Dumfries Musical Theatre Company is taking on its biggest challenge yet.
After being postponed for three years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the DMTC’s stars are to bring one of musical lyricist Sir Tim Rice’s greatest works, Chess, to the Theatre Royal in Dumfries from May 13 to 20.
Director Stewart Cameron told the Standard: “Chess is a challenging show for all concerned as it is a sung-through piece.
“However everyone is rising to this challenge and we are in the midst of putting together a wonderful production which everyone needs to come and see.”
With music by ABBA songwriters Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, the highly-acclaimed musical is set around a chess tournament between two grandmasters – one American, the other a Soviet.
Between them, apart from a chess board, is a woman who manages one of the men and who falls in love with the other.
From Tyrol to Thailand the players, lovers, politicians, CIA and KGB make their moves to the pulse of this monumental rock score, including international hits such as One Night in Bangkok and I Know Him So Well.
Caitlin Wallace, one of the publicity team, said it promises to be a night to remember for local theatre-goers: “DMTC’s performance begins as American grandmaster chess player Freddie Trumper, the current world champion, arrives in Merano for the Chess World Championships.
“When put to the test by Russian grandmaster Anatoly Sergievsky, it is more than just chess and pride on the line, as a love triangle develops between the pair and Trumper’s second, Florence.”
Liz McGuiness is assisting with direction and the production team includes Christopher Watt as the musical director with Amy McCreadie leading the choreography.
Chess will feature an experienced and talented cast with Jason Reekie playing the Russian chess grandmaster Anatoly Sergievsky, Ruairi McCormack as US grandmaster Frederick Trumper, DMTC newcomer Eve Daniell as The Arbiter and Ren Fourteath as Florence Vassy.
Ren, known as Dumfries’ Singing Midwife, said: “This is a part I’ve been waiting 30 years to play, ever since listening to the soundtrack cassette in my parents’ car on long journeys from about 1988 onwards. I’ve always loved the part of Florence.
“Chess is my favourite show and I’ve performed songs from it at concerts for decades, so the chance to sing those wonderful duets with actors and vocalists like Jason, Katy and Ruairi is amazing. A dream come true.”
The performances are at 7.30pm, with a matinee only on Sunday, May 14, at 2.30pm.
Adult tickets are £15 with a reduced price of £13 on Saturday and Monday, May 13 and 15.
For students and under-18s it is £13 for each performance.
Tickets are available online from www.ticketsource.co.uk/brigend-theatre as well as the Theatre Royal Dumfries Box Office and Midsteeple Box Office.
