Royal Variety of Performance in Dumfries
HRH – The Countess of Wessex makes Dramatic visit to Electric Theatre Workshop
As she was welcomed to the building – students from Dumfries High School, who had participated in the Homecoming Carnival at Big Burns Supper earlier in the year, gave the Countess a mini carnival to officially welcome her to the Electric Theatre Workshop.
Graham Main, Artistic Director for Electric Theatre Workshop, said;
“It was great to be part of this historic day in Dumfries, and for us present some of our community work to the Royal Party when we they were in Dumfries. The Countess was really interested in the work we do, and was very supportive about us continuing to make an impact with the work we do”
Jordan Chisholm presented a short excerpt from her solo live art piece; Me, Myself and Id which is an autobiographical piece about her relationship with her mother.
She met with the young people from Dumfries Youth Theatre who presented a piece from the National Theatre Project – Connections which is going to the Royal Lyceum at the start of June. The play was about a group of six year pupils who were planning their mess up day at school.
Jordan Chisholm, Associate Artist, said;
“She asked the young people what a mess up day was, and she had little or no knowledge about what that was, and our young people from Dumfries Youth Theatre gave some humorous examples. She also took the time to give them some practical advice ahead of the show in Edinburgh, which was really personal”
At the end of Jordan’s piece, the Countess was extremely engaged in the content of the work, and about the impact that doing a show about mental health might have on the audience.
At the end of the programme of events – The Countess of Wessex finally saw the Artistic Director; Graham Main in full flow conducting Dumfries Community Choir who sang a Coldplay song for the occasion.
The Countess was introduced to the Board of Directors and Representatives from the Holywood Trust, who fund the Electric Theatre Workshop and their work with young people throughout the region.
Main Picture Lead Artist, Ryan Smith, Associate Director, Justin Hyslop, Artistic Director – Graham Main, Countess of Wessex and pupils from Dumfries High School.
