Perth Festival of the Arts
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16 - 27 May 2007
What's on
How to book
About the festival
Perth Festival's 36th programme offers a stunning array of talent performing classical music, ballet, opera, comedy, poetry, folk music, and rock music, as well as art exhibitions, events for children and daily musical performances by local schools.
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Music
This year, The Waterboys, John Martyn and The Magic Numbers follow in the footsteps of the memorable concert by Van Morrison in 2006.
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Led by mercurial Scottish singer-guitarist Mike Scott, the Waterboys are one of the most fascinating and unpredictable bands the British Isles has produced. A mighty musical train, powered by the twin fuels of rock'n'roll and Celtic soul, the Waterboys have consistently challenged critics and audiences alike, busting musical boundaries and creating a mother lode of cracking music along the way. |
The Magic Numbers are a four-piece band: two pairs of brother and sister. The group was formed in 2002, releasing their critically acclaimed debut album The Magic Numbers in 2005. Their follow-up album, Those the Brokes was released in November, 2006.
Following an unforgettable recent performance of his legendary 1973 album Solid Air to a sell-out audience at the Barbican Centre in London, John Martyn decided to take this acclaimed show on the road for a very special UK tour. The Festival is pleased to host his northernmost performance.
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Classical music
Big names in the world of classical music will include Paul Lewis, The Sixteen, The Czech Symphony Orchestra and the Kopelman Quartet. |
Opera
Since 2001 the Festival has worked closely with English Touring Opera which has brought two operas each year to Perth Theatre. These are always sung in English.
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Perth is the only venue north of the Border in the company’s annual spring tour, and so the only opportunity to hear this talented company in Scotland. This year they will perform two nights of 'Seraglio' by Mozart and one night of 'Eugene Onegin' by Tchaikovsky. |
Comedy
Comedy plays a big part in the festival this year with performances by Julian Clary, Tam Cowan and Stuart Cosgrove, and Sandi Toksvig and Bonnie Langford.
Having recently published his memoirs and appeared in the BBC’s Who do You Think You Are? Julian Clary comes to town to explain himself. In this intimate and self-revelatory show, he leaves behind the make up and the sequins to reveal all. |
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Tam Cowan and Stuart Cosgrove, the stars of Off the Ball and Offside, will salute Scotland's national game. In an unmissable evening of hilarious comedy, football's Odd Couple let rip with up-to-the minute topical material, tall tales from on and off the park and an exclusive chat with a special guest.
Poetry
Poet, novelist and playwright - Benjamin Zephaniah is best known for his performance poetry with a political edge for adults and groundbreaking performance poetry for children. He also has his own rap/reggae band and has appeared on Desert Island Discs.
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He is in constant demand internationally to perform his work: he is (he thinks) Nelson Mandela's favourite, and is the only Rastafarian poet to be short-listed for the Chairs of Poetry for both Oxford and Cambridge University. |
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Join him for an evening in which he talks about his life, reads extracts of his poetry, takes questions from the audience and signs copies of his books.
The closing night concert
The Bell Lawrie Festival Concert with Bryn Terfel and The Scottish Chamber Orchestra is already sold out.
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The concert, unique to Perth, has attracted attention from all over the world - the combination of a great voice, immaculate diction, commanding stage presence and flair for acting has made Bryn Terfel one of the hottest properties in opera throughout the world. |
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The Festival Box Offices at Perth Concert Hall and Perth Theatre open on Monday 26 March for telephone bookings on 0845 612 6330, and to personal callers.
You can also book online at Perth Festival's website, where you will also find full programme details. |
Audiences are now coming to Perth Festival from all over the UK and abroad. In the last three years the Festival has seen a huge increase in ticket sales year on year. The 2006 Festival had a 29% increase over 2005, which in turn was marked by a 40% increase over 2004, which was itself marked by a further 40% increase over 2003.
These larger audiences coincide with the Festival’s ambitious policy of booking high profile artists. In recent years these have included Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Lesley Garrett, Ann Sofie Von Otter, Ladysmith Black Mambaso, Van Morrison, Elaine Paige, John Williams, Paul Merton, Sir David Frost, Jools Holland, Bill Wyman, Joan Armatrading, the Stranglers, The Reduced Shakespeare Company, Ian Rankin and many more.
The opening of Perth Concert Hall in September 2005 has had a huge positive impact on the cultural life of Perth and has provided state of the art facilities for both artists and audiences alike, and made possible imaginative programming all year round. The Hall is a great asset to Perth and especially to the Festival.
Funded by the National Lottery through the Scottish Arts Council.
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