Margaret and Louise Lowrey full
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The date is the 13th of May 2024 and I'm going to sit down and speak with Margaret Lowry and Louise Larry today. The time is 303 and we will begin the interview now, please, can you state your full names and date of birth? Margaret Lowrie, 28th of June 1935. on Louise Larry, 19th of July 1965. to the youngest of seven. Can you tell me about where you were born and raised? I was born. just along the along the road and cosy side, and with them I was to go down the road near the car, get that's where I was brought up. I was born in the commercial gardens home at home. Yeah, and I was brought up between Need re, Katie Miller and Joppa. near Portabello. in my childhood and then moved left home and moved t other places up in town. up north and things and back to where? they lived in in the group once I started teaching, were able to put on a council house at the time. But well, to buy this lovely big house in jumper on day when we're out from the D, which was not pleasure, is a very good reputation. Although I got I thought people were great. They're on. I went back to teach there and ends up being head teacher, and there have been their school on. But I got on great, loved it. What inspired you to become a teacher? I'd always wanted it, really. But when I met my husband when I was 1819, my head instead. and I. could understand. Now there was a bit upset because, I mean, if I would have been the first one in the family to doing him. And in fact, I still was the first one in the family that did it. But when she was five and went to school, I went to marry house on Bond. Did my three years here, then got a job in the local school. Thought there ended up being head teacher of it, and I was there for 25 years. So what were your favourite subjects when you were first in English, English and history loved Englishness to really not very good at math, but, you know, managed it. but I loved loved English in history. Do you think the English and history led to your love of the arts? A bit hard on That was among the hired is out as well. Looked after all that music. I did a lot of singing. You said you a lot of singers to sing it. People's weddings never got paid for it. It's great. What kind of music did you think when church be a church weddings and saying the hymns and I was very, very much in demand because I had a very good voice in those days, didn't. I'm not gonna put you on the spot. But if you'd like to sing for us at any point, you let me know how was burst? Burst into song in a minute now. finishes, I might say farewell. Goodbye. but apart from that, no. getting to that notebook right there. What is your earliest memory of going to a theatre? So I'm going to a theatre. My earliest memory was going to a traitor down near recent Mary's Cathedral with chopper with walkers. Miss Cathy did. It was a theatre there called the that down if you're going to ask that. Anyway, Whatever it was, I was taking her to see the pantomime. I'd be about seven or eight. And there was this girl straight ing around with the long legs of the types of everything from Manti. Basic it saying that that's Prince Charming. Like it piping up quite noisy. When I think about it now, I said, That's it. That's no prince Charming. That's a girl that's a woman did it from that moment on. I didn't like point of mine, which I tell you. What about you? so that was the first. But we came here a lot when it was the empire you should go with what's out there. was a door there that was a cheapie door going there for quite cheap and used to come there a lot to see all these people singing these variety shows. Do you remember your earliest experience visiting the King speeder? I've got that here. My first memories of his Kings Theatre. that's in Thomas's school on this would be around about 1950 to 52 ish. on, but I was preparing to set my hires. You be in Scotland long enough to know that Carly, or grades and things down in England. But it was lowers and hires in these days, of which English was very important, that the most important to me on the literature paper, especially so that was Shakespeare in this place with the main part of the exam paper. And that worked very hard. This particularly on King Lear Hamlet. Macbeth upset three. and then manifesting what that time was. Very new. Well, I think with 1948 from two or three years old, the festival really been existence. A very short time on the place would put on at the Kings Theatre, and I was a great thing in these days. I don't hate the schools. Do it now, but the school's at that time. If peoples were sitting, these aforementioned exams were given a chance to see that plays on a very cheap rate. Think it was a bit of shelling, which is about five p or something now, or one in six, which would be 7.5 pence, but we've got a really special rate. quite sure that's no longer goes on my own daughter's wedding. Since Thomas isn't as far as I know, we're never offered that. I'm not sure I think we got you go t o I see him, and that counts for 50 p assault Macbeth and right brain. But all it was like a special thing for schools has that the king's the difference. That's right. It's a special thing. Be back in the fifties for a swell. among the other productions. I saw King Lear so Hamlets from Macbeth and they were performed by actors like Michael Redgrave, John Gill Good. And I'm pretty sure one was Ralph Richardson. You maybe not have even heard of any of them, but they were. They were the people in these days. We were so privileged to see such great people on stage and at that time and such a magnificent setting is the king's was, you know, it was wonderful. however. at the moment. What being So we got a place here. about what's being carried out. this great place of entertainment I'll be full of, I'm sure, with full of audiences enjoying many things there once again. now school. But it started off for myself. Love life, along with other theatres which I've got to this day. But once it was married, but husband and I we really got to the theatre on. But we've got you know, when we got that baby sitter used to go the cinema because of the 30 of what? To look ahead. You've got to put your seats. You got to see what's coming on. And that was very difficult. So if we got baby says he usually went to the cinema and one of the cinema I went to was a playhouse which is a theatre now. But it was a cinema then, so I've written that had the playhouse now. what? What? What what difference does that can't be right now. what? Oh, what? it can't be moderating. We'll need the what Distinguished Kings from other theatres who in the 17 eighties was for all summer. Now this show came on all someone can plan for what's called the five past eight. Sure, the half past eight show it was at half past eight shows that can't remember people like Ricky Fulton and really quite good. It wasn't really my Kennedy, but it was It was good entertainment, so we went to that occasionally. on day after the festival was over. You want to the panto season that went on till mid January? I can't tell you anything about that because I hate the panto. So was never there on a hated panto from that time. All those years before I was called the Lambert. The theatre. At the time it was it was a top police. What? Top of top of the street on, but I just couldn't stand being told this was a prince and I knew it was a woman with long legs. Anyway. Exaggerates the kids left home. My husband has a bit more time for theatre going. most such of the Festival Theatre is now on to the Lyceum, which was great for place. I love the Lyceum still. Well, there's quite a lot. but we have one more connection with the council. It's the most important one. whether my sons, Charles had two sons and five daughters, one of my sons, he worked at the Kings for bent many seasons. he does everything they have seen. Shifting lights. Seven systems even occasionally got small parts in crowd scenes, you know? Sadly, we awesome in an accident. 1990. actually just been in the ghetto. Here was the last night of the on the dog going to the pub for? I get together and he went home and sat in the window sill to have a fag through the window. that was that. anyway him. the staff were great. The other reason but great on guard. he had been, he'd be in a real nomad. Charles, too, you know, he used to kinda guy. He must have went away to university, my family, our college and did it also of professional things. Childs didn't. He was a real nomad. He really did go and pick groups in France. And they really did kill turkeys for Christmas and season. You know, like anything you know, we really did. But he was always back in the king's for the festival. And then there was always there until January with pantomime. That's something in some time, off before tea. And then did you spend some time off a home for taking off for the continent to do the next thing on his agenda Today? There was a real adventurer. the China is full was enormous because with a young man, 29. on board. and I, particularly logic came from here, was calling from the king's things. together. Afterwards, it presented his dad and I with our lovely grey granite flower holder and written in front and gold was kings. on. Some people probably thought it was a biblical term, but it wasn't it was the king's. It was this Kings. that's not written down. That other thing. Of course we start about my friend who who? I've talked to ready. my dad, I I, you know, got that one of, you know Oh, my dad when he was up, a young guy be about fortune before what is actually it's just tell a 12 year old it would come to the Kings. for so spare works and it was going what they were particularly particularly was at that time was putting on Ida at the grand marched. around. the body. There was this window on. They had nine boys with a spear in each hand. on. They had to keep marching by looking like a massive army. And as I got past this window, that doctor run like hell round. And what my dad said, missus I've never forget is I thought they were never going to stop. And they were getting something like a shadow in the night or something, you know, just peanuts. But people were very poor in these days. My dad was my big family, and he was he lived in the car, get very poor on. every shilling was needed. It was built by the route is taken home in these days. It was given to the family, wasn't for themselves, and we got a couple of pence out of it. but that was That was his. Remember the Kings on d other thing? One of my other daughters on dates just reminded me forgetting about that, that was. just before Charles died. That's right. I worked. She was. She worked here for a while. Assad Address address. Assistant dresser. so between my son and my daughter and my dad and ourselves of schools with a lot to do with the Kings over the years. just when one's once the state opened that became a friend of the A friend of the Of course I'll go to that. I mention that the days, of course, I'll go to the Kingston when I'm dying to see what is going to be like, but I won't be going to see the pantomime. I'll go and see. And I might even go and see a variety show about but won't go and see the point of me. What would you like to see at the King's when it reopens? Well, I don't have to be doing up again. There certainly got the acoustics for it. and I would go and see that man had the critics even before. And I'm sure they'll be greatly improved for the mini theatres. And wait, Did see cellblock h actually going yourself cage with musical was in the festival. We actually play of what was what was the name of the one that was? vinegar tits was she was small. she was a governor who was the one that was That was that was in the music. Vinegar tits was true. Absolutely. That's Officer the Q Crew on. That's what the machines the governor was going to get its issue with. Big. It's a big one. The black here that was she called. she was called something else. It's probably not even possibly correct. T o put it up for corrective. Put it on your recording. I don't know. You can exclude that if it's not. but so I think. just just shameful with checked in. I meant to say, Yeah, the school done that. first, we're being new. How lucky. What? Yeah, lucky to get a chance to see those famous cleaners such a chief rate. if you had to pick one play. What? Which play stands out the most free Hammond. It was Michael Redgrave. I think I'm King Lear. Hammond can they would accept pizza like I love both of them. King Lear was great as we live with him, sitting on the stage with thing with his eyes knocked out because we were doing the place in school and then the school. I was Reagan. They want to be the good daughters, Cornelia. But once you give me the fat Reagan I was going on, Reagan and Cornelia think that I had to be one of the bad daughters. Unfortunately, wasn't good daughter. but it was great. Actors over here were so travellers should see that, you know. It was a magnificent city of the king's at that time. Yeah. Yeah, but it was wonderful. Never forget that. Forget that. That that started off my love of the theatre. group was Thomas's school. Is there anything in particular about the theatre? The architecture of the art that's Dan out to you in your memory? and I think the size actually and the stage was big, big, although years later I brought before I was promoted to head. I brought one of my primary seven classes up here to see the theatre to see the This was the one hoping to the time on. But I don't see the next Abbott. But let's come up with kids up beforehand. But you were behind the scenes on. I was amazed how big the stage here was. I never realised till here behind the scenes. How big the stages? Yeah. Oh, yeah, brought MMA class here to see The Nutcracker from Craig Miller, people said. Oh, like that, Mrs Lavery. Well, they absolutely loved it. They absolutely loved it. that paints start low like that, I said. Well, like it or not, we've got tickets and they're going so but the dead, they loved it. But I was surprised at the side of the stage here for the Kings had a very big stage, but this is It's not far behind. Can't be far behind. It's big. I'll see it doesn't mean I was just wanted this. I was here to see David Sushi. doing is I'm off doing his stuff, you know, talking about his. great life. It wasn't always just Poirot did lots of things. but that's not the king's that's here. trying to remember. What else? What about you, Louise? What was your first show? That you remember saying Thank you. patty to bear. As you're aware, it was whether it was the king's, though I see. I was at the school. On your school? Yeah. I also remember with the brownies going to see the black and white minstrels, which was would be very politically, doesn't like anywhere. When Susan was telling, was she hated going with the brownies to the gang show? That's the way to the King's todo of Susan's. She's awake. Ganesh absolutely hated it. The gang shot of France did it much myself. been chief. What do you have? Like to have some in the game ship? Possibly. But this was a terrible. That's the worst brownie ever. I was always not doing what I was told. So I never really mean I my kids do all these kind of things. I've never done that myself. I went to the brownies when I was about 89 when I lived the target. And when I saw the brown, it was kind of like the D S. O Prince Charming was the woman I saw that Brown was just someone with a brown shirt that I thought was going to be a. Now we're going to see it's why didn't get kids have something six in your mind, you know, and you I went back. That's just my mama will come back. She did you Did you not like it? I said it wasn't. I know she won't cross us. No, no, it's a woman. so I didn't go back to that. No, that wasn't my thing at all. But make them all go because you give that dad now. But peace. Seven of them. We get about the house feeling about the house for a night. And I was too much to ever Brownie. I've got the same badge, but I never got the house orderly. You get it? I get it now. Oh, God. you think Anything else that happened? That I forgot my knees. No school. the famous plays the famous actors of the time. It's cool, but it's starting off a lifelong love. We couldn't get the state if we went to the cinema, the playhouse, as I said. it was a picture house in. I want to find that what defined the Kings in the seventies and eighties was all summer. Five for half past eight show was on. after the festival and then the panto season, which went until mid January. I didn't go to that at all. Anyway, let me chop. I remember being school. It would suit play called capital offence that the king's daughter who wrote it but it was a brothel, and Isabella. 50 good comedy that that was a good farm. on your way to see the rite of spring. This It was a special one for schools and explaining it all to ask what was about. And there was someone there. A very old man is or who it was. But he been either the original choreographer, a very old man that was an employee of the father who would have been. it was dancing greatly was was amazing. I love Bali. I loved, loved. loved ballet. first, I'd say that's another thing here when it was before it was a festival theatre here. Helen Never in the nursery. She knew I looked valid. She got me a ticket for Swan Lake. I'd be about 17 at the time. Before I met my husband, but wasn't going around them. And I came myself at night here, to the empires that was there. on a sauce. One leak on I was hooked forever. See, every time it comes. I've seen it with the men doing it. It's well, just missed. I know it's T O. my daughters at the time. I love the ballet. I love it. of the meeting of it, and I loved the dancing. just off the season. What role do you think the king's leader or theatre in general in Edinburgh will play in the future? Well, I'm hoping that the kings of operas hopefully a large one. Hopefully a big part of a big party. We should see. I mean, it's a b you to see. more accessible pricewise on weight, they have to. the happens I've got to cover your costs will be astronomical. Now that's right. And this big operas and musicals and most custom meant to put actors have to be paid. And quite a lot. I would imagine there's a lot of people have much according to put the drink, and we'll look at how much energy they must have to make these shows on every night for a month. You know, even they're not here. They're moving on to another city, so they're doing it pretty constant, really. And so that's that. I know we've got festival, but the rest of the year we want to have our theatres. We go a lot to the fear. Is that really what you so very much don't watch television? I'm sure it's telling. I don't know, Like TV. It just I don't know why. I know there's three things on that I just don't like it. is that the life experience that's alive on even e can't do that afford to do it that much, But I think that's how why, why I got into to amateur dramatics myself for fun. You know, I'm hoping when the Kings is finished, they're not going to completely change the outside of it. I mean, he completely changed outside of the Empire, which I'm glad because it was nothing like his attractive is this is, you know, it was so you dump your current place, but I hope to leave the outside of the king's same. You know, it's it's different. It looks good there. my mother and dad just stop not far from it around the corner. for a good number of years as well, just agent to Rusty. Hey! well, they were not theatergoers their picture goes not to your core. well, I can reassure you that the king's front facade as a Grade two listed building is not changing. The only difference is that you'll be able to see in the windows because the bathrooms aren't going to be on the front. one. couldn't have that beautiful kings like the actual toilets in that beautiful well wooden doors and the marble kind of. it was. It was very, very plush. Let's see. Yeah. It's a long time. It's a bit too much more here on day Lyceum than the Kings, but I will go back. I said, I think you didn't work for after chart for a while after I couldn't go after child now wouldn't go near it. Oh, I couldn't go need. After that. I didn't go to any of Peter's things or anything. I just couldn't go to the king's years where I could go back to the King factor. Have any going back that often know once a year to Peter's obligatory. performances. it's got. It clearly has a much different sentimental meaning to you in a different way, but it's t yeah. I could just see him there, you know? We're going in the door statement. Take us in the side door. to meet people, everything. I just couldn't do it. but I'll go to you, please and give a try. differently. No, Louise, you mentioned that you got in to amateur dramatic. put in. Very likely, yeah. No, the Kings. But she is very good for some Terrible, you know, wasn't terrible, but does it for a bit for confidence on DS for actually to the wee foundation course that what was Telford College, and it was really good fun. Community drama, acting and music and dancing, just everything movement called the musical movement That's right and And then I didn't pursue the actor on facts. Sometimes I wish I had taken the technical Jama and because I think I would have been better that. But anyway, that doesn't have the other things. Now I work in a cafe and for years, cafe we worked. put on a pantomime moment. Volunteer work at the volunteers and the people that did that have moved on. The manager that did that has moved on, but that. all that panto I did like did he answer? What do you take up leading the new panto? No, I was generally the I was the other sister. One of the of the sisters I was there was Jack and Jill on the been stalking hours, Jill. What was the other one? There was one that was We just made them up by things that happened. We never really found. It was It was the awkward customers in the cafe, very amateur in the church hall. We said it, but they were absolutely great. Great fun. But I say I don't like pantomime, but I loved their loved. I was terrified before because every year you would forget Oliver. We had about two rehearsals before we read on. It Could never be made. Was funded. If I could interject one year do with music which will be driven strong which you songs in that and the music it was to the boney M by the rivers of Babylon in the cafe at Liberty Way Don't sit down. anyway. for the music. It was a wrong music that came on and we just had todo something could couldn't possibly happen on stage, but was added to the fun. on behalf of you will have people thought it was intentional. Any way had to do it all by First of all, it didn't come on then when it came on, it was wrong. So that was that way in front of that way. It was mainly lesser water. She was the body real bad. And she was the giant in Jack. You have been blessed of the ugly sisters and healthy environmental health inspector coming into the cafe to try and close it down. So she was. That was great fun. so on Health and safety officer was another one with that. That was about health and safety because we had somebody has an accident on our gear, day out, intricate islands and we had to get the Coast Guard to take her back. She she fell playing badminton herself unless it's an island. In the fourth, she felt badminton and broke her leg, but we understand that I'll be 59. to July, Joe I But I'm one of the younger ones that works. Yeah, seventies. My group. so on that that was the people that were in. Cinderella was the same age is me. right here. so, yes, I found that kind of pantomime enjoyable. We never had that many men. We couldn't get men for the ugly sisters. We couldn't. Men never want to go into anything like that, do they? So it was mostly women. And you just get a man for Prince Charming because you never have should have yours and you write every that was the woman had. even at that young age, I thought, This is ridiculous is what gave me away from Oh, it was a fad to me, but I did enjoy butt out the way I got with very funny much. more real life commentary. That's right, so I'm very good. Good for you. I would do it again. Flowers If it if it happened again you do. You should write one should dio We need Norman less and people like that. it seems that Peter's played a really interesting role in a lot of different aspects of your life. know connected to the Kings, of course. But of course what I go through me. It went back to that, and I think for you as well. What had you performance wise as I go to something called the Mad Jamet, the Agresti United Church. It's the mad jam. It's run through the royal agent about hospital, and it's just a safe place to sing or write. Read Poggi. She likes love, the poetry, a right fortune. Eventually, our strategy to put I like singing so put tunes to listen. and I go to a music sanctuary. It's called Music Sanctuary. we'll be saying it. Write songs. that's millions to performance, like like Dayton performances, and you gather that. special doesn't like TV should do something live. I don't know why. I just can't across a German TV. Just think. What else could I be doing? even just having a bath. So that's it, Yeah. There's something really beautiful about seeing a live performance, especially because you don't know what's going to happen. You should have seen the same play. That's right. How do you define? And every single one is completely different. Just our loved musicals wasn't just so gobsmacked at the talent that these people have got just compute even compared with a film of a musical, you know, and just the dancing singing. I saw seven brides for seven brothers in the playhouse myself. Time Margaret and I went to four years ago. Now it's essential that died. So less than six years ago I had seen the film. I was I was, in actual fact, that life think was absolutely fabulous. I couldn't. I mean, I went there thinking That's a very energetic film. They never managed to things, but they did something they did. They were absolutely, greatly. 20 days. I don't think I had that for first. grade is a theatre because it was a very, very big cinema. So it zgray for I think it's, you know, it's it's big. So I think that was everything We've said everything. So when when is the king spends it likely to be? opening and operational kings will be operational in the last quarter. 2025. I'm still here. I'm sure you will be. That'll be 90. Well, it's been an absolute pleasure talking to you both. I want to thank you both for this for your time. At this point, we're going to stop the recording. Time is 338 and we're going to conclude this interview for the Kings Theatre Heritage problem. |
