River City stars in Benny Lynch knock-out show
A host of TV stars will be treading the Victoria Hall boards and not spending too much time on the ropes
TV stars and silver screen actors won’t pull any punches in telling the tale of a Scottish boxing legend in June. The Benny Lynch Story, directed by David Hayman jnr, stars his dad Scottish acting legend David Hayman as Benny’s coach and mentor Sammy Wilson. In addition, the national production touring in May and June 2019 features a host of television stars who, it is expected, will be treading the Victoria Hall boards and not spending too much time on the ropes as they tell the story of Scotland’s first boxing world champion. It is a poignant and entertaining look at Benny Lynch’s life, from his childhood in the Gorbals slums, to his boxing success and global stardom, and ultimately to his demise and untimely death in 1946 at the age of only 33. A spokesperson for the Thursday June 20 production said: ‘It doesn’t matter if you’re not a boxing fan. This show is about the extraordinary life of a Scottish icon. It is the ultimate rags to riches to rags story.’ Stephen Purdon, Shellsuit Bob from River City, stars as Benny. Holly Jack, River City, Burnistoun and Waterloo Road plays Benny’s wife, while Simon Weir, High Road, River City, Taggart, Acid House and Trainspotting 2 takes on Tash the Gorbals sage. Approaching Christmas, Campbeltown Grammar School pupils heard that Kintyre Foodbank’s reserves were perilously low. Each tutor group had a tray for collections which would mirror Argyll and Bute Council’s 12 days of Christmas campaign to ensure foodbanks maintain supplies. Just before the end of the autumn term, Maryanne Stewart of Kintyre Foodbank visited the school to meet the kind-hearted pupils and collect the donated food. Mrs Stewart said: ‘We really are most grateful to all of you. You probably have no idea how grateful the people are who receive food from Kintyre Foodbank.’
In 2017 Hayman snr starred in a political polemic, a 6,500-word monologue, The Cause, staged at Springbank Distillery’s Malt Barns. It was the first time a play had ever been staged at a distillery and the audience heard Hayman’s expletive-filled rant with many laughs about all that is wrong in a Brexitdominated country. There is an age recommendation of 14-plus as The Benny Lynch Story contains strong language. The show will also play at the following locations and times: Saturday May 18 Ayr Gaiety, Friday May 24 Kilmarnock Palace, Friday May 31 Dunoon, Queens Hall, Saturday June 1 Greenock Beacon, Wednesday June 5 Dundee Repertory Theatre, Thursday June 6 Inverness, Eden Court, Friday June 7 Dunfermline, Alhambra, Thursday June 13 Motherwell Theatre, Friday June 21 Helensburgh, Victoria Halls, Saturday June 22 Oban, Corran Halls, Thursday June 27 Eastwood, Friday June 28 Musselburgh, Brunton and Saturday June 29 Tivoli, Aberdeen.