The Britannia Panopticon Musical Hall (BPMH) is a unique venue which combines a vintage vibe with an almost ethereal quality. You can almost hear the old age echo of laughter from frivolity of ages past. This is one of the reasons I decided to volunteer in the first place along with encouragement from other volunteers who were convinced I would enjoy it and they were not wrong. 5 years later, I have got involved in a range of events and shows that the BPMH put on. The annual Halloween shows being one of my favourites where I get involved in performance, script writing and supporting other volunteers during rehearsals and show nights. It is a fabulous show with a variety of acts and always sells out. The buzz of the night, chatter of the public as they arrive and step back in time to experience a show in the oldest music hall in the world.

After years of volunteering, I decided to become a Trustee and sit on the board for the Friends of Panopticon Musical Hall Trust as I wanted to be part of helping shape the future direction of the BPMH. It has given me an opportunity to make suggestions and offer ideas that further promote and advertise the BPMH to the public. For example, I helped organise a Robert Burns themed event over two nights to celebrate our national Bard. We had a strong advertising campaign in which we partnered with a neighbouring restaurant to offer a show ticket and Burn’s supper deal which sold out. We has also had some air time on BBC Scotland which gave us the opportunity to advertise the BMPH and the Burn’s event. The nights comprised whiskey tasting, a variety of Burn’s inspired acts and raffles prizes. Both nights were a roaring success so we now plan to run this event annually. Increasing awareness of the cultural and historical significance of the BPMH is crucial to its survival and lasting legacy.

I have so far enjoyed my time as a Trustee and currently involved in a range of other projects. I look forward to the future and hope the Britannia Panopticon Music Hall continues to stand the test of time for another 100 years and beyond!