A Dunblane-based theatre are celebrating this week after smashing the Guinness World Record for the fastest ever theatrical production.
Rubber Chicken Theatre set the new record in a time of just 9 hours 59 minutes and 3 seconds from opening a mystery script to performing on stage.
A cast and crew of nearly 200 people, with performers as young as eight, took part in the crazy challenge at Stirling’s Macrobert Arts Centre on Sunday.
Performing the hit sci-fi musical ‘Return to the Forbidden Planet’ to a packed auditorium, after just less than 10 hours of rehearsals.
Creative Director Pamela Mackie said: “From the moment we opened the mystery box of scripts at 9.30am to find out what show we would be putting on, until curtain up at 7.30pm, it was all hands-on deck.
“We had just 10 hours to pull together the entire show, from learning lines, songs and choreography, to organising costumes, lighting, sound, set and props.
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“Return to the Forbidden Planet is a massive show with a lot of really complicated aspects – live video feeds, giant tentacles, roller skates and with almost every single cast member needing a space ship uniform, I think our support crew cleared every shop in a 30 mile radius of silver fabric, tablecloths, shower curtains and anything else that could be sewn up. Just two years ago, we broke the same record with a time of just under 12 hours. This was our last live performance before the Covid-19 pandemic took hold.
“A few months later, we found out that the record had been broken by a group in Spain. We always knew our record would be broken at some point, that is after all why they exist, and we fully congratulate them on their achievement.
“However with the massive difficulties the arts have faced over the last few years, and losing the title so quickly after achieving it, we decided we couldn’t just let it go.
“We’re delighted to have taken in back. Bigger, brighter, bolder, and faster than ever.”
She added: “In 2021, in a year the arts stood still, we performed 11 separate shows: virtually, outdoors and indoors. It’s clear the RCT family are no strangers to a challenge, but this was most definitely our biggest challenge yet!”
Rubber Chicken Theatre was announced as the new Guinness World Record title holder for Fastest Theatrical Production by adjudicator Jack Brockbank. The company shaved 1 hour, one minute and six seconds off the previous world record set by Spanish theatre group Albatros in Vigo, Spain.
