.

Beauty and the Beast tells the story of Maurice who becomes lost in the woods on the way to the fair, he seeks shelter in an old castle, but the master of the castle is a horrible beast that takes him captive. Maurice’s daughter, Belle, must then give up her freedom to save his life. Belle’s taming of the unfortunate Beast and his ultimate transformation back into a handsome Prince enthralled Broadway audiences for over 13 years.

The University enjoys extremely strong links with the Gaiety and in 2014 UWS students were lucky enough to perform the world premiere of the musical The Green Door, written by University lecturers Stephen Langston and Jane Robertson, at the theatre. This was followed by a performance at the Gaiety of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical, Aspects of Love in January 2016 and Legally Blonde The Musical in January 2017.

Stephen Langston, programme leader of the UWS Performance programme, is producing the performance of Beauty and the Beast, with Jane Robertson, cluster lead for art, music and performance, directing.

Stephen said: “Beauty and the Beast is a Broadway classic and we are delighted that our exceptionally talented students are presenting and performing this hugely popular musical at the Gaiety in May.”

To book tickets or for more information regarding the performance visit ayrgaiety. co. uk/ beauty- and- the- beast- an- amateurproductionpresented- by- raftuws/

Thes musical is being produced by the UWS touring theatre company, RAFT ( River Ayr Film and Theatre). RAFT was set up in 2015 by the students of the university’s honours degree in musical theatre.