In what’s known as a theatre restaurant, you can soon come along and enjoy a show of humour, intrigue and music of gleefully Gaelic proportions at Pine River’s Act 1 Theatre.
The September-based production, aptly named Highland Fling, gives you the option to include a full dinner and encourages audience participation (sharing in plenty of ‘off-kilt-er’ frivolities) at Strathpine’s Old Shire Hall.
According to co-director Yazz Leivesley, the plot involves a Scottish laird who lies dramatically dying, a banker with no morals, a Scottish lass in love with Bruce the Bruce, and plenty more classically calamitous Scottish shenanigans (amidst other drawcards).
“We have the Moreton Bay City Rollers singing up a storm, and the meals are amazing,” Yazz said.
Andrew Munslow, president and musical director, said that as part of the creative process, he resurrected the music of Scottish artists, enhancing the Highland flavour of the show with sing-along favorites from the likes of The Proclaimers and Bay City Rollers.
As for the cast, stage manager Deb Hossack said they included regular performers as well as those returning to the stage for the first time since high school.
“They are a great team and are really getting into the Scottish accents,” she said of the cast members ranging in age from 20 to over 70.
Behind the Script and Booking Details
The script itself was inevitably ignited by Australian playwright Tim Tuck’s (of Maverick Musicals) early love of BBC comedy, including radio’s The Goon Show and TV’s Monty Python and The Goodies.
There’s also a strong fantasy element to the play, stemming from an admiration of such authors as Terry Pratchett, Jasper Fforde and Douglas Adams.
Naturally, a Highland fable would be naught without leprechauns, with the Cornish background of Australia’s Yorke Peninsula inspiring an abundant featuring of ‘Piskeys’ – otherwise known as Cornish leprechauns.
Book tickets to Highland Fling (starting at $15 for a play and $45 for a theatre restaurant) now.
Those who might like to get involved as a performer, backstage or front-of-house assistant at Act 1 Theatre can email acttheatre2@gmail.com with the subject line “Attn Deb”.
Highland Fling Theatre Restaurant
- Friday, 5 September to Saturday, 20 September
- Act 1 Theatre (at Old Shire Hall)
- 238 Old Gympie Road, Strathpine
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