From Prague’s Jazz Legends to Broadway Sets in Pitlochry: An Arts Diary
Prague’s oldest jazz club, the Reduta, remains a magnet for global icons. From a saxophone-playing Bill Clinton to the legendary Sean Connery, this historic venue continues to bridge the gap between cinematic history and world-class music.
Walking in the Footsteps of Sean Connery at Reduta
The Prague Reduta Jazz Club holds an illustrious spot in European music history. While recently attending the World Figure Skating Championships in the city, arts correspondent Jane Bradley revisited the venue that once hosted big band leader Glenn Miller and Acker Bilk.
The club is famously known as the site where former US President Bill Clinton performed an impromptu saxophone set in 1994. However, its guest list extends to Hollywood royalty, including Morgan Freeman and the late Scottish icon Sean Connery. The club also remains a favorite for modern jazz masters like Wynton Marsalis, husband of Edinburgh International Festival director Nicola Benedetti.
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Broadway Magic Comes to Pitlochry Festival Theatre
Closer to home, the Pitlochry Festival Theatre is preparing for a monumental production. Broadway set designer Bob Crowley is painstakingly recreating his original New York set for the musical Once.
The design, which originally debuted at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre on Broadway, reportedly “fits like a glove” on the Perthshire stage. The 2012 Broadway team has reunited for this revival, bringing the heartrending Dublin-based “will-they-won’t-they” story to life with meticulous detail.
Read more; Magic Reborn: Why the New Harry Potter HBO Series Trailer Just Shattered Every Record
The Case for a ‘Culture Act’ in Scotland
Beyond the stage, a movement is growing for a Culture Act for Scotland. Spearheaded by the group Culture Counts, the campaign seeks to embed the arts into the fabric of Scottish society.
The argument isn’t just about entertainment; it’s about public health. Recent data suggests:
Economic Return: Every £1 invested in culture can deliver an £11 return in health and productivity.
Health Benefits: Classes like Dance for Parkinson’s in Perth demonstrate how creative movement reduces the burden on the NHS by improving wellbeing for patients and carers.