Actor Richard Briers was guest speaker at Dundee Rep’s fund-raising dinner in the Invercarse Hotel last night.

Richard found fame and popularity in a number of much-loved television roles, most recently as Hector in the Monarch of the Glen, but has never lost his love of live theatre.

Having worked in the past with the Rep’s joint artistic director Dominic Hill, he was happy to donate his services to enchant the 260 dinner guests with witty tales and anecdotes of his experiences on and off the stage.

His contribution took the form of “An Evening with Richard Briers,” allowing plenty of opportunity for audience participation.

The evening also included a short cabaret by members of the Dundee Rep Ensemble, who performed musical extracts from some of the shows that have enhanced the theatre’s growing reputation, including last autumn’s hit Flora, The Red Menace.

Guests had the chance to bid for a number of lots in an auction led by the evening’s master of ceremonies David Adam, a senior partner in a local firm of quantity surveyors.

Among the items on offer were the use of an apartment near Monte Carlo during next year’s Grand Prix and an original painting by Dundee artist Gordon Laird.

For those who missed out on the auction, there was still the chance to win in the raffle, with prizes ranging from a flying lesson to champagne and the use of a stretch limo.

Last night’s event was the Rep’s third fund-raising dinner, explained board chairman Sinclair Aitken.

The previous events raised £12,000 and £16,000 and he hoped that a similar sum would be realised last night.

The money will go towards completing the new dance rehearsal studio for the Scottish Dance Theatre, based at Dundee Rep.