Leading Fife law firm Thorntons is showing its support for a well-loved St Andrews theatre by sponsoring a production of the comedy drama Shirley Valentine.
The play, starring Irene Allan, will run from today (*24 July*) until August 8 at the Byre Theatre in St Andrews.
The theatre, known as the best small playhouse in Scotland, reopened last year after the University of St Andrews agreed to take over the lease on the building. It had closed in 2013 after running into financial difficulties.
Local law firm Thorntons has now thrown its weight behind the resurgent theatre by sponsoring the production of Willy Russell’s celebrated play.
Alistair Lang, Partner at Thorntons, said: “The Byre Theatre is an institution in St Andrews and we’re happy to support it in any way we can.
“By putting on a well-known play like Shirley Valentine, it is clear that the theatre is trying to reach as wide an audience as possible, and that is something we are glad to get behind.”
Irene Allan, will star in the one-woman play about a housewife who has a holiday romance with a Greek tavern owner.
Irene replaces Monarch of the Glen and High Times actress Angela Darcy, who was forced to pull out of the production due to a family bereavement.
Stephen Sinclair, General Manager at the Byre Theatre, said: “We are delighted to be working alongside Thorntons to bring Shirley Valentine to the stage.
“It is this kind of support that enables us to create and stage theatre and reach out to communities in Fife and a wider Scottish audience.”
The Byre Theatre first opened in 1933 on the site of a derelict cowshed and over time has become one of the town’s best loved buildings.
Thorntons has offices in Dundee, Perth, Edinburgh, St Andrews, Arbroath, Anstruther, Cupar, Montrose and Forfar.
For further information on the play, please visit http://byretheatre.com/events/shirley-valentine/