PREPARATIONS are well underway for the fifth annual Big Burns Stramash at Eden Court Theatre, Inverness.
Tim’rous beasties of all ages are welcome to celebrate Rabbie Burns in true Scottish style with fun, games and ceilidhs aplenty.
This year’s prolific celebration will include an extra special schools event to kick start Scotland’s Year of Young People in the Highlands.
Eden Court CREATIVE have invited local primaries from across the region to join them in the Northern Meeting Park for the first ever Highland Schools Hoolie on Thursday 25th January.
Pupils will take part in a colossal Strip the Willow before joining in a mass performance of the Stramash Flashmob: a specially choreographed flashmob just for Burns Day.
There will also be the Haggis Highland Games: a quick-fire relay of rabbie-related activities, and, of course, a selection of recited poetry.
The 16-strong team of In Your Area drama and dance specialists have been busy teaching the choreography to schools across the region in anticipation of the main event.
Over 600 pupils have been involved so far from Aldourie, Stratherick, Foyers, Central Smithton, Caol, Kinlochleven, Mallaig and Acharacle Primary Schools: many learning the moves to be filmed ahead of the Hoolie. This flashmob film will be premiered during the Hoolie itself in order to include those unable to journey as far as Inverness for the day.
The celebration continues into the weekend with the return of the popular Wee Burns Ceilidhs at 11am and 2pm on Saturday 27th January.
The hour-long sessions will be jam-packed with dancing, games and banter: ideal for those with children under the age of eight but big brothers and sisters are welcome too. Tickets are £4.50 each or £16.00 for a party of four.
The final shindig is for adult revellers only and boasts a contemporary twist on the traditional.
Aimed for 18+, the Big Burns Ravin’ Ceilidh will reward its ticket holders with a dram on arrival.
Attendees can expect good old-fashioned ceilidh dancing fused with drum and bass beats and electronic FX as the brilliant Monster Ceilidh Band provide the musical fodder in the OneTouch Theatre.
Nicola Gray, Eden Court CREATIVE’s Business & Engagement officer, said: “What better way to get the Year of Young People off to a flying start using dancing and technology combined to celebrate Rabbie Burns! We are still looking for schools to partake – to find out how to get involved, email me directly.”
The Monster Ceilidh band said: “We’re really excited to be playing a stomping ceilidh for the bard and celebrating his great works up in Inverness this Burns night. We’ll be performing traditional and contemporary tunes with a five-piece band with drums, bass, laptops and synthesisers alongside; octave mandolin, fiddle and the virtuosic accordion playing of Amy Thatcher.”
The Big Burns Stramash is funded by Event Scotland and part of their Winter Festivals programme.
ENDS
For further information, interview requests or to arrange picture opportunities, please contact Nicola Gray / ngray@eden-court.co.uk / 01463 239 841.
Notes to editors:
- Eden Court is recognised as the largest multi-arts venue in Scotland. It re-opened in November 2007 following an extensive redevelopment programme, which saw the addition of two purpose built cinemas, a brand new flexible second theatre space and two dance and education studios.
- Eden Court CREATIVE Arts Workers live and work in ten different areas covering the whole of the Highlands of Scotland, from Nairn to Skye, from Lochaber to Caithness. They specialise in making drama, dance and digital media activities accessible to both children and adults in the Highlands. Eden Court CREATIVE also employs two Additional Support Needs specialists, making the Arts as accessible as possible for the entire community.
- Eden Court is the only theatre in Scotland to offer Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) courses in Drama and Dance. These are extracurricular courses, which offer pupils from across Highland the opportunity to study at Eden Court for an SQA Higher Dance, Drama or National 5 exams. Aside from Eden Court, there is only one school in the Highlands where pupils can sit SQA Higher Drama exams.
- Cashback for Creativity is part of the Scottish Government’s Cashback for Communities programme, which reinvests the proceeds of crime back into communities to benefit Scotland’s young people. Cashback for Creativity aims to support a wide range of projects in dance, film and music – reaching communities where there is an identified and demonstrated need.
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Phone: 01463239841
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