Festival window open

May 22 2009

THE 38th Perth Festival of the Arts opened yesterday, and among the thousands of people flocking to see a huge range of Arts events over the next nine days will be representatives from shops and businesses which entered the annual shop window competition.

Perth retail outlets were invited to enter into the spirit of the Festival by dressing their windows to reflect the popular event’s themes of music, dance, comedy, drama and art, with tickets for Festival events offered to those who took part.

This year a record number of 10 entries were received, and these were judged on Tuesday morning.

The winning shop was McIntyres at Fair City Flowers, George Street. Highly commended were Pretty Things, Mill Street, and Green Squirrel, Princes Street; and commended were George Campbell & Sons, Whitefriars, and Fun Junction, County Place.

Other shops taking part were Innovations, Abbot Street; Danscot, Kinnoull Street; Watsons of Perth, High Street; The Boutique, St John Street; and Lorraine Law, South Street.

Tickets are still available for a huge range of events throughout the Perth Festival, which opened last night with a performance by English Touring Opera of The Magic Flute in Perth Theatre, while Perth Concert Hall sizzled to Tango Siempre.

Tonight’s highlights are English Touring Opera’s Katya Kabanova in Perth Theatre and The Piccadilly Dance Orchestra in the Concert Hall.

Popular young comedian Russell Howard has sold out the concert hall tomorrow evening, while Sunday’s Festival headliners are singer/songwriter Edwyn Collins in Perth Theatre and the Prague Symphony Orchestra, Perth Concert Hall.

Full details of all Perth Festival events through to its close on Sunday, May 31, can be found in the Festival programme and online at www.perthfestival.co.uk

Tickets can be purchased from the box offices at Perth Theatre and Perth Concert Hall, telephone 01738 621031 and online.