For the purposes of clarity, some artistic licence has been taken with the actual architectural layout of the theatre. A false proscenium arch has been added to contain the rowdy action going on between the stage’s edge at the foot of the canvas and the back of the gallery shown at the top.
Also, a political element has been added by having a Saltire flag draped from the gallery and the filigree frontage to the gallery has been omitted.
There are around fifty faces painted, but it might have been ten times that number on the actual night. All that’s needed, though, is that Burns can be shown still at the centre of his raised hands and voices. He has eyes only for Miss Fontanelle, for whom, incidentally, he would write ‘The Rights of Women’ as an address for her Benefit Night in a few weeks’ time. After all, few men knew them better.