Pamela Mackie - Rubber Chicken Theatre Company 18.00 for 18.30 Meal @ Westlands

Rubber Chicken Theatre

There was a very warm welcome for Pamela Mackie who spoke to the Club about the work of Rubber Chicken Theatre - Dunblane’s performing arts family.  Pamela, the Theatre’s Creative Director, and her team have been producing shows as well as teaching and supporting the performing arts across Dunblane for 16 years. The Theatre started with some 50 children; it now has 180 enthusiastic participants aged from four years to adulthood.  As Pamela explained, they welcome anyone with an interest in the arts. The Theatre operates as a social enterprise, linking with several local charities, organisations and schools to give access to the arts. It provides drama classes, workshops, a community choir, and produces shows with opportunities (on and off stage) for small children through to retired adults.  Participating in these activities not only provides enjoyment and fulfilment, it acts as a means of confidence building.  While the Theatre does charge for taking part in its activities, if ability to pay is an issue the Theatre has a flexible policy: to date it has made available 968 free hours.

With a tradition of providing regular shows, the arrival of the pandemic was a real blow.  However, after serious consideration they took the decision not to close.  In the event, they were able to offer shows by a combination of performing outdoors in Dunblane’s Holmehill (when this was allowed), and digitally recording and then broadcasting shows.  This latter process involved recording each performer individually and then, as Pamela described it, ‘stitching those individual files together to create a show’.  Easy to say, perhaps, but, as she pointed out, performers were in different countries and the ultimate performance required a huge number of files to be stitched together before the show could be broadcast.  The outcome of this hard work was, however, greatly appreciated, including considerable admiration from America.

The Theatre takes its shows to a variety of locations in the UK and has travelled to Europe to take part in the Europe Junior Festival. It is particularly proud of achieving not one but two Guinness World Records for the fastest production of a theatrical show. On the first occasion, the Theatre succeeded in starting the performance after 11 hours and 59 minutes. That time having then been beaten by a Spanish company, they pulled out all the stops in February 2022 to gain their second World Record with the amazing time of nine hours and 59 minutes, involving a cast of 130.

And now, Pamela suggested, their need is for more space and more volunteers.  They have two challenges: to register as a charity, and to find a larger venue.

Thanking Pamela, Stewart Strathdee reflected on the amazing achievement of the Theatre and the enthusiasm and professionalism that has been evident in its work.