Jennifer Neil
I worked on The End of Pier variety show, summer 2012 with Theatre Presto when I was 18 years old and it was my first real experience of a touring production. I enjoyed touring different venues including many care homes all over Scotland.
I was lucky enough to learn how to horse ride when we stayed in Invergordon and can’t forget the time, we visited a Greek restaurant in Aberdeen, and it was my first (and probably last) encounter with ouzo!!
My favourite thing about performing in the show was the interactions we had with those entertained. Some were hilarious and had us in stitches, especially when we were heckled and telt tae “weesht” but most of the time it was joyous and took some elderly residents right back to their youths. There was plenty of singing, dancing and laughter and we would always walk away from the day feeling like we’d made their day a little brighter. They sure did make mine a lot happier!
After Theatre Presto I went on to London to study and graduated after a year’s intensive at LSMT in 2014. I’ve been working professionally in the industry since and have continued to work in Musical Theatre in Scotland and sailing the high seas on multiple cruise ships.
Jennifer Neil (centre) with Scott McKay and Preston Clare as The Andrew Sisters in ‘The End of Pier Variety Show’ – 2012
Lou Istoriou in the title role of Cinderella – 2023
Lou Istoriou
My name is Lou Istoriou and I am a professional actor from Greece!
My experience with Theatre Presto was amazing!! I really enjoyed the rehearsals; there was so much professionalism in the room as well as respect. It was my second professional acting job in Scotland, and I couldn’t be more grateful! Touring in Scotland while doing the shows was lovely and I managed to see a lot of places that I wouldn’t have the opportunity to see otherwise. The travelling was good as well as the accommodation. The scheduling was detailed, and we were informed about show timings and travelling prior to the tour!
My favourite thing was travelling with Snowie (Preston’s dog) in the car and also playing with him on stage! He is a professional dog actor! I really enjoyed going to different places and performing in unique venues, meeting lovely people and feeling welcomed by everyone!
Preston Clare is a lovely person to work with, and he is so inventive and kind. All the costumes, sets, props are made for each show separately and that’s why he makes it so unique!
I am grateful that I have been part of Theatre Presto and I cannot wait to work in this lovely company again!
Jack Douglas
Touring with Theatre Presto was one of my earliest professional experiences, and I look back on it really fondly. With such a small cast we quickly became a tight-knit team, and rehearsals were full of energy and laughter. I still remember having to attempt a Welsh accent – and I learned very quickly that I won’t be attempting that again!
What stood out most was the sheer amount of time and effort Preston put into the organisation, making costumes and props by hand – it gave the whole thing a wonderfully crafty, homemade theatre feel in the very best way. Touring was a real adventure, and it gave me the chance to grow as a performer while bringing so much joy to audiences along the way!
Jack Douglas as Tom Jones the Cat in ‘Nicky-Dicky Whittington and her Cat’ – 2016
Gavin Williams as Boaby in ‘Oor Boaby, Brooned Aff Abroad’ – 2024
Gavin Williams
In 2024, I played ‘Boaby’, in Theatre Presto’s tour of ‘Oor Boaby, Brooned Aff Abroad’.
What a wonderful, inspiring, and enjoyable time it was! From visiting the most beautiful parts of Scotland, performing for audiences who were so grateful for the arts, and being guided by such a seasoned professional – it truly was a treasured opportunity.
Putting on a joyously entertaining show, and making memories on tour was a great highlight of my year!
Jamie Adams-Taylor
I toured with Theatre Presto twice, first in 2013 with Aladdin, then in 2017 with Peter Pan. The rehearsals were quite an education, learning an hour’s show in 3 days or so. There’s room for fun but getting the blocking and choreography down takes priority. The real fun develops when you’re in front of an audience. The tours were good fun, although tiring. Several three-show days in three different locations was very draining (especially as care homes are usually very warm and the costumes can be very warm indeed), and sometimes audiences were less than receptive despite our best efforts. Some cracking people I worked with and met lovely audiences. I felt welcomed, as family, in Aberdeen and overall the accommodation was very nice. During Aladdin, we performed at a care home where the show… did not go so well for a variety of reasons. It was a real nadir for the tour. With Peter Pan, we returned and I was very worried, expecting a repeat incident. But it turned out as one of the best shows of that tour, with a lovely receptive audience and a fun feeling in the room. I took away from the tour: pragmatism for getting in and out of venues painlessly, better skills for interacting with different audience members, and an appreciation of how Preston manages to do so much with such limited props, scenery, rehearsal time and actors.
Since my time with Theatre Presto, I have toured with the Edinburgh Science Festival, been working in voiceover and started learning many weapon systems in stage combat.
Jamie Adams-Taylor in the title role of Aladdin and Megan McCleary as Princess Samoon – 2013
Laurin Campbell in the title role of Snow White – 2011
Laurin Campbell
I performed in the first ever Theatre Presto production of Snow White.
Being part of a small touring cast meant that I gained great experience playing two very different characters and I learned a lot about the ‘behind the scenes’ mechanics of touring.
A highlight for me was the close interaction that we had with the audience members, who made every show unique.
Euan Ferguson
Working with Theatre Presto was not my first professional gig, but it was a time I will not forget! The rehearsal process is intense and fast paced but it is also a very collaborative experience where we would all discover the show together. The touring can be exhausting. Early mornings and long days, but the rewards are worth it. The joy these shows bring to so many people and their families. People who sometimes wouldn’t manage to get to the theatre. It really is something special to give the audiences a Christmas to remember! The places that you visit and the people that you stay with were some of my favourite memories of working with Theatre Presto. Everyone was so welcoming and treat you like family. And prepare yourself for some of the most majestic views Scotland had to offer.
The incident that sticks in my mind most vividly is the car breaking down on the first day and being driven to the venue in a recovery vehicle! If you are considering auditioning for Theatre Presto, I would highly recommend it. It was a great experience for me, and I have so many special memories from the 3 shows that I toured with!
Euan Ferguson as Handsome in ‘Handsome and Gretel’ – 2019
Jamie McCafferty as Simple Simon with Bethany Taylor-James as Red in Little Red Riding Hood – 2013
Jamie McCafferty
Theatre Presto was my first proper paid acting job. I had never done a touring show, and I loved it! I am very grateful to have visited so many little towns/villages and wee hidden spots around Scotland that I would never have visited in a million years. I can safely say that Wick is the windiest place in the country, and I still tell people that the best fish and chips I’ve ever had was in Skye.
Our accommodation was incredible. We were housed by a lovely couple, Janet and John, at their farm. I learned how to make butternut squash, Yorkshire pudding (people doubted that mine would be any good but it turned out to be the best!) I tried a lot of food I would never have tried as Janet would make a fabulous meal, from pheasant to homemade chicken pies/ soups, you name it! No one ever went hungry and after a long day of touring, 3 shows a day, the table would always be set and dinner prepared for us arriving. It was like something out of a Christmas movie, and I will remember that farm for the rest of my days.
We performed in wholesome nursing homes, beautiful church community centres, and I remember a castle. This castle was in the middle of nowhere and it was dark and snowing heavily as we drove up the long driveway. It was like the beginning of one of those old Dracula movies. The radio was playing in the car and suddenly the music ‘Dance of the Knights’ came on as the castle eerily appeared in the distance.
We all looked at each other with a, “I hope we make it home after this” look, on our faces. It turned out to be a great place and we had a good laugh! Also, one of my more embarrassing moments, and a great example of why you have a dress rehearsal, was when during our dress rehearsal I completely skipped a scene and thought I was coming out as my villain ‘wolf’ character when I was meant to be coming out as the innocent ‘Simple Simon’. Luckily Preston signalled for Simon as if it was part of the show then I came running out while taking off my wolf legs and tail and throwing them over the curtain and it ended up getting a big laugh but it was possibly the most embarrassing mishap I’ve had on stage and I am so thankful it happened during the dress rehearsal as it never happened again.
Since Theatre Presto I have performed in a lot of theatre shows. The most ambitious role was a one man show called ‘Thief’ that required me getting into my birthday suit. It was a challenging role but a fantastic show that covered a lot of dark themes. I have worked a lot as a scare actor as I find it incredibly entertaining. I’m also starting to write and hopefully shooting my first script soon.
Floss Ross
I spent a lovely summer season touring with Theatre Presto.
I first met Preston when he was my ballet teacher. We got chatting and realised we both ran our own theatre companies. When he asked me to tour with “Five Have a Jolly Good Time” I agreed straight away. I loved the Famous Five books as a child and so, I felt I knew the characters already. Also the thought of touring ‘just’ as an actor really appealed to me.
It was a really fun show to do and despite having toured all over for many years, Preston still managed to find some magical spots that I hadn’t been to before. If you want to see more of Scotland, then this is the way to do it! The accommodation is first class and you are well looked after. If you are new to touring, though it is hard work, the amount you learn about your craft makes it worth it. Time management, working as a team, quick costume changes for the many characters you will be playing, setting up in a variety of spaces and the ability to deal with the unexpected.
Preston works so hard at producing all the shows. Costumes, props, advertising, driving, problem solving, directing, sound and of course, acting. I know how much time, energy and dedication this takes and Preston does it all with aplomb. I would say young children and the elderly are possibly the most honest audiences you will experience.
So, what a joy it is when you see faces light up, people laughing and singing along with the songs. This is why we do what we do and with Theatre Presto, I had a “Jolly Good Time”!
