Annual Concert

In March 2011, for three nights only, we presented our 78th Annual Concert - a tradition that has run since that first Concert in 1928 (with only a temporary suspension during the years of World War Two). All three performances of our 78th Annual Concert were played to near capacity audiences of around 200 people each night.

There are several reasons for holding our annual concert – not least for fund-raising purposes – however, probably the greatest benefit to the Boys is the self-confidence that they can gain from getting up on a stage in front of an audience and performing. This character-building experience is a fun way to help attain some of the self-confidence that is required in almost every walk of life as these young men progress to university/college and into jobs. Accordingly, every Boy who wants a speaking, singing or dancing part gets it, regardless of ability, and we work with them to help them perform as well as they can.

Unlike professional productions, or even productions by “real” amateur dramatics groups, our Concert is devised, written, produced, rehearsed and staged over a period of just two months, which is complete madness! However, other BB commitments, school exams and constraints on everyone’s time and availability mean that this is really the only way of making this annual concert possible! Of course, a deadline always helps…and panic looms large as “Concert Week” approaches!

The programme of the 1st Annual Concert, in 1928, included "Choruses Old & New, Original Song Scenas and the One-Act Absurdity The Crimson Cocoanut". Our 78th Annual Concert - "Pantomania!" - was loosely based on a combination of characters and storylines from various popular traditional pantomimes. Entitled "This is the Moment", our 75th Annual Concert, in 2008, went on tour to Alloa, where we performed for one night only in Alloa Town Hall, to an audience of over 300 patrons, including BB dignitaries from all over the UK and the Republic of Ireland who were in Tulliallan for the Annual Brigade Council Meeting.

The programme of our Concert, whatever the year, is sustained entirely by the Boys of the Company Section, with every Boy taking part in some way.