Another Chance to Repeat Myself

The show is This is Scotland - and you are welcome to it! and it’s an irreverent but affectionate look and listen in words and music to that strange country which we know as Scotland, with particular emphasis - of course - on Highland Perthshire.

As the evening unfolds, you’ll find out the true story of the goings-on at the Killiecrankie Burns Supper; discover the links between Pontius Pilate and Togas-R-Us in Fortingall, and hear how a Birnam rodent changed his name to Peter and became the brains behind a worldwide publishing empire. You’ll marvel at Bonnie Prince Charlie (had to mention him; he stayed a couple of nights at the venue) and how he sold the blockbusting saga of his exploits over the sea to Skye Digital, and you’ll hear an everyday story of country folk named Breadalbane. And don’t miss the hitherto unknown tale of Loch Tayside painter and decorator Lenny McGlinchy, who travelled to Rome, changed his name to something more Italian, and gave Dan Brown the inspiration for The McGlinchy Code.

The setting for the show is the sumptuous wood-panelled Dewar Room in the magnificent 16th Century Castle Menzies, situated just outside Aberfeldy on the B846 road which leads you over General Wade’s 1733 bridge - still with the original traffic lights - to the stunning vistas along the Road to the Isles by Tummel and Loch Rannoch and, if you’re really lost, Lochaber.

My agent has asked me to point out that Alan Brown is a singer, musician, playwright, journalist, broadcaster and award-winning songwriter, as well as being a really modest guy. He’s lived in Highland Perthshire for 36 years and is maturing, well. He’s appeared in venues as diverse as the Signet Library and the Netherbow Theatre in Edinburgh; Pitlochry Festival Theatre; The Famous Grouse Experience; Northwood Country Club in Dallas, Texas, and in a marquee at the top of Drummond Hill. He’s compered Pitlochry’s outdoor Highland Nights for the past eight years but this is definitely NOT a Highland Night.

This is Scotland - and you are welcome to it! is presented at 8 pm each Wednesday evening in June, July and August. The fully-licensed bar at Castle Menzies is open before, during and after the show. Tickets are £5 (£4 concessions) and are on sale at the venue, or may be reserved by phoning Castle Menzies on (01887) 820982.

During last year’s run, I compiled a visitors’ book which is crammed with complimentary comments from audiences from as far afield as Florida and Fearnan, Kenmore and Kentucky, Canada, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, all over the UK, and parts of Europe which, if they entered the Eurovision Song Contest, would necessitate a second or third night’s broadcast.

I look forward to meeting old and new faces and, remember, I’ll say it again -it’s not a repeat; it’s another chance to see.