Cast members of some classic Scottish comedies are coming to Fife to tell their stories as a new series of talks continues.
Following in the footsteps of Gavin Mitchell, various cast members from Still Game and Only An Excuse are signed up to do the same as ONFife’s Actors Studio series continues into the summer months.
Hosted by actor and comedian Ross Owen, these question and answer sessions offer rare, first-hand accounts and backstage stories that offer a glimpse behind the curtain of professional actors working in Scotland.
Scottish actor and comedian Paul Riley – best known as Winston Ingram in Still Game – leads the way at Lochgelly Centre on Wednesday May 2.
Riley previously worked on the sketch show Chewin’ the Fat and starred in, wrote and directed Dear Green Place. More recently, Paul played Paw Broon in the stage adaptation of The Broons.
Jonathan Watson will then join the Actors Studio at the Carnegie Hall on Sunday May 13 and will talk about his work on comedy sketch show Only an Excuse?, which parodies people and events from the world of Scottish football, and the BBC comedy Bob Servant Independent in which he appears with Brian Cox.
A much-loved character comic, he became familiar to millions alongside Gregor Fisher, Tony Roper and Elaine C Smith in cult show Naked Video in the 1980s and is producing laughs yet again in Two Doors Down.
Scottish Canadian actor Greg Hemphill, best known for Still Game and Chewin’ the Fat, will appear at the Adam Smith Theatre on Friday, May 25, while Sanjeev Kohli, who also stars in Still Game as Navid, and has starred in River City and Grand Gestures, will appear at the Rothes Halls on Friday July 13 and Adam Smith Theatre on Friday July 27.
A versatile actor, comic, presenter, musician and sports pundit, Kohli even played God in a music video once upon a time.
There will also be something for the kids at Carnegie Hall on Saturday May 26 when children’s TV star and panto regular James Mackenzie will recap his illustrious career to date.
His TV credits include BAFTA award-winning CBBC series Raven, River City, Danni’s House, Rebus, Taggart and of course Still Game.
Fife Cultural Trust’s programming manager Scott Kyle said: “We are delighted to have such a strong cast of characters booked up to our newly established series.
“We want to let people have face to face interaction with the best on the box and in cinema, offering insight and encouragement to those who want to pursue a career path in entertainment.
“We want to bring industry professionals into our buildings to inspire the next generation of actors and hopefully give people a real insight into how to get a head start in show business. Of course, we also want to provide an entertaining night for Fife’s many comedy and movie buffs too.”
Tickets for all events go on sale this Friday February 23 at 10am, priced at £10 (plus £1 booking fee) via onfife.com.
The James Mackenzie event is free, although advance booking is advised to avoid disappointment.
Still Game returns to BBC One for a brand new series on Thursday March 8.
