It's been another challenging year for all groups in Moray who rely heavily on the Elgin Town Hall to perform.  With refurbishment works now well underway there, the scaffolding that surrounds the shell of the building is almost symbolic of the measures we have all had to embrace to support what we do in the arts and make sure it stays alive whilst our main performance space is out of action.

 

That is so true for St Giles Theatre Group who can't simply shut down for a few years.  Every missed year would be a generation of young people robbed of the friendship, confidence, resilience and musical theatre performance experience we build. That's what drove us last year to split the company and present a Junior and Senior show separately in the face of limited choices for a stage big enough for us.  What we learnt is that our company makes much better sense together and we are delighted to bring it back this year as one cast spanning ages 10 to 19. 

 

We are privileged and delighted to have been able therefore to secure the auditorium at Elgin Academy for our show this year and are indebted to many people who helped make that happen.  It is fitting, for a company whose cast comes from 6 primary schools and 6 secondary schools (and College!) all across Moray, that the superb facilities of our council's education estate should provide us with the stage we need to shine a light on the extraordinary talent of our young people.

 

And as ever, our company not only rises to the challenges but sets itself new targets with this being the first original production St Giles Theatre Group has ever performed.  Written by our own Creative Director, Emma Sharpe, to suit our cast, venue and the very spirit of what our group is all about.  This bold new territory pays tribute to the long standing 37 year history of the group by pushing our boundaries further than they have gone before.

 

Set in the present day in a typical American High School, the long forgotten theatre, closed since 1979, is brought back to life by a new generation who rediscover the space, uncover its history, its secrets and a story that has been waiting to be told. Full of energy, heart and a real sense of magic about what theatre can do, this show is a celebration of courage, creativity and community - where young people step into the spotlight and discover the power of coming together to create something extraordinary. It could have been made for us... oh, yeah - it was !!

 

Sit back and enjoy - The Greatest Show!

 

Karen Wiles

Chair

St Giles Theatre Group