A major interactive exhibition in Perth city centre will focus on the area’s myths, legends and other strange tales when it opens in March this year.
Members of the public are being asked to get involved by sending their favourite myths to the organisers, with the best five being displayed in the Perth Museum and Art Gallery exhibition.
Designed in conjunction with staff at the Pitlochry Festival Theatre, ‘Only in Whispers – The Myths and Legends of Perthshire’ will open at the museum on March 16.
One of the myths planned for the exhibition centres on seer the Lady of Lawers who lived in the now abandoned hamlet on Loch Tay in the 17th century.
She was said to have made a number of prophecies including the Highland Clearances, religious divisions and steam ships operating on the loch.
Andrew Wallace, Perth and Kinross Cultural Trust content officer, said the exhibition would be an “unforgettable interactive experience unlike anything seen before at Perth Museum and Art Gallery.”
He said: “Did you know that a witch called Kate McNiven was burned to death by a mob in Crieff? That there is a cave somewhere on Kinnoull Hill called the Dragon’s Hole?
“Perth and Kinross has a rich tradition in stories, tales and folklore and Perth Museum and Art Gallery will be home to a new and exciting exhibition this spring using a theatrical experience to bring these stories to life.
“The exhibition, in collaboration with stage designer Becky Minto and Pitlochry Festival Theatre, will be looking at the strange stories passed down through the generations and how well we really know them.”
Residents are being asked to send their own myths and legends, in 100 words or less, to www.culturepk.org.uk/whisperscompetition by February 6.
Perth MP Pete Wishart welcomed the new exhibition. He said: “Perth is one of Scotland’s great historic cities and it is certainly not short of myths and stories.
“I look forward to the interactive part of this exhibition and hearing the tales and stories the people of Perth will have to offer.
“I hope everybody will have an opportunity to get down and see it and it would be good to see more of these interactive types of events in the city.”
