Brilliant Beasts provide end of term delight at St Magnus Festival

The Bestiary of Brilliant Beasts went down a treat at Stromness Town Hall this morning.

Created by David Knotts and inspired by John Gallas’s poems about endangered species, the musical show saw eight members of the Assembly Project offer a jazzy take on a variety of colourful critters.

Bold, bright and creative images of ten animals were projected onto the backdrop, each accompanied by its own tune.

Anchoring the 50-minute show was John E Rhymer, who masterfully introduced the animals before the playful, jazzy and infectious music swung between Looney Tunes-style frantic foolery and inventive atmospherics, bringing broad smiles to the audience.

And none more so than the 30 or so pupils from Stromness Primary School who made it along.

The visit was organised as an end-of-term trip, with Primary One pupils escorted by their Primary Seven buddies as a special farewell before the older pupils leave for Stromness Academy in the summer.

Not only were many of them delighted by the music and cartoon imagery, but at the end of the performance the musicians shared many of their wonderful instruments — including a rainstick larger than some of the children — and allowed the pupils to experiment and make their own music.

It was something they took to with joyful relish.

For the rest of the audience, it was one of those magical festival moments when an event is no longer just a show, but a sharing of music and midsummer wonder.