Birnam Institute Players (BIP) are rehearsing for a great festive pantomime - ready to share it with an audience for three nights at the start of December.
The am-dram crew that makes up BIP are putting on Beauty and the Beast – The Pantomime! in Birnam Arts on December 1, 2 and 3 and the team effort is quite amazing.
The familiar tale about a village girl and a bewitched prince has been rewritten by Ben Crocker, made into a French-styled frolic and promises a live band and loads of singalong songs.
There are references to Birnam and Pitlochry, Dunkeld and even (as it’s supposedly in France) Grandtully-sur-Le-Tay. In this telling of the fairytale classic, the Beast is a French poodle called Felix and the central character trying to get along with him is Rose.
The 2022 panto is significant for Birnam as this marks a resurgence in their numbers.
BIP’s panto director and producer Mel Brockway explained: “Between cast, crew and band we’ve got together a team of 24 for the panto, building from a team of just seven when we came out of Covid lockdowns. And they’ve come from across Perthshire.
“We have two fabulous younger members, Dougie and Ruby from Dunkeld, who are natural performers and taking a multitude of roles.
“Deedee Haigh is our Beauty. She’s from Amulree, studying for Highers at Breadalbane Academy and considering performing arts as a potential next step.”
Sadly the Giant French poodle Felix is not a real dog but played by John Pike.
John and his wife have been ‘poached’ from Perth. John is head of technical services at Perth Theatre, and his wife Ginger Ramsden, operations manager at Perth Theatre, has joined as the panto’s stage manager.
Liz Archibald, musical director, has gathered together a multi-talented four-piece band of enthusiastic Perthshire musicians to be part of the fun.
They are Margaret Matthews (Liz’s sister) on tenor saxophone, Ian Vale (guitars), Ruaraidh MacPhee (guitar and drums) and Liz herself from Pitlochry on keyboards.
Newly-joined Clare McCulloch, a paramedic, travels over from Kettins for rehearsals at Birnam Arts for her part as Capucine.
An accomplished singer, previously appearing on the BBC and ITV hit show, The Voice, Clare performs regularly with the band Atomic in and around Dundee, as well as singing with The Woodlands Dance Orchestra, a swing and big band music group, and with panto saxophonist Margaret Matthews.
Director and producer Mel spoke of behind the scenes heroes: “As ever, we have the most amazing support from Birnam Arts – especially Ruaraidh MacPhee (20), who heads up the technical side at the arts centre now.”
Mel added: “Because of the cost-of-living crisis, there is a special family and friends ticket for just £20.
“The most important thing to us is to fill the hall with folk having a great time.”
Tickets from Birnam Arts 01350 727674 or www.birnamarts.com
