Katherine MacAlister on a Playhouse Plays Out production with a difference this weekend

You’ll need to get your tartan out on Saturday to attend the Burns Night Playhouse Plays Out celebrations. Performed by Oxford’s very own Live Canon at The Royal Oak pub on Woodstock Road, Oxford, the shindig includes not only poems and music by one of Scotland’s greatest poets, but also a traditional two-course haggis lunch or dinner.

Expect all the trimmings including a recital by and for Burns by Live Canon’s ensemble of professional actors, followed by a meal of haggis, neeps (parsnips), tatties (potatoes) and dessert.

The audience of 40 will also enjoy traditions including the Selkirk grace, Burns’ Ode To The Haggis, and the expected speeches; The Immortal Memory, an Ode to the Lassies, the lassies’ reply, and then a grand rendition of Auld Lang Syne, all washed down by a wee dram.

“We make sure the actors don’t drink too much whisky at lunchtime or they will never make the evening performance,” laughs Helen Eastman, founder of Oxford’s Live Canon poetry group.

A Burns Night expert, Helen was delighted to be asked by the Oxford Playhouse to join their site-specific programme for 2014: “It’s a really fun occasion for everyone; those who always celebrate Burns Night will enjoy the fun of the performance, while for those who haven’t, it’s a great introduction.” So why such a big fuss of this particular man? “Burns is Scotland’s premier poet, in the same way that we might celebrate Shakespeare in England,” Helen explains, “and Burns Night is his birthday.”

Helen also puts the event’s unqualified success down to the otherwise empty January calendar. “It’s good to celebrate something mid-January, post New Year, when there’s not much going on, and Burns’ poems are so performable that they lend themselves to a good celebration. His poems are funny, heartfelt and joyous, and there are parts that everyone can join in with, so it’s generally a pretty good night out.”

Live Canon has been going for five years, and has 12 actors on the books who take turns to recite poetry by heart at various events.

“The group has grown so popular over the past few years that they are now a regular feature at festivals, literary festivals and bespoke shows around the country, but are perhaps best known for the hugely popular Oxford Poetry Walk and the Poetry, Pie and a Pint gigs.

“We are pretty busy and a bit like a large, dysfunctional family, but as Burns Night has long been a cause for celebration, it’s one of our favourites.”

* Saturday evening tickets have sold out, but there is still availability for lunchtime

Oxford Playhouse presents Burns Night
Royal Oak, Woodstock Road
Saturday
Tickets: £21
Box office: 01865 305305