To mark the 155th birthday of legendary Scottish entertainer Sir Harry Lauder, tenor and broadcaster Jamie MacDougall is reviving the much-loved Scottish Opera show Lauder, that was originally presented in 2017, for four performances this summer.
Ticket sales from the London and Edinburgh performances will go to the charity Erskine Veterans Charity, for which Jamie is an ambassador. It provides support to Veterans in Scotland, through care homes and a Veterans Village. Sir Harry, who was an international music star and at one point the highest-paid performer in the world, was greatly affected by his son John’s death at the Battle of the Somme in 1916. He raised huge sums of money for injured serviceman, donating his music royalties to veterans supported by Erskine Veterans Charity.
This production of the musical play has been adapted by director Kally Lloyd-Jones and Jamie MacDougall from the original script by comedian, actor and impresario Jimmy Logan who wrote and starred in Lauder which he performed for the first time in 1976 in Edinburgh, before it toured around the world. Logan revived the show in 2000 for the Pitlochry Festival Theatre and was also broadcast on television.
Harry Lauder premiered his classic song ‘I Love a Lassie’ onstage at Theatre Royal in 1905 when he appeared in his first pantomime, Aladdin, and 1910 he performed ‘Roamin in the Gloamin ‘ in Red Riding Hood. Featuring these well-known songs as well as ‘Keep Right on to the End of the Road’ and other familiar favourites, Lauder also includes footage of Sir Harry’s funeral and film reel from the trenches.
Jamie MacDougall said “I am thrilled to be bringing this tribute to Sir Harry Lauder to audiences in London, Buxton International Festival and Edinburgh for the first time. I was 10 when I was taken twice to see Jimmy Logan in Lauder at the King’s Theatre Glasgow. That was the start of my life-long association with these wonderful songs and Sir Harry, an entertainer who was the first truly global star. I am honoured to be an Ambassador for Erskine, and hope audiences can come along to see this special show and raise money for an incredible charity.”
Scottish Opera is grateful to the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s Archives & Collections who are custodians of the Jimmy Logan Archive including the Lauder scripts and scores.
Tour dates and times:
22nd June at 7.30pm
Hoxton Hall, 130 Hoxton Street, London, N1 6SH
Tickets available from Hoxton Hall
17th July at 9.30pm
Buxton International Festival, Pavilion Arts Centre, St John’s Road, Buxton
Tickets available from Buxton Opera House | Buxton Opera House
4th to & 5th August at 7pm
Portobello Town Hall, 147-149 Portobello High St, Edinburgh, EH15 1AF
Tickets available from Events | Portobello Town Hall
Irene Brown
Radio Summerhall Arts 