Leading actor rushed to hospital just hours ahead of performance

Show cancelled after Para Handy star Stephen Clyde falls ill

A leading actor was rushed to hospital just hours ahead of a sell-out Perthshire performance.

Around 500 people had been due to attend a Saturday afternoon production of Para Handy at Pitlochry Festival Theatre when star Stephen Clyde was taken seriously ill.

Frantic box office staff worked to inform as many ticket holders as possible after taking the decision to cancel the show at the last minute.

An employee at the theatre said reports Mr Clyde had suffered a heart attack were wide of the mark, however it is understood he was rushed away for treatment.

A local actor, Greg Powrie, stepped in for the evening performance on Saturday and deputised once again yesterday.

Some theatre-goers were already on their way to the venue when Mr Clyde became unwell, and others who live outwith Perthshire had booked hotel accommodation in order to attend.

While no official statement was issued by the theatre, the box office employee said: “Stephen Clyde took ill before the Saturday afternoon matinee of Para Handy and unfortunately we had to cancel this show.

“We don’t know the exact cause of his illness but he didn’t suffer a heart attack.

“I understand he is on the mend now and getting better.

“It was unfortunate we didn’t have an understudy for Mr Clyde but we were very grateful to Greg Powrie, a local actor, who kindly stepped into the breach for the Saturday evening performance.

“We refunded most of the people who had booked for the matinee and we arranged tickets for some of them to watch the evening performance.

“The remainder of the people were contacted by phone on Sunday morning.”

The theatre had posted a notice on Saturday on Facebook, stating: “Sadly, Stephen Clyde, who plays the part of MacPhail in Para Handy, has been taken ill and is unable to perform this evening. Everyone at PFT wishes Stephen a speedy recovery.”

Mr Clyde has previously acted in a film about the Stone of Destiny and starred in TV series Taggart.

We refunded most of the people who had booked forthe matinee and we arranged tickets for some of them to watch the evening performance