From Classics to Musicals...

Jamie MacDougall stands in for Billy Differ on this Sunday's Dress Circle and tells us about his stints presenting and performing in musical theatre below:

Something different for me this week, I've been in the studio recording Dress Circle, sitting in for my pal Billy Differ, and can I say, I hope you have as much of a ball listening to the show, as I had making it. It was quite an experience going from the world of Classics to the world of Musicals.

It may come as a bit of a surprise... but I love Musicals. I love all music on the stage, whether it's going to see the Am Dram clubs in Glasgow, or appearing myself. I did a few school musicals, and even ended up playing Tony in West Side Story with Carl Davis.

Actually, before Billy reached the heady heights of the musical theatre world that he enjoys today, he started as the house manager of the King's Theatre in Glasgow, and it was on that very stage that I appeared as a 10 year old playing the page boy in the Lyric Theatre Company's production of the Count of Luxemburg. 

I have to be honest that although I love this music, my knowledge was a bit rusty, no where near what Billy knows, that's for sure, but I love a challenge and I really enjoyed delving into some uncharted waters.

I most enjoyed listening to one of my favourite shows, Cabaret. A few years ago I saw it in Berlin, in German, in an original Spiegel Tent. It will easily be one of my most memorable theatrical experiences... so as Sally Bowles would say....'come here the music play'.

Listen to Dress Circle Sunday 1705 -1900 on BBC Radio Scotland.