A SPECIAL anniversary screening of a film dedicated to Robert Burns will be shown at Dumfries’s Theatre Royal later this month.
Costume drama ‘Red Rose’ is celebrating its 20th anniversary on Sunday July 21, coinciding with the date of the bard’s death.
The film focuses on events following a fateful night in Burns’ life when he refused to stand for the national anthem before a show at the theatre. His actions ended up causing a riot and the redcoat army cleared out the rabble of the theatre and the show ended abruptly.
The film’s screenwriter Mairi Sutherland was born in Dumfries and is looking forward to bringing the bard’s story back to the town where he lived. She said: “I remember it like it was yesterday, it was the first screenplay I’d written so I was really excited to see it made.
“The fact the Theatre Royal wanted to screen it for the 20th anniversary is really special. It will be great for people to experience the synchronicity of the film, watching the infamous scene in the venue where the historic event happend and was later recreated and filmed.
“We filmed at locations throughout Dumfries and Galloway, including Ellisland Farm, Friars Carse and Drumlanrig Castle, so you couldn’t get a more authentic Burns film if you tried.”
The screening of ‘Red Rose’ will be held on Sunday July 21 from 7.30pm and will be followed by and Q and A with Mairi.
For more information visit the theatre’s website.
