Perth Theatre is launching a series of exclusive Theatre Talks to allow audiences to delve deeper into several productions in its Season Subscription series.
Free to Perth Theatre Season Subscription holders and available for £2 to anyone else who would like to come along, the initial run of 30-minute talks covers Perth Theatre’s Educating Rita, West End touring show The Mousetrap, National Theatre of Scotland’s Kidnapped and London Classic Theatre’s Abigail’s Party.
On Thursday 16 March, chair of the BOOKMARK Festival Gail Wylie will host a Question-and-Answer session with Martin McCormick, Director of Perth Theatre’s production Educating Rita in the Downstairs Bar in Perth Theatre. Gail will also give a pre-show talk in Perth Concert Hall’s Norie-Miller Studio before The Mousetrap on Tuesday 18 April.
Chair of the Scottish Arts Club Theatre Awards, Joyce Caplan will give a pre-show talk before National Theatre of Scotland’s Kidnapped on Wednesday 3 May and London Classic Theatre’s Abigail’s Party on Tuesday 9 May in Perth Theatre’s Downstairs Bar.
The Theatre Talks have been introduced following audience feedback and Focus Groups acknowledging the additional enjoyment that theatre-goers get out of additional exclusive insights.
Christopher Glasgow, Head of External Relations at Perth Theatre and Concert Hall said:
“We’re delighted to introduce our new Theatre Talks series, an exclusive free extra for Perth Theatre Season Subscription holders and a value-for-money option for all attenders. In conversation with our audiences, it is clear that there is a huge appetite for these invaluable insights, and it is a real enhancement to the theatre experience for everyone who takes part. We’re delighted to have Gail and Joyce on board as our expert voices and we can’t wait to hear what they have to divulge about our exciting mix of shows.”
The Theatre Talks Schedule
Theatre Talk: Educating Rita Q&A with Martin McCormick, hosted by Gail Wylie
Downstairs Bar, Perth Theatre, Thu 16 Mar: 6.30pm.
Theatre Talk: On The Mousetrap with Gail Wylie
Norie-Miller Studio, Perth Concert Hall, Tue 18 Apr: 6.30pm
Theatre Talk: On Kidnapped with Joyce Caplan
Third Floor (outside Joan Knight Studio balcony entrance), Perth Theatre, Wed 3 May: 6.30pm
Theatre Talk: On Abigail’s Party with Joyce Caplan
Third Floor (outside Joan Knight Studio balcony entrance), Perth Theatre, Tue 9 May: 6.30pm
About Gail Wylie
Gail began her working life as an English teacher in Edinburgh schools. She then joined the adult education department (now called the Centre of Lifelong Learning) at the University of Edinburgh where she became the Course Organiser for Literature and Creative Writing. Over her fourteen years there, she developed the Certificate in Theatre Studies.
During her time as Chair of the Muriel Spark Society she initiated visits to Italy, organised a memorial flagstone at the Writers’ Museum and helped to secure the funding to complete publication of all of Spark’s novels.
Gail ran her own business (from 2002) offering literature classes in contemporary fiction and poetry and took groups to London and Stratford on Avon for theatre visits. She gave pre-theatre talks for many visiting productions to Edinburgh’s Festival and King’s theatres; including Waiting for Godot with Ian McKellan and Patrick Stewart, One Man, Two Guvnors with James Corden, Enron and the Propeller Company’s Richard III and The Comedy of Errors.
Gail lives in Perthshire and is the Chair of the well-established BOOKMARK Book Festival.
About Joyce Caplan
Joyce’s involvement with theatre began as a student when she ran the book stall in the newly opened Nottingham Playhouse. She remembers John Neville in thigh boots as Coriolanus and a young Ian McKellen in Chekov. At university she acted (badly) in Brecht and Shakespeare but was of course hooked on the magical transformation theatre creates for both actors and audience. She is now Chair of the Scottish Arts Club Theatre Awards who visit every play in the Fringe that has a Scottish connection. Working with Directors, Actors and Managers has given her a real understanding of the complexities and team work required for effective productions. Joyce is also a teaching fellow at Edinburgh University in Scottish Literature.
Thursday 2 March 2023