With COVID-19 restrictions still playing havoc with large events, Perth Festival of the Arts has had to look at new ways to reach residents. The festival organised a drive-in cinema at Scone Palace last weekend, with many classics being shown.
Colin McSloy went along for the Perthshire Advertiser to see what it was like.
Drive-in cinema - as quintessentially American as rock ‘n’ roll, country music and apple pie - has over the last decade become steadily popular in the UK.
In Scotland 2021, with our unpredictable weather and social distancing still a requirement, drive-ins seem a particularly good fit.
That is why when Perth Festival of the Arts was putting together the first post-pandemic programme, it partnered with Indy Cinema Group to add a selection of screenings to online performances by the likes of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and the popular Scottish band The Snuts.
The line-up of films, shown within the grounds of Scone Palace, catered for family audiences and with the inclusion of Star Wars, Grease and Back to the Future, had a strong nostalgic bent.
However, it was the inclusion of the original Lion King that piqued my interest. Somehow I’ve managed to get to the grand old age of 43 without seeing this Disney classic.
I have an autistic brother Ewan who, over the last year or so, has been sorely missing his cinema trips, so I decided to take him along.
On arrival, we were marshalled to our space by the friendly volunteers who prompted us to tune our FM radio to the frequency broadcasting the film soundtrack.
Handily, these stewards were also available to provide a jump start to movie-goers who neglected to keep their engines running during the screening. Yes, I’m ashamed to say, myself included.
The lush greenery of the palace grounds provided a great backdrop for the film and it was not long before we are singing along to The Circle of Life and The Lion Sleeps Tonight.
The drive-in experience makes for an autistic-friendly experience. Ewan can make noise as he wants without fear of disturbing other viewers and you can even recline your seat and put your feet up on the dashboard.
During the last year or so the most exciting my Sundays have got is a trip to the Starbucks or Costa drive-thru so it feels like a genuine return to normality to get out and about again.
The huge state-of-the-art LED screen copes admirably, with great picture quality despite the overcast Perth sky.
If Scone Palace hosts further drive-in events, I think they would be missing a trick if they did not include at least one late-night horror event. Imagine how atmospheric it would be to watch something like The Evil Dead or The Shining as darkness envelopes the woods surrounding the palace.
The 2021 Perth Festival of the Arts continues online and runs until Saturday, May 29, broadcast from venues including Perth Concert Hall, Perth Theatre, Perth Museum and Art Gallery, and The Byre at Inchyra.
