During my visit to Scotland in Oct, 2012, I had the privilege to go to the Regal Theater in Bathgate. While there, we met wonderful Maureen who made us feel very welcomed. She noticed our red scarfs and asked if we were Susan Boyle's fans. Everyone there was so friendly. It is a place to go when you go to Scotland, as Susan Boyle is a Patron. Susan sang there way before BGT. Last year from an auction, the fans bought a glitter, gray performance dress worn by Susan at one of her performances. They donated it to the theater for display in a special Susan Boyle room to be constructed at a later date. Fans are helping to promote the Regal by sharing the Regal links on Facebook and Twitter. Please click on the links below my log post to help promote The Regal Theater. Thank you.
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Below is a bit from my Scotland log of my time at the Regal:
Saturday, October 6, 2012 - Bathgate, Scotland
Walk, Wash, Wait and Eat
Weather: Chilly in the morning. Sun off and on. Cold in the late afternoon.
- Royalty at the Regal
Well, we arrived 20 minutes later at the Regal Theatre http://www.facebook.com/bathgateregaltheatre and headed to a pub for supper before going in. The small theatre was full of people, white hair, just like at home. And of course, I felt right at home. We were up front next to a senior group from a nearby town. I couldn't understand where they were from when they told me (it sounded like Felfik???) but I did talk to the man next to me, who told me he was John Duffy. He said his brother played the music for Susan at church. He knew the entire family and he was proud to tell me that they know him. During intermission Diane brought a lady over to meet me. Her name is Maureen Docherty-Nagle from the SusanBoyleFanInternational Site. Diane said Maureen recognized the red scarf she was wearing and ask if she was a fan and that is how we all met. Maureen took a lot of pictures and will post them on her Susan site. She is planning on being in Glasgow at the show. Hopefully we will meet up again.
Why I call this part "Royalty" at the Regal, is because after the intermission, the leader of the Livingston Fiddlers asked if there was a Grace from Massachusetts in the house - oh yes, up goes my hand - whooohooo, and then someone from another state was mentioned and I did not get her name, she was way in the back somewhere. Also, from Texas, which was Diane. WOW!!!! I was surprised about us being announced to the audience. What fun!. The show was great. Thirty fiddlers in the band, plus piano, bass and accordion. Very nice.
Then to head back, to the B&B, we decided to find a bus, which we did. When we got on, I said we wanted to go a little past the train station which was only a few blocks and how much was it. He waved us on in to sit down, no fee. I must say, I couldn't believe it - I just knew I wasn't in Massachusetts. That would never happen. Anyway, a very wonderful day here in Bathgate.
It is refreshing that every where we travel in Edinburgh and Bathgate, people have been so helpful and nice to us.
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Happy 75th Anniversary to Regal Bathgate , (The Regal Community Theatre) in Bathgate, Scotland! This is a small community theatre where Susan has performed many times in the past and which encourages local talent. It is also the place where Susan first sang IDAD before BGT!
If you haven't liked their page yet, please do...
https://www.facebook.com/bathgateregaltheatre
They have another page that you can 'friend'...
https://www.facebook.com/regal.bathgate?fref=ts
We can all help promote The Regal, where Susan is the Patron, by spreading the word ~ recommend their pages to your friends. If you are on twitter you could help by tweeting the links as well. They are a great group of people there, many of whom are our friends. Let's see how many 'likes' and 'friends' we can get for them! Susan fans can do it!!
