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Dundee Rep are teaming up with Oran Mor, Glasgow's groundbreaking theatre venue to produce a  play written by Michael Marra and featured as part of their A Play, A Peh and A Pint season. Michael has a small role playing piano and providing some vocals and narration.

"Saint Catherine's Day tells the story of different generations of romantic
Irish balladeers and how they view their occupation. Glib, shallow
professionalism has replaced their originally noble purpose as singers. A
remarkable thing happens during a moment of musical truth which throws them all
into confusion.

`'Never underestimate the power of cheap music.'' Noel Coward

Ticket information from Dundee Rep Box Office

Read Alan Chadwick's 4 star review of St Catherine's Day in Herald Scotland

Read Joyce McMillan's 4 star review in The Scotsman

You can view a video of Michael speaking about his play at Oran Mor Website

Saint Catherine's Day has been adapted for the stage by Michael Marra from his original story which appeared in the collection of his short stories titled -  Karma Mechanics , first published as an animated e book by Intro2.books and available at their website.

Michael is at Milngavie Folk Club on Saturday 12 March 2011. The club meets at the Fraser Centre in Douglas Street, Milngavie. Doors at 07.30pm - Visit the Milngavie Folk Club website for ticket information or call 07743885991 - reservations only

The Marra Family have invited donations for efforts to bring the El Sistema Orchestra Project for disadvantaged children to Dundee. They have established a Trust Fund with Blackadders. Solicitors in Dundee to help facilitate this project. Further specific details about the Dundee project at makeabignoise website and how to make a donation to this project  in Michael's  memory.

The project was very close to Michael's heart and he had been pursuing his dream of bringing the Sistema Project to Dundee in the months before his death. His song " The Violin Lesson" from his "Candy Philosophy"  album was written as a tribute to Helen Crummy who organised a similar music project in Craigmillar in Edinburgh.  - " the boundless dwells in every soul and very few awake"

A spokesman for Michael's wife Peggy and his children Alice and Matthew issued the following statement after more than £2000 was donated in support of bringing the Sistema Project to Dundee by mourners at his funeral. Local vocal group Loadsaweeminsingin also donated a further £500.

"Peggy, Alice and Matthew, along with the rest of the Marra family, have passed on their sincere thanks to their friends in Dundee and from far beyond for their kind words and tributes to the late Michael Marra who died on 23 October.

The many generous acknowledgments from across Scotland and far beyond to Michael and his work throughout the Arts have helped to comfort his family at this sad time.

The family are also very grateful for the donations to bring the Sistema Project to Dundee. A trust has been established in Michael's name to this end and plans are already in place for other fundraising activities.

It was Michael's dream to bring this life-changing musical experience to Dundee's children. The Marra family will continue to raise money to make Michael's dream a reality and bring Sistema to Dundee"

Suite 10, 130 Leith Walk
Edinburgh EH6 5DT
Scotland, UK

Technical Specification for Michael Marra

Charity concert for Medical Aid for Palestinians, organised by Tayside for Justice in Palestine, The Apex Hotel, Sunday, 15th March, 7.30 p.m. - 11.p.m. Ticket £10.- Michael Marra also featuring Loadsaweeminsingin' and Sheena Wellington.

Tickets will be available for purchase at Groucho’s Record Store, Nethergate, from 24th February after 2 p.m.

From press blurb for the tour with Mr McFall's Chamber -

"Michael Marra and Mr McFall's Chamber bring a mixed programme which includes
not only a dozen or so of Michael Marra's songs, but also some instrumental numbers -
accordion music from Finland, 19th century salon music from Cuba,
folk-influenced classical music from the Czech Republic, tango music from
Argentina. Instrumentation switches between musical saw, accordion, harmonium,
keyboard, guitar, mandolin, bass guitar, double bass and string quartet.

Mr McFall's Chamber and Michael Marra first performed together at the last of
the famous None of the Above events at the old Bongo Club in Edinburgh. Since
that time they have been getting together when schedules permit and have built
up a repertoire which encompasses not only Michael Marra's witty, poignant and
finely observed songs, but also Mr McFall's Chamber's typically diverse
repertoire. Composers included in the programme are Argentine tango virtuoso
Astor Piazzolla, Finnish folk musician Timo Alakotila, Antonin Dvorak and 19th
century Cuban violinist José White.

Vocals/ keyboard/ guitar – Michael Marra, accordion/ harmonium – Phil Alexander,
violin – Claire Sterling, violin/mandolin – Robert McFall, viola – Brian
Schiele, cello/ musical saw – Su-a Lee and double bass/ bass guitar – Rick
Standley."

Photo Gallery of previous Michael Marra and Mr McFalls Chamber gig at Falkland

Review of Perth Theatre gig from Perthshire Advertiser

The tour is now finished but look out for more dates in Augiust and September - 

Mr McFall's Chamber website

Current Setlist

  Interview with Robert McFall in The List explaining about the gig -

http://www.list.co.uk/article/16276-mr-mcfalls-chamber-with-michael-marra/

 A review of the gig from The Scotsman -

  http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/features/Live-review-McFall39s-ChamberMichael-Marra.5053929.jp

Visit  Mr McFalls Chamber website at -

http://www.mcfalls.co.uk/

Also visit David McGuiness's blog at

  http://www.concal.org/diary.htm

Michael Marra's new album is now availble. Recorded Live On Tour 2010 with Mr McFall's Chamber the album is on Delphian Records. DCD34092

Original photo taken by Marc Marnie as were all the photographs of Michael and Mr McFall's Chamber.

Have a listen the  soundbites from the the album courtesy of Delphian Records now available in the song section of the website .

Read Jim Gilchrist's review of the new album in The Scotsman