City plans to celebrate its new museum

PERTH Museum chiefs have taken the wraps off their opening weekend plans.

The £27 million attraction in the refurbished City Hall is due to open at the end of this month.

And the streets around the landmark will be alive with entertainment on March 30-31.

Organisers are putting the finishing touches to a programme of concerts, specially commissioned songs and poetry, walking tours, workshops and activities for all ages.

The museum itself will be home to the Stone of Destiny, as well as standout items from Perth and Kinross’s own collections.

Entry to the permanent galleries will be free. Entrance to the Stone of Destiny experience will require a free ticket. Details of how to book will be released soon.

And the debut exhibition, Unicorn, will explore the story of Scotland’s national animal. Tickets will cost £10/£8 concessions.

But there will be much, much more to see and do beyond the venue’s walls.

Mill Street Plaza will play host to Stories from Perth – free performances from popular local names and rising stars – on the Saturday and Sunday.

Comedian and historian Bruce Fummey has developed a new piece of work to tell the tale of James I, who was crowned on the Stone of Destiny in 1424.

Crieff dancer Neve Renwick will perform another new piece celebrating Caputh’s Georgina Ballantine and her recordbreaking salmon catch on the Tay in 1922.

The Craigie Choir will perform a newly commissioned song, commemorating the march of 3,000 women towards Perth Prison in protest against the force-feeding of suffragettes.

Author Jess Smith, who lives near Comrie, will be telling the stories of Perth and Kinross Gypsy Travellers.

Poet and actor Courtney Stoddart will present a new poem in praise of slavery

reformer Frederick Douglass, who gave three speeches at Perth City Hall.

And a new piece of theatre by JD Henshaw will cast new light on Margaret Thatcher and Arthur Scargill, both of whom made visits to Perth at critical points in their careers.

The Highlight Spot in King Edward Street will give local talent a place to shine.

Ceilidh band Fiobha, Perth Concert Hall Voice, Perthshire Ukuleles, Inspire Dance Studios, Fair City Baton Twirlers, Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s Show Choir, True Gents

and Tarneybackle will take to the stage throughout the Saturday.

Sunday’s bill will feature the Dunkeld and Birnam Traditional Youth Music Group, Perth UHI Performers, the Kinfauns Dancers, Ad Lib Arts, Perth Strathspey and Reel Society and the Tay Ceilidh Band.

Free workshops will be taking place in venues across the city.

The museum is forecast to bring tens of thousands of visitors to Perth and Kinross and boost the local economy by around £2.5 million a year.

ATTRACTION: Perth Museum will launch amid a packed programme of events.