Falkirk Children's Theatre remembered in new book by Stirling dance centre head
A new book being launched next week by a Stirling man tells the story of a theatrical phenomenon born over 50 years ago - Falkirk Children’s Theatre.
‘House Full!’ is the inside story of FCT told for the first time by Stirling man Craig Murray who, along with his wife Louise, runs Causewayhead’s award-winning Monument Dance Centre.
It’s a love letter to the Children’s Theatre and a “must read” for the thousands of Falkirk Bairns who had their first experience of live musical theatre on the Town Hall stage or even simply attended their shows.
Craig (66) was there at the very beginning as a 13-year-old Buttons in Cinderella and he went on to write the scripts for 22 of the pantomimes and manage the whole operation for 16 years.
He said: “When the curtain went up on the first Falkirk Children’s Theatre pantomime in December 1971, no-one knew it would be the beginning of a joyous 30-year rollercoaster ride.
“The fact is, during that time, Falkirk had something very special and unique that no other town in Scotland had.”
Louise was a member of FCT for two shows. She recalls: “I loved everything about these shows - the excitement of hearing what the next show would be, learning the songs, putting the musical numbers on the floor. Then the cast announcements and the costume sheets would be issued. I loved being in the chorus and would sing and dance my heart out at rehearsals.”
FCT, the brainchild of the David Cunningham, put the town on the map, captured the hearts of a whole community and spread its magic across Scotland through televised shows such as ‘Ali Baba and the Far Eastenders’, ‘Cinderella’, ‘Aladdin’, Jock and the Jelly Beanstalk’ and ‘Bairns in the Wood’.
Between 1971 and 2000, FCT performed its annual Christmas pantomime over 260 times in Falkirk Town Hall.
In that time, over 1000 children aged between 8 and 15, all from Falkirk and the surrounding district, acted, sang and danced their hearts out.
Every single performance sold out with a waiting list for tickets every year, hence the “House Full” title of the book.
Audience numbers at these live shows totalled more than 225,000.
Performances were shown on STV, a “must watch” for millions of Scots on January 1 every year from 1989 to 2000.
Told with warmth, insight and humour, Craig’s meticulously-researched book, full of pictures over the years, is a personal, candid, nostalgic and emotional stroll down memory lane.
It peeks affectionately behind the scenes, paying tribute to the talented artistic professionals and personalities who made Falkirk Children’s Theatre come alive: people such as David Cunningham, Bill Graham, Irene Langlands, John Reid, Sheena Graham, John Gilmour, Mike Benzie, Ian Christie and “Uncle Andrew” Hunter, but also the hundreds of “unsung heroes” who made it all possible.
Craig recalls the genesis of the theatre, its evolution over the decades and the precious moments that remain fixed in the memories of so many families.
Craig added: “Falkirk Children’s Theatre was a magical world of musical theatre and provided countless treasured memories and unforgettable experiences. It fostered lifelong friendships. It helped shape future lives and careers. It even helped create some stars. But above all, it let ordinary local children experience the wonderful, life-enhancing thrill of performing on stage and simply having fun together.”
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Actor and writer Forbes Masson, another FCT alumnus and now an Associate Artist with the Royal Shakespeare Company, has provided the book’s foreword. Due to appear on London’s West End in December with award-winning superstar Sigourney Weaver in a new version of “The Tempest”, he writes: “The mightily talented Craig Murray tells the story of the heartwarming highs and painful lows of being performer, writer, producer and all-round champion of Falkirk Children’s Theatre.
“Craig’s love and care for the job, the company, the kids and his hometown, his great comic and narrative skill as scriptwriter and performer, his uplifting positivity, extreme passion and tireless dedication to his craft all shine through in this entertaining, informative and revealing book.
“Go behind the scenes of Scotland’s beloved and sorely-missed children’s theatre where so many Falkirk children, in days gone by, had such fantastic fun, made lasting memories, met lifetime pals, gained confidence, and for some, like me, were helped on their first few steps on the road to living their dream life in the arts.”
‘House Full!’ will be available to order online from Thursday October 31 at www.monumentdance.co.uk/books and is also on sale at Waterstone’s Bookshop, High Street, Falkirk from the same day.