Palace Theatre, Kilmarnock

Thursday 14^th October. Palace Theatre, Kilmarnock.

An early start. 7.30am to be precise. Not a perfect time of day, and any entertainer will tell you that. A three and a half hour drive gives us our normal 11am arrival time, and a chance to tackle the tricky 'get in'. Theatres vary in this department, with some very easy ground level entrances. Others like Kilmarnock have a first floor entrance for all of the equipment, and are not as easy to get the contents of the van to where they need to be. Still with help from the tech guys, we get in, and get set up.

Just for boring detail for those who want to know. Get in and set up normally takes the following format.

Job number one. Pen and Marie are responsible for getting bacon sarni's for Colin and Bill. Bill takes control of setting lighting, and props. Colin sets up the sound system. The cast get their costumes out of the very large trunks used to carry them. Costumes are hung on rails at various points backstage, and then all costumes must be ironed. And people think that show business is glamorous. Most costume changes are done at the side of the stage as most of them are so quick there is no time to get to a dressing room. Yes it gets a bit chaotic at times, especially in a theatre with limited wing space.

Kilmarnock is another theatre which continues to grow in audience numbers. Around 750 will see the show today, around 100 up on our last visit.

Two great shows, and great kids today. Margaret Bunton is the dance teacher here, and she has been with us for 5 years now. Its always a pleasure to see her.

So Stirling tomorrow. A night at a Travelodge somewhere near Stirling is only an hour away, and next day the cast get a chance to have a lie in bed. Only an evening show, and so we travel when we get booted out of the Travelodge at midday.