Scottish Fiddle Orchestra to Perth

Mar 11 2011 by Alison Anderson, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

IN an addition to the previously announced Perth Festival of the Arts programme, the nation’s favourite impressionist, Alistair McGowan from The Big Impression, will open this year’s arts feast.

The versatile performer comes to Perth Concert Hall on Wednesday, May 18, with his legendary celebrity impressions and will introduce his Festival audience to a host of never-before-heard voices.

Yet Alistair’s stand-up is about much more than impersonation – expect sharp observations, poetry and romance, animals and surrealism, love and anger, wordplay and ‘greenery’ as well as footballers and film stars. And perhaps even a song or two bearing in mind that tonight he appears on stage as the Pirate King in a short run of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance.

On May 18, however, there will be no make-up or costume changes – just one man, a microphone and an amazing multitude of voices including, most importantly, his own.

The other new announcement from the Festival office is a performance of Romeo and Juliet by Peter Schaufuss Ballet from Denmark in Perth Concert Hall on Thursday, May 19.

Danish dance legend Peter Schaufuss is steeped in tradition. Trained in Copenhagen in the hallowed Bournonville tradition, his unique virtuoso gifts and magnetic stage presence turned him into a global ballet superstar. Today Schaufuss as director and choreographer is pushing the boundaries of his chosen art form, presenting to the world the wonder of classical ballet but with a modern twist.

The history behind this dance version of the world’s favourite love story is interesting.

British dance maker Sir Frederick Ashton created one of the most revered danced versions of Romeo and Juliet in 1955. His original creation was for the Royal Danish Ballet and his original Juliet was the mother of Peter Schaufuss.

On his death in 1988, Ashton bequeathed the work to Peter Schaufuss. Ashton’s genius distils the essence of Shakespeare’s tale of devotion and death in medieval Verona, while Schaufuss adds a fresh dimension to the star-crossed lovers by recreating the work in 2010, faithful to the choreography and with 21st century staging.

“I knew Sir Fred very well,” recalls Schaufuss. “He was, above all, a man of the moment and although I am ever mindful of my great responsibilities as appointed guardian of his masterpiece, Sir Fred would be deeply intrigued by a flash of 21st century attitude on a work created 50 five years ago.”

Juliet is danced by Megumi Oki who joined Peter Schafuss Ballet in 2006, and has performed in Midnight Express and Hamlet, soloist roles in The Man Who Wished for a Sea View and Satisfaction, as well as dancing the role of Judy Garland in Language of Love.

Stefan Wise (Romeo) trained at the Royal Ballet School in London and has danced in many productions with Royal Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet. In 2003 Stefan joined Peter Schaufuss Ballet and has since participated in all the company’s performances including the title role in Hamlet.

Tickets for all events during the 11 days of Perth Festival of the Arts go on sale on March 28.

Other headliners for the 40th Festival from May 18-29 include American Grammy Award-winning violinist Joshua Bell, The Bolshoi Orchestra, and Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra with special guest Sandie Shaw.