Burns revived!

Although the show was written for Burns 250th anniversary there has been quite a bit of interest again recently.  So much so that we have been out on the road again.  Sadly I omitted to Blog these but intend to rectify that!
In the interim we've been back in a few schools but also to many historical and heritage societies and groups including Torrieburn, Dunfermline, Kinross and last night the latest Kelty.
Once again the show proved  popular amongst an adult audience as well as for youngsters!

Burns in Helensburgh

The Bard and I braved the snow and freezing fog today en route to visiting Lomond School in Helensburgh, in the West of Scotland. This proved to be a modern building and a keen group of pupils, some of whom had learned more than one poem or two.... They also had some splendid paintings of the Bard around the hall as can be seen here...
They were happy to join in the singing and we even had a soloist who performed a lovely version of Ae Fond Kiss, to the delight of her classmates.
Another student was happy to recite To a Louse, after I explained about Lunardi, showing they are taking the Bard's works seriously. At the end I was given a warm, spontaneous and prolonged round of applause which was gratefully received!

A special thanks to the two soloists and to the teacher who took the photos.

Burns in Airdrie

The Bard and I travelled westwards today to Plains near Airdrie. There we visited the new school of St David's Primary - in its smart premises. We spent a very pleasant hour and half with P5-7 who are very well up on their Burns!

Rantin Rovin Robin

Listening hard

In fact they had held a supper just last night performing songs and poems themselves. At the start they managed to name more than 15 songs and poems - an excellent number as most schools manage only 2 or 3.
The young folks were keen to show off their talents too. They performed the Selkirk Grace, Ae Fond Kiss and extracts from Tam O Shanter! So, well done to them all. I also managed to scare my Louse volunteer! So bravely done to him for being targeted...

Auld Lang Syne

Finally, a huge thanks to the boys who helped me set up and to load the car afterwards, and to the teacher who took the photos!

Burns in Kelty

Ceasar and Luath do it again!

The Bard and I made it to Kelty today - a small town in Fife near the M90 and where a room full of P5-7 listened to the life and times of Rantin Rovin Robin.

The young people were very attentive and joined in well with the songs, gaining a 7/10 on my totally arbitrary scale. ;o) As ever the Twa Dugs scored well.....with multiple 'aaahhhhss'

P6 listening well....

Thanks to the teachers for joining in and taking the photos.

Burns in Sauchie

The Bard and I visited Craigbank Primary school today in Sauchie near Alloa. A lively school in the middle of a housing scheme with very enthusiastic youngsters. Over 150 packed into their hall this afternoon to listen to the bard's tale, interwoven into some other Scottish history as usual.

As ever Ceasar and Luath are a hit!

The younsgters were keen to sing and appreciative of the poems and humour. Well done to the young man who played the louse! ...and a big thanks to the teacher from NI who took the photos.

Burns in Dalgety Bay

The Bard and I had a great trip to Dalgety Bay Primary school in Fife today. A busy morning saw 2 shows; one for p3-4 and one for p5,6 & 7 and a special guest appearance at p1-2 assembly! We are both exhausted ;o)

This is a big school and we managed to see lots of youngsters this morning. All were very enthusiastic and well behaved - a credit to the school.

some attentive listeners from p6/7!

For the first time we were asked for some more 'modern' Scots songs with p3/4 so we had some fun with Granny being shoved off the bus - or not- and three craws sitting on a wall!

Three craws sat upon a wa'

p3/4 loved the Louse and well done to the young man who heroically played the Louse's part! Although I think I sacred the living daylights out of him ;o)

I am sure Burns would have loved it! As ever a big thanks to the teachers who took photos and for the biccies and coffee....and a HUGE thanks to the young people who made it all worth while.

Burns in Glow

The Bard goes high tech!

The Bard and I went online today! Something of a unique experience delivering a short version of the show using online conferencing software. We had 26 schools taking part from as far away as the Island of Lewis to Dundee to Dunoon with myself in Fife and Jennifer, the Glow expert, in Edinburgh. To my mind this is what technology is all about and what Glow should be doing much more of. We had pupils from 26 schools all singing Auld Lang Syne together although many hundreds of miles apart....cool or what! There were many questions showing how keen the young people were to take part and the whole thing has been saved for future broadcasts.
A definite success ;o)

Burns in Bo'ness

The Sonic screwdriver does it again!

The Bard and I visited the delightful small town of Bo'ness on the banks of the River Forth today. We were in Kinneil Primary where an enthusiastic group of p4-7 were given the Bard's life story. They were already well informed especially p7 who are currently covering this in some detail but also the younger ones, one of whom managed to recite To a Louse in a very convincing manner! Indeed the whole class joined in with the bulk of the poem in a very enthusiastic way.... Well done to all concerned ;o)

Auld Lang Syne

As ever a big thanks to the teachers for taking the photos....

Burns in Cardenden

The Bard and I visited Cardenden Primary today (currently sharing premises with Denend School) here in Fife to talk to a group of around 50 enthusiastic young people.

This town hosts the Burns Club I am currently president of - Bowhill People's Burns Club - so it was great to see the young people well informed and able to list a good range of works of the Bard. These pupils take part in the annual competition run by the Club and it was wonderful to be able to give them some new ideas for songs and poems.

As ever the Mouse and Twa Dugs were a hit....

....but Lousey caused many laughs this time too!

A classic Burns piece and one well worth the learning for any budding competitors.
The pupils were especially enthusiastic during the singing so well done to them all for that! Finally, a big thanks to the teachers who took the photos for me too.

Burns in Blairgowrie

The Bard and I visited Rattray Primary in Blairgowrie today to talk to around 100 very interested youngsters and some interested teachers too! The pupils were very well behaved and sat on a hard floor for well over an hour listening most attentively and joining in where invited.
P5 at the front were especially vocal during the singing and their enthusiasm was well appreciated by yours truly!

Keen to answer questions and fairly knowledgeable these young people did the school proud.
Hopefully we have given them some enthusiasm for the bard and they will go onto some further study of RB's life and works. Thanks to John for the photos and to the canteen staff for lunch!
As ever the mousey and the Twa Dugs elicited a BIG awwwwww and were well received by young and old.

His hair, his size, his mouth, his lugs, Shew'd he was nane o' Scotland's dogs
But whalpit some place far abroad, Whare sailors gang to fish for cod.

Burns in Wormit

Wormit Primary: P6 & 7

The Bard and I were delighted to visit the charming village of Wormit in Fife, today.

With a delightful view over the River Tay, this school seems a wonderful place to learn. The children were very well behaved and the staff very friendly. We spent a very pleasant hour and a half talking about Scotland's Bard. The youngsters - from P6 & 7 - proved quite knowledgable and very enthusiastic. They also sang well and scored a 7/10 on my totally arbitary scale.

Moosey proves a hit again...as did the Twa Dugs and even the cuddly louse!
The cup of coffee after was very welcome too.....and a huge thanks to the teacher who took the photos for me.

Auld Lang Syne

Burns in Donibristle: Fife

The Bard and I travelled to Doibristle Primary school today to deliver a show in front of a large crowd! Over 200 youngsters enthusiastically listened to RB's story with off-shoots into the Jacobites and Bannockburn..

The Twa Dugs steal the show

The youngsters were well informed about Bannockburn having re-enacted it last year! Their knowledge of Burns was a little patchy but they showed much enthusiasm joining in songs with gusto. The behaviour in such a large group was superb and they are a credit to themselves and the school. Well done all!...and a special thanks to the teacher who took the photos for me...

Burns in Abernethy...again!

The Bard and I were delighted to return to the village of Abernethy. This time to visit the primary school.

P6 & 7 were an attentive audience in this new (2002) school.

The Twa Dugs steal the show (again)

Although needing some prompting to join in the singing(!) their knowledge of some of Burns work was not bad at all: especially Tam O Shanter, the story of which they managed to tell me in detail.

Auld Lang Syne with enthusiasm!

A big thanks to Ian and Abernethy Burns Club for sponsoring this event and also for taking the photos....

Burns in Carnock: St Andrew's Day

The Bard and I spent St Andrew's Day at the lovely village school in Carnock, Fife, after some initial problems finding the way into the school car-park ("Go back OUT of the village and turn into the housing estate....."). In a well decorated hall, with many pupils sporting some tartan for the day, Burns story once again entertained and educated.

The pupils listened well and joined in with the singing enthusiastically. Several in particular were keen to answer questions, with P4/5 doing especially well about the Jacobite period.

It was great to see all the tartan for St Andrew's day and always a pleasure to work with an enthusiastic group of young people, who also asked some interesting questions at the end. With special thanks to the teacher who took the photos.

Burns in Abernethy

The bard and I travelled to Abernethy recently (famous for its Pictish Tower - shown above ) to visit Abernethy Burns club for an evening show for a change! The locals turned out in force and we had a great evening enjoyed by all. Thanks to the ladies who provided tea and baking and to Ian for organising it all. As often before I ran over time but no-one complained! The audience joined in the singing enthusiastically and many compliments were received after the show.

Burns in Biggar

The Bard and I visited Tinto Primary, just outside Biggar, recently and on the way stopped to shoot this wonderful sunrise...

After a good run down, despite some heavy traffic, the pupils were raring to go....and they know their bard too! Well some of them do. They explained the story of Tam O Shanter beautifully but hadn't met Ceasar and Luath of Twa Dugs fame...so we addressed that!

They sang well and listened attentively to lots more. Many searching questions at the end showed they had paid attention and were up to learn more. Hopefully some photos and drawings to come ...

Thnx to the teacher who took the photos for me......

Burns at Brodie Castle

The bard and I were in Moray recently visiting the fabulous Brodie Castle. A very enthusiastic audience were full of praise for the show. It is a great venue for anything of an historic nature and Burns fitted the bill perfectly. A big thanks to Andy Ross for all his help making it happen and to the staff of the castle for their hospitality. Well done too, to the duo Pur who used the event to launch their own CD of Gaelic and Scots singing.

Burns in Irvine

The Bard and I were in Irvine recently at the invitation of the Irvine Lassies Burns Club to help them celebrate the Homecoming year. When last there, Burns had an illuminating experience as the workshop he was using for flax dressing burnt down at New Year!

The Bard & the club piano - a story in itself!

What a fantastic night we had in the music room of "Wellwood" - the club house for the prestigious Irvine Burns Clubs. There is so much history in that club it would need a whole day to view all the artefacts alone. More information can be read here on the club website http://www.irvineayrshire.org/burns/

We had a full house of 70 plus who sung their hearts out and seemed to thoroughly enjoy my interpretation of the Bard's story.

One of the stain glass windows in the club

The ladies put on a splendid spread at half time and the whole night flew by. We finished off with a small gathering into the small hours, at the house of Margaret & Davie Cook , who also accommodated Fiona and I. A HUGE thanks to them for their very warm hospitality.

Burns in Edinburgh

Taylor's Hall Hotel - Cowgate - Edinburgh

The Bard and I had a busy weekend! After the Globe in on Saturday we had two gigs lined up in Edinburgh on the Sunday. The first was a short guest spot in Taylors Hall Hotel. This was a charity night for Children of Chernobyl - a very worthy cause which I was delighted to support. Fellow Fencible David Purdie started the night off with his slide show of Burns Edinburgh. This was followed by a group of children who were all Burns Competition winners and were simply superb.....well done all! The first half was finished with a short spot from yours truly encouraging some audience participation (from the 200 strong crowd) for the first time in the evening. Well done to Mike for arranging all this for a very worthy cause.

Robert Louis Stevenson's House - Edinburgh

A quick dash up the road then, for David and myself, to Robert Louis Stevenson's house which was the venue for a dinner of the Atlanta Burns Club - currently touring Scotland. A very enthusiastic audience of around 30 joined in some of the Bard's well known works with gusto and were left wanting more...... Good luck to them on their up-coming tour of Scotland in the capable hands of Ian MacMillan, President, Wester Ross Burns Club and a friend of the Bard from a previous tour......

Burns in Dumfries

Some of the audience with the 'Bard' in the Howff Club room

The Bard and I were delighted to return to Dumfries this weekend as guests of the Howff Burns club. The show which was originally planned for the Theatre was rescheduled into the Club room in the Globe Inn due to small numbers. This was a double edge sword....unfortunate because the numbers were small but exciting in that it meant the show would take place in the very building Burns frequented.

Rantin Rovin Robin

However, those that were there had a great time and joined in the songs with much enthusiasm. A special mention to the lady from Australia who found her way to join us. It was a long way to come for a gig but hopefully worth the trip!

As an additional bonus I got to sleep in the room RB shared with Anna Park - how cool is that?! (A big thanks to Jane, Manager in the Globe, for making that happen).

The Burns Room in the Globe Inn - the room RB used to meet Anna Park

Of course the love song Burns wrote for Anna - Yestre'en I had a Pint o Wine - went down very well and it was quite an emotional event singing it in the very place where it all happened! Thanks to the Howff Club members who showed up to support the show - and for their fine hospitality.