Fife stage star Donna is still here in one woman show

In fact her musical career started decades ago when working in the Byre Theatre, St Andrews, where she will return next week.

Originally from Lochgelly but now resident in Leven, Donna has had a stage career that saw her take up residences in Dubai, starring in The Sound Of Music and Oliver, as well as stage musicals such as Over The Rainbow (The Eva Cassidy Story) and Carnegie The Musical in the UK.

She was also principal soloist in A Song, A Sip and A Sandwich all over Scotland.

I saw her at Alhambra Dunfermline alongside Jane McCarry (Isa in Still Game), in the pantomime directed by Liam Rudden. She actually married her husband Jon on stage at the Alhambra too.

On television she appeared with Des O’Connor in Today With Des and Mel and on the acclaimed Harry Hill’s TV Burp.

Perhaps she is best known though for the Channel Four TV series Musicality in 2004 which she won. This led to the role of Mama Morton in Chicago at the Adelphi in London’s West End and that in turn led to a performance at the 2005 Olivier Awards and a return to the role sometime later.

For three years Donna starred in the Insideout Theatre production of I Will Survive with some great 1970’s songs amid some original musical comedy.

Girls Night Oot followed with more hit songs and comedy and the success of this tour has meant the new show Girls Night Oot 2 – Heartbreaks and Promises, written and directed by Paul Harper-Swan, continues to tour with dates in Perth and Aberdeen still to come this year and with Scottish dates all the way through to July 2027.

This week though on Saturday (October 3), Donna stars in her own solo show I’m Still Here with career stories and songs accompanied by Ian Strachan on piano.

Show starts at 7:30pm and tickets from the Byre Theatre St Andrews.