For married Auchtermuchty couple Lizzy and Steph Gerrie, theatre has always been more than just a pastime – it’s how they met, how they fell in love, and now, how they’re helping breathe new life into one of Fife’s most enduring community arts groups.
The pair have been at the heart of Auchtermuchty Theatre Group’s big summer return – co-producing The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, which ran in June.
It marks the group’s first musical in eight years and comes as the company steps up efforts to take over Fife Council’s Victoria Hall through a Community Asset Transfer.
But behind the curtain of showbiz ambition lies a story that is equal parts touching, determined and deeply human.
A love story born in the wings
Lizzy and Steph, aged 31 and 30, first crossed paths over a decade ago while studying technical theatre at Fife College in Kirkcaldy.
“We didn’t really get to know each other at first,” smiles Lizzy, a former pupil of Gateside Primary and Bell Baxter High School in Cupar.
“But we were working on Little Shop of Horrors, messing around with props, and that’s when we started really talking.”
From there, a friendship turned into a relationship, and eventually, a marriage.
They tied the knot last November at Comrie Croft in Perthshire, on what turned out to be the last sunny weekend of the year.
Theatre, fittingly, played a role in their wedding too.
“It was kind of a movie theme,” Steph says. “We had film soundtracks, our favourite films and TV shows themed tables…I went a bit mad with the decorations. It felt like staging a show!”
Now living in Auchtermuchty, the couple have become a powerhouse behind their local theatre group – Lizzy serving as secretary, Steph as chair – dedicated to ensuring its future on stage and within the community.
From mourning to musical theatre
By day, Lizzy works with her father in Dunkeld as a funeral director – part of the small, multi-generational family business W&K Gerrie.
“I’m mostly in the funeral home, preparing people who’ve passed,” she says.
Steph, meanwhile, originally from Musselburgh, is retraining as a nurse.
Before the pandemic, Steph worked professionally in theatre wardrobe departments across Scotland, including backstage on major touring shows like War Horse, Wicked, Les Misérables, and The Lion King.
But like so many in the arts, she had to pivot when theatres and other venues shut down during Covid-19.
“Even though we’re both doing very different jobs now, theatre’s still at the centre of our lives,” Steph says. “And we’re lucky we can do it together.”
A new chapter for Auchtermuchty Theatre Group and the community
Auchtermuchty Theatre Group has been a part of the local cultural fabric since 1979, with its pantomimes often selling out.
But Spelling Bee is only the second musical they’ve done – following Sunshine on Leith back in 2016 – and the first full summer production since 2017.
Lizzy’s involvement began in 2011, when she joined the tech team as a spotlight operator for the panto Rob Roy.
Over the years, she took on more roles, from lighting to committee work, before stepping up as co-producer of the new show.
Steph joined in 2016, and has produced the last three pantomimes and now chairs the group.
“Being married and working together on a show has its challenges,” Steph admits.
“But we’re a good team. Lizzy’s amazing with tech and admin, and I handle more of the choreography and staging.”
Excitement around latest show
Their shared leadership has been central to rebuilding momentum.
The cast of Spelling Bee brought together a blend of local stalwarts and newcomers, some returning after years away, others brand new to the group.
“We’ve had people travelling from Stirling and Dunshalt just to be part of it,” Lizzy says.
“One cast member hadn’t been on stage with us in 10 years. There’s a lot of heart in this show.”
And The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee was no easy task.
The quirky, fast-paced American musical – relatively unknown in the UK – demands both comedic flair and vocal strength.
Originally debuting on Broadway in 2005, it won multiple Tony Awards and has since built a cult following.
“It’s a perfect choice for our space,” says Lizzy.
“We’ve performed it in the Auchtermuchty Church Hall this time, and the intimacy really suits it. The cast interacts with the audience, and it’s quite immersive.”
Looking to the future: A hall for all
The choice of venue wasn’t just creative – it’s born of necessity.
The group’s long-time home, Victoria Hall, has been closed since the pandemic after storm damage rendered it unsafe.
Now, with backing from the local community, Auchtermuchty Theatre Group is spearheading efforts to take ownership of the building through a Community Asset Transfer from Fife Council.
“It’s a long process,” says Lizzy. “We need to change our charity status, submit business plans, and even bring in structural engineers.
“But we’re getting support from other groups who’ve done this before.”
The dream isn’t just to restore Victoria Hall for theatre use – it’s to open it to the entire community.
“We’re not just doing this for us,” Steph says. “We’ve had people already come forward saying they’d run classes, events, even just help clean the place.”
If the transfer goes ahead, the hall could become a hub once more – for drama, dance, music and much more.
“We want it to be a shared space,” Steph adds. “We’re one of the oldest groups in ‘Muchty, and we feel a responsibility to help it thrive.”
In a time when communities across Scotland are grappling with closures and budget cuts, what Lizzy and Steph represent is a powerful reminder of what can be rebuilt with love, teamwork and a little bit of stage magic.
Conversation