Peterhead has welcomed a travelling troupe of pirates as part of a unique travelling performing arts project.
Scottish Opera’s Pop Up Opera scheme is touring the country and arrived in the Blue Toon yesterday.
The national company’s portable theatre – housed in the back of an HGV – parked in Drummers Corner and welcomed school pupils and opera enthusiasts to enjoy a 25-minute production of A Little Bit of Pirates of Penzance.
The adaptation of one of Gilbert and Sullivan’s most popular comic operas is being brought to life by a narrator, singers, musicians and a series of illustrations.
The specially-adapted trailer, which is designed to look like a miniature version of the Theatre Royal in Glasgow, can comfortably seat 22 audience members and it is hoped the project can boost the cultural regeneration of Peterhead’s town centre.
In the show, the character, Frederic, has fallen for Mabel, but he is an apprentice to a pirate king and a blundering band of rogues. The love-struck hero struggles to find a way to escape.
Allan Dunn, the production’s narrator, said: “It’s a huge pleasure to be bringing opera to Peterhead. Our shows are fully booked and that’s a real tribute to how eager the people here are for great quality, live professional theatre.”
And soprano Alison McNeill added: “It’s fantastic to take our shows out to various parts of Scotland and we are really excited about performing in Peterhead as the performance is sold out.”
By this evening the cast will have performed six times – once to the public and then in a series of workshops with local school children.
Martin Danziger, the creative director of local performing arts group Modo which helped bring the opera to town, said he was delighted with the response of residents.
“One of our aims is to developed cultural opportunities in Peterhead,” Mr Danziger said last night. “This means we can definitely say there is an audience – there are six sell-out performances.
“Clearly to stage something like this with our limited resources is difficult. This brings a novelty factor with a quality performance.
“It’s a proper experience – you’re in a theatre with professional performers. It’s magical – a far cry from the school gym hall.”