“Spout, handle, lid of metal. There’ll be no more Singing Kettle”
This year’s Singing Kettle Christmas show will be the last by the much-loved children’s music group.
Big Christmas Party will tour throughout November and December and the final Singing Kettle performance will take place in Aberdeen in February with their Big Party Show.
Managing director Artie Trezise announced the closure of the company this week.
He said: “My wife Cilla Fisher and I retired from performing with the company two years ago and we’ve now decided to close up shop.
“We’ve both enjoyed having a bit more time to ourselves since we stepped out of the limelight and now we can enjoy not having the pressure of running the business.”
The current Kettle line-up of Anya Scott-Rodgers, Kevin MacLeod and founder member Gary Coupland were sorry to see the end of the famous show, but are also looking forward to their respective futures.
Anya said: “We love working together and are planning a brand new children’s show for 2015, featuring songs, silliness and family fun with a distinctive Scottish flavour.”
Kevin added: “It’s been a real privilege to be part of The Singing Kettle over the years and though we are sad this chapter is ending, a new one is just around the corner.”
The Singing Kettle was first performed outside Dalkeith Library in 1982. In 32 years Cilla, Artie and Gary turned a small show for children into one of the biggest box office draws in the UK and abroad.
The Singing Kettle has toured the US, Hong Kong and Jordan and Oman.
The cast play up to 200 shows a year and now often play to the children and grandchildren of the show’s original fans.
They released their self-titled debut album in 1982, and the group has since sung their way to worldwide fame, producing 44 DVDs and 49 CDs, selling hundreds of thousands of copies, and are now on iTunes. The show won a host of awards, including a Bafta for Best Children’s TV Programme.
In 1999 Cilla, Artie and Gary were awarded MBEs for services to children’s theatre.
Cilla said: “It’s become a tradition in Scotland and many children and their families will miss the show.
“We’ve had so many wonderful times over the years and met so many lovely people. It’s so nice to have created something that’s brought such happiness, not just to our audiences, but to us too.”