THE force was with those behind a new variety show based on Glasgow's bygone Empire shows of the 50s and 60s ...
The Famous Glasgow Empire Strikes Back show was officially launched at the Clutha bar yesterday to raise money for Spirit Aid, a humanitarian relief charity, and The Clutha Trust.
The one night only show spectacular will be held at the Citizens Theatre on March 20.
Photograph by Colin Mearns
Audience members, who are being encouraged to heckle mercilessly as was the way of the old shows, can look forward to comedy from the likes of Karen Dunbar and her comedy troupe Witsherface as well as magic, music and burlesque and a famous face from the show’s history.
Actor David Hayman, head of operations at Spirit Aid said: "English comedians dreaded coming up to Glasgow Empire, they died a death because the humour wasn’t right for the tough Glaswegian audiences.
"Des O’Connor at one point was going down so badly, that he pretended to faint. So we’ve invited Des back to come and see if he wants to resurrect his career. And he’s always got that fallback, he can always collapse and we can carry him off on a stretcher."
Alan Crossan, owner of The Clutha Bar, said: "The money we raise will be used to help local disadvantaged young people, through music and the arts and basically, we’re going to entertain people. Twenty quid for a ticket, they get a great night out and we get to help people."
Pictured from left- Stan Laurel (Ross Owen), Oliver Hardy (Alan Campbell), burlesque dancer Miss Hell's Belle, Clutha owner Alan Crossan and actor David Hayman. Photograph by Colin Mearns
Comedian Patrick Rolink, director of Spirit Aid, said: "It’s been quite stressful putting it all together because of the number of acts involved, but it’s been so much fun and we’ve met so many good people and what never surprises me in Scotland is how many people will put themselves forward to help good causes.
"All these people coming along today to give up their time to help us promote the show and helping us to raise money to do the things we do to help others."
While there is only one show this month, the organisers hope to bring it back annually, and Hayman hopes it will create a new love of the performing arts within Glasgow.
He said: "We want to build on it year on year because we’re moving away from the years of music hall and variety, but if you go back to the early 1900s, Glasgow had something like 43 theatres. We had more by head of population than any other city in the world.
"That’s phenomenal. Glasgow has always had a great, passionate love of theatre and we hope to rekindle some of that."
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