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As part of our weekend long event, we asked the Theatre Royal to show the film Red Rose, about the last years of Burns in Dumfries - and they said Yes! The writer of the screenplay Mairi Sutherland was born in Dumfries and was also the producer of the film alongside the Director, Robbie Moffat.
She sourced all the real life locations, where Burns lived, worked and died.
Many are in Dumfriesshire, including Burns House Museum, Ellisland Farm, Kirkconnel House, Friar's Carse Hotel, Drumlanrig Castle, and many more in the area.
Mairi will lead a Q&A session after the film and Soprano Cheryl Anne Easton will close by singing Burns.
The Incident at the Theatre Royal, Dumfries
In September 1792, the theatre Royal was opened. By October it was running the Shakespeare play As You Like It. The evening had started in a celebratory note because the famous actress Ms Fontenelle had been invited to recite the Robert Burns poem The Rights of Women, something that in itself was unusual. However because Robert Burns was there in the audience it was a fitting tribute to the poets literary talents.
The evening did not go to plan, because the decision to end with the National Anthem caught everyone off guard. Sensing or perhaps feeling he was among friends, Robert Burns opted not to stand up for the Monarch's God Save the King. This initially went unnoticed but the crowd within the theatre were of a radical mindset in that, they had been suffering from months within the presence of the army who had made the town a garrison due to fears that the sentiments of the French Revolution might spread to Britain. Many places in England, particularly the North were also
under strict rule.
When the crowd noticed Burns statement, they in turn began to sing C'a Ira the Anthem of the French Revolution. Momentarily both groups sang their anthems in competiton of each other while Burns was stuck in the middle of the fray remaining silent.
Before long the Redcoat army were sent in to break up the ensuing
riot of theatre goers and what was called a peasant rabble. Very quickly the audience scattered and the evenings performance came to an end.
Robert Burns worked as a customs inspector at the time, but applauded the actions of the theatre goers. However he was quick to apologise to his employers about the event. His letter of apology remains in the Theatre Royal today.
Celebrating Red Rose at the Theatre Royal 2024
Marking its twentieth anniversary, the makers of Red Rose, a film about Scotland's National poet, Robert Burns, are delighted that the film will be screened at the Theatre Royal this year 2024 on the date of the commemoration of his death 21st July.
It is even more fitting because the C'a ira scene was shot in the theatre.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Theatre Royal Dumfries, 58-70 Shakespeare Street,Dumfries, United Kingdom
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