Le Haggis is star of Big Burns Supper

Cabaret Le Haggis helped kick off the sixth annual Big Burns Supper with an event on Friday evening, and proved once again why the award-winning show has become a centrepiece for the ten-day festival.
However, this year marked the first that Le Haggis has not been performed in the familiar quirky, colourful, cosy ambience of the Spiegeltent on Newall Terrace.
Regrettably, the move to the Easterbrook Hall at the Crichton has meant that sense of candid intimacy has been traded for a much bigger performance area, able to accommodate a much larger audience.
But a low central stage means some of the shorter audience members may struggle to see the full range of the performances.
However, as is traditional with Le Haggis, many of the show’s artistes do not remain rooted to the ground – instead soaring above their audience on a variety of apparatus.
Jonny Grundy took to the air in a revolving hoop, while Charlie Placais used silks to lift himself from a bathtub and perform aerial contortions.
And in a warning to those seeking to enjoy the best views from the very front rows – you may get wet.
MisSa Blue first impressed with her sword swallowing skills, which tested the nerves of more squeamish audience members, before returning to amaze with her fire-breathing abilities.
And Nigel Voets showed off amazing juggling skills.
Anchoring the whole show and serving as a link throughout are the band and vocalists including Marianne Fraser and Grant Dinwoodie, the latter taking on the role of a puckish rogue, flirting with the audience and demonstrating plenty of cheek.
The crowd were on their feet and singing along at the finale of an incredibly slick show which, while adjusting to its new location, remains very much a justified high point in the festival calendar.