Press release 8 June 2011
With the excitement mounting ahead of this Sunday’s Critics’ Awards for Theatre in Scotland ceremony we are delighted to announce that multi-talented Scottish actor, singer and presenter Clare Grogan will lead the festivities – and the revelations – as this year’s star host.
The bubbly star shot to fame at the age of 19 as Susan in the classic Scottish film Gregory’s Girl after being discovered in a Glasgow restaurant by Local Hero director Bill Forsyth. From here she went on to support Siouxsie and the Banshees and came to be described as ‘the Shirley Temple of punk’ during her time fronting the band Altered Images, whose successes included 1981’s top ten hit Happy Birthday.
After the band split in 1984 Clare returned to her acting career and has since starred in a string of popular television series including Taggart (BBC), Doctors (BBC), Father Ted (Hat Trick), Red Dwarf (BBC) and Skins (Company Pictures). She has presented for VH 1 and on shows as varied as Planet Football (Channel 4) and Scottish Passport (STV). She appeared as a contestant on Masterchef (BBC), and written a book aimed at teenagers, Tallulah and the Teenstars.
Throughout her varied career, Clare has continued to take on demanding stage roles including a notable performance at the Edinburgh Fringe as a Nazi officer’s wife who falls in love with a young Jewish woman in Forbidden. Never afraid to push her professional boundaries or to take on new creative challenges – and with her enduring links to the Scottish stage – who better to lead the festivities in this year’s celebration of Scottish theatre?
Clare Grogan says of her appearance: “Any opportunity I can get to support Scottish theatre is something I will take up. It was very much part of my culture growing up in Scotland. Just to be able to support that in any way is a genuine delight. It is so important to acknowledge the great work that goes into theatre.”
Joyce McMillan, CATS co-convener adds: “We are delighted that Clare Grogan will join us at 2011’s CATS Awards as our star guest presenter. Whether Clare is appearing as an actor, singer or herself, she brings with her a wonderful generosity of spirit and openness that adds a magical dimension to Scottish theatre and entertainment.”
Now in its ninth year, the CATS has become a highlight of the theatrical calendar in Scotland, celebrating the actors, directors playwrights and other artists who have made the most thrilling contributions to the industry.
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