Rock the Catwalk crew prepare for big day

Mar 12 2010 Perthshire Advertiser Friday

RUNWAY lights are on standby as the Rock the Catwalk crew prepare to touch down at Perth Concert Hall tomorrow night.

Supported by McEwens of Perth and verging on being a sell-out, the fashion, music and dance charity event is set to generate a substantial sum to help rehabilitation of injured military personnel.

The cast on deck for Help for Heroes (H4H) includes five dancers and 42 models – eight female police officers, two firefighters, 16 civilians, eight Strathallan School pupils and eight McEwens staff – plus bands Impulse and LMS.

Preparation for the show got off the ground last November and while choreographer Jade Beatson has been busy fine-tuning routines at final rehearsals, things have been equally frantic behind the scenes at McEwens.

Event organiser McEwens’ Georgina Bullough said her husband, John, who had suggested McEwens’ involvement with H4H as beneficiary, had been filming rehearsals to enable the talent to review their moves.

“Excitement and terror in fairly equal measure seem to be building throughout the cast, except for the professionals and firemen, who perhaps understandably look utterly unfazed,” she said.

“I have also spotted shop staff humming and tapping their feet behind the tills with a far away practising sort of look.”

Among 30 brands McEwens is showcasing are Jaegar, Basler, Gerry Weber, Eastex, Hobbs, Oasis, Joules, Ness and Berketex, with menswear by Brook Taverner, Camel Active, Pakeman Catto and Carter, and Austin Reed Wedding Hire.

“The changing rooms at moments have been full of excited shrieks, which is a change from the quiet norm,” she said.

“Our models are aged from 17 to 50, and sized from six to 20, so there will be something for most sizes, ages and styles.”

Also feeling the pressure this week is Pam Duthie of Regis Salons, responsible for co-ordinating a mixed bag of hairdos for 33 females and 14 men, with all models receiving half-price deals for cuts and treatments.

A small army of seven McEwens cosmetics experts, meanwhile, are in charge of make-up manoeuvres.

Mrs Bullough praised the selfless efforts of everyone involved in the production, adding that customers had responded enthusiastically to the event, with many buying tickets or even offering to get involved.

“Absolutely everyone has said what a very good cause it is and many have already been supporting Help for Heroes for over a year, buying the official H4H wristbands and teddy bear,” she said.

l Rock the Catwalk - a Show for Heroes, at Perth Concert Hall, 7.30pm, Saturday, March 13. Tickets start at £14 adult, £9 under-16, available from Perth Concert Hall on 01738 621031, at www.horsecross.co.uk or on the door.

lAward-winning photographer, Gill Shaw, will be signing copies of her H4H fundraising book, The Hero Inside, at McEwens today (Friday) from 1pm to close, and all day tomorrow.