The work of Scottish poet Robbie Burns will be brought to life in a new show created by Hollywood producer David Gest.
The reality TV star has teamed up with Rock Academy Performing Arts in Lossiemouth to produce the show entitled One Fond Kiss.
Gest recently rediscovered the original recordings of 12 songs adapted from Burns’ poems, which had produced at close friend Michael Jackson’s home studio in California in 1993.
He said: “Robert Burns was a genius – an ordinary man, but a genius, the people’s poet. This has been a lifelong dream to see a play about Burns’ life finally come to fruition.”
The original orchestrations for the Burns poems were composed by Paul Allan Johnson and created to be part of a musical entitled Red, Red Rose.
The musical was to star John Barrowman, with Gene Kelly lined up to direct and Anthony Perkins as co-producer.
But before the project was finished, Kelly and Perkins died – prompting Gest to put the musical on hold.
Now Tish Tindall and Diane Aspinall, from the Rock Academy in Lossiemouth, have teamed up with the star to finally bring the show to the stage.
Ms Tindall, who plays the show’s narrator, said: “This is such an extraordinary production – simple yet so very effective.
“The show is being planned for the early part of next year and we will be holding auditions within the next couple of weeks, to find dancers and singers.”
Gest said he was delighted to be working with the Rock Academy, adding: “Diane and Tish heard the recordings through my representatives and telephoned me to say ‘we are ready to start the new play right now’.
“How could I refuse two such talented Scottish ladies.”