Arts diary: The Oscars of Folk and Perth Theatre's resident ghost

Over at Perth Theatre on Tuesday, I got the chance to have a sneak peek behind the scenes after an event to launch next season’s programme.

It turns out the theatre, which celebrated its 125th anniversary last year, has a few secrets hidden up its sleeve. The stage is supported on beams which came from the original Tay Bridge, which collapsed in a storm in 1879. Meanwhile, it also has a resident ghost, the Grey Lady (doesn’t everywhere?), who haunts the Gods after mysteriously dying when her husband found out about an affair with an actor she used to watch from the lofty seating area.

In the costume department, there were no grey ladies in sight as staff prepare for this year’s panto - Sleeping Beauty - putting the finishing touches to a bright yellow multi-tiered cake dress to be worn by the dame. Taking 80 hours of work - that’s two weeks of constant toil - the dress is one of dozens of costumes being prepared for rehearsals which start next week.

Meanwhile, director Christopher Glasgow has heralded a year with a return to a “big programme”, having pledged to return the theatre to its status as a major producing house when he took on the role in 2021. After restoring its producing programme in 2025 and expanding national touring in 2026, the theatre is now focusing on extending its international partnerships. This year’s Produced in Perth series consists of five new theatre productions, bringing together leading Scottish and international artists and new adaptations of European classics.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels marks a homecoming for Australia-based Scottish director and former Perth Theatre artistic director Ken Alexander, as he returns to direct his first production in Scotland since relocating to Sydney. Announcing the production on a video from outside the Sydney Opera house, a sun kissed Mr Alexander heralded the “enormous fun” show.

The English language premiere of Dance With Death, a new adaptation of August Strindberg's psychological drama by Perth-based writer and dramaturg Matthew Short will be co-produced with Swedish theatre company Teater Dictat, while none other than star Scottish director Cora Bissett is to direct a run of Alice, performed by Perth Youth Theatre.

The Na Trads are in Paisley in December. | Paul Campbell

“I started out in youth theatre myself,” said Ms Bissett. “That’s where I really found my muscles and my passion for creating theatre, so it’s fun for me.”

The Oscars of folk

The public is being called on to vote in what has been dubbed the “folk Oscars”, otherwise known as the MG ALBA Scots Trad Awards. The Na Trads (this is the awards with more nicknames than Aly Bain has spare fiddle strings) is in its 24th edition this year.

Organised by Hands up for Trad, the Na Trads, held in Paisley, will also feature performances from the Live Act of the Year nominee Valtos, last year’s Album of the Year winner Sian, Orkney quarter Gnoss, folk fusion act Spodo Komodo, BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2026, Rachel Groves and performers from Renfrewshire's Fèis Phàislig.

The 94 nominees, spread across 21 awards categories, are too numerous to mention here, but can be found at www.scotstradmusicawards.com.