Curtain up for Players

Talented members of Blairgowrie Youth Players are preparing to stage their latest production next week.

‘Dracula - The Final Countdown’ will be presented in Blairgowrie Town Hall from 7pm on Friday, September 9.

It will also be performed from 2pm on Saturday, September 10, at the Brown Street venue.

Many of the cast were involved as the youth section of the town’s amateur dramatic group won two cups at the Scottish Youth Final of the Scottish Community Drama Association One Act Plays festival, held in Bathgate in February, for their performance of‘Down Came the Rain’by Burgess Clark.

Reaching the finals of the prestigious competition was a first for the Players, who then went on to notch up another first – becoming the first team to win both awards at the event.

Looking ahead to next week’s performances, a Blairgowrie Players spokesperson said:“Dracula has a cast of over 20 and rehearsals have been beset by Covid, holidays and late call-offs.

“Finally, a settled cast has been found – featuring a lot of new faces.”

Written with plenty of humour, the action takes place between Transylvania and Yorkshire, with accents being very much to the fore.

The group representative went on to explain:“The play is set in 1896 and features young Jonathan Harker who, as a solicitor, is sent off to Transylvania to find a person who is looking to invest in England.

“It turns out this person is not quite what Jonathan was expecting and is more interested, as a doctor, in people’s blood.

“Back in England, Jonathan’s fiancée becomes involved with the blood letting and Jonathan has to find a way to stop it.

Tickets are £8 for adults and £5 for those under 16.

They are available from The Card Gallery on Blairgowrie’s Allan Street, by calling 01250 876444 or via blairgowrieplayers@btinternet.com.