In 2023 Brunton Theatre Trust successfully rose to the challenge of moving its programme into alternative temporary venues in Musselburgh and Haddington. As a new year begins, the Trust have a fantastic programme of arts and entertainment taking place in these venues.
In 2023 Brunton Theatre Trust successfully rose to the challenge of moving its programme into alternative temporary venues in Musselburgh and Haddington. As a new year begins, the Trust have a fantastic programme of arts and entertainment taking place in these venues.
Loretto School Theatre in Musselburgh is a cosy theatre with raked seating and clear sightlines to a raised stage. The big screen makes Loretto Theatre the temporary home of The Brunton’s midweek movies, Royal Opera House and National Theatre Live screenings.
Theatre lovers can enjoy the best of the West End, on the big screen in Musselburgh including Dear England, a gripping examination of nation and game with Joseph Fiennes as Gareth Southgate (Thursday 25 January); Vanya, a radical new one-man adaptation Chekhov’s classic (Thursday 22 February) and The Motive and The Cue, a funny new play with Mark Gatiss as John Gielgud and Johnny Flynn as Richard Burton (Thursday 21 March). Royal Opera House screenings offer the opportunity to experience world class opera and ballet including operas Rusalka, Dvorák’s lyric fairy tale (Wednesday 24 January), Madama Butterfly Puccini’s entrancing and heart-breaking opera (Tuesday 26 March) and Kenneth MacMillan’s passionate ballet, Manon (Wednesday 7 February). The Brunton’s midweek movies programme offers new release films most Wednesdays, with Priscilla, One Life and The Holdovers on screen this February and March as well as a Valentine’s Day special Supper and Movie Night with Notting Hill.
Also coming soon to Loretto School Theatre is The Brunton’s Performing Arts Network with a community cast of young performers and 13! A New Musical (Thursday 15 – Saturday 17 February). With an unforgettable rock score from Tony Award winning composer Jason Robert Brown, 13 is a musical about fitting in and standing out. Fans of The Boss can enjoy an energetic tribute to the Main Man with Dougie Robertson’s Springsteen Sessions (Saturday 23 March). Enjoy Bruce Springsteen hits including: Born In the USA, Dancing In The Dark, Thunder Road, Glory Days and more recent material.
Northesk Parish Church in Musselburgh has a fantastic acoustic and has become a firm favourite with classical music audiences. The Bite-Sized Concerts at Lunchtime series offers optional soup and a sandwich in the church hall, followed by an hour’s concert in the beautiful church. These recitals include established and emerging, prizewinning performers with sparkling programmes of music for all to enjoy. The new line-up includes The Virtuoso Violin with Emma Baird accompanied by pianist Anna Michels (Tuesday 20 February) playing pieces by Bach, Chausson and Ysaÿe and Guitar Masterpieces with Tim Beattie (Tuesday 19 March) playing a fantastic mix of musical styles from Bach, Piazzolla and Britten.
The evening concert series with Soloists of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra also takes place at Northesk Parish Church. The Poetic Bassoon with Cerys Ambrose-Evans is accompanied by pianist Scott Mitchell (Wednesday 6 March).
Brunton Theatre Trust have installed professional staging, lighting and sound into the Corn Exchange in Haddington. This fantastic space hosts outstanding Scottish folk band FARA with a unique mix of spell-binding vocals and intricately woven fiddle harmonies, (Friday 23 February). AllMusic describes them as “Torch-bearers of a freshly reinvigorated tradition…one of the most exciting Scottish Folk Discoveries in recent years.” The Corn Exchange will resound with fabulous tributes Totally Tina – a breath taking recreation of a live Tina Turner concert (Friday 8 March), Lionel – The Music of Lionel Richie, with a stellar line up of world class musicians (Saturday 9 March) and The Counterfeit Sixties Show, bringing alive the music and magic of the swinging sixties (Saturday 23 March).
Comedian Craig Hill brings his cheeky, irreverent and uproarious live new comedy show to the stage to lighten a dark, Haddington night, (Saturday 24 February). His razor-sharp wit and unsurpassed audience rapport, make Craig a hugely popular act.
Snooker aficionados can enjoy An Evening with Snooker Greats – Clash of The Titans, also at the Corn Exchange, Haddington. Stephen Hendry, John Higgins and Dennis Taylor, recreate the matches that saw them rise to the top of their profession. There will also be a Q&A, with the opportunity for the audience to pose the questions they have always wanted to ask, (Tuesday 26 March).
This fantastic new year of entertainment in Musselburgh and Haddington, offers lots to entertain and enlighten audiences over the coming months.
