The Herald Angel Award-winning smash hit of modern Scottish theatre returns to the Fringe for a fifth successive year. The tragic, comic and epic tale of the greatest bagpiper that ever lived, a Pitlochry bin man who rocked tradition, flew beyond the summit of his art and changed Scottish music forever. Whatever notions you have of bagpipes, leave them at the door.
Would you mind giving us a brief insight into what your show is?
Thunderstruck is the tragic and comic tale of the greatest bagpiper who ever lived, a bin man who flew beyond the summit of his art and changed Scottish music, forever
Tell us about the creative team and the process involved?
Written in 2017 by myself, David Colvin and Directed by Tom Freeman in 2018. Previews started at Outlook Festival, Piping Live Festival and Celtic Connections before officially opening at the fringe in 2019 where it won a bunch of awards (Herald Angel, Scottish Arts Club)—transferred to Perth and Adelaide in Australia winning more awards (One to Watch award and Theatre Award). In 2022 we were lucky enough to go on an 18-date Scottish tour the length and breadth of the country. From Orkney to Ayr. It has been a labour of love and from the most humble beginnings has gone on to bookings for 5 consecutive Edinburgh Fringe’s.
How does it feel coming to the Fringe?
This will be my 13th Edinburgh Fringe and Thunderstruck’s 5th successive Edinburgh Fringe. In previous years I’ve performed in the Fringe with my university drama group, The National Theatre of Scotland, an Ozzy Singing group, a Welsh children’s musical, a show about builders, a legendary Scottish theatre company and now with my own play and I can honestly say it is still a great pleasure and honour to perform at the Fringe. I still love it, it still makes me nervous going against some of the biggest theatre companies in the world but the Fringe has that wonderful knack for finding those gems that don’t necessarily have the biggest budgets. Nothing compares to being here as a performer, to feel part of the artistic community that makes the Edinburgh Fringe the biggest and best in the world is an unparalleled experience.
There are over 3,000 shows at the Fringe. So, what sets your show apart?
Anyone who has seen Thunderstruck will tell you; “It was not what I was expecting”. We have found audiences again and again because when people see our show they get as much enjoyment again from bringing a bunch of friends to the “Bagpipe play”; sometimes kicking and screaming. They watch on as their friends go through the ups and downs, trials and tribulations of our drama and leave the theatre thunder-struck (excuse the pun) exclaiming themselves “That was not what I was expecting!” And the sequence repeats itself.
Our play, is the one you’ll drag friends to, safe in the knowledge that whatever they think about the bagpipes, the play will blow them away and leave them breathless.
Is there anything specific you’re hoping the audience will take away?
Obviously we want people to have a hilarious, challenging, emotional evening in the theatre but importantly we hope that Thunderstruck leaves our audience with a newfound love or at least respect for Scotland’s national instrument. We hope their experience in the theatre changes their relationship to alcohol, whether that’s their own relationship to it or how they interact with other people’s dependency on it. We hope in future they seek to nurture and care for our talented kids should they cross paths. And finally, we hope our audiences endeavour to take time to make sure their friends and family are open and talking about their mental well-being with someone who can help them, especially those men who find sharing such details an almost impossible task.
Your ideal audience is in attendance, who’s watching? Or more importantly – who isn’t there…
Those who love the bagpipes, those who hate the bagpipes and everyone in between. Those who love live theatre and know that nothing can replace the experience of being in the room with the performers. It is the only art form that acknowledges the presence of its audience. That fact sets us apart from every other art form, our audiences are part of the drama and as such directly involved and invested in the stories we tell and as performers, we love taking them on a journey they’ll never forget. Ultimately, anyone who wants (in my view) a transformative, fully theatrical experience.
It’s an intense month, so where you’re able, how do you plan to relax, and are there any other shows you intend to see or want to recommend?
I love theatre, as you can tell from my previous answer. I’ll see as many shows as I can. I’ll make sure I see as many independent shows as possible as I believe they are the heart and soul of the Edinburgh Fringe. We all love the NTS and the Traverse and the like but those who put their personal financial wellbeing on the line to put a show on at the fringe deserve as much support as we can possibly give them. I’m eternally grateful for all those in 2019 who helped ease that burden for me when Thunderstruck opened in 2019 with 8 audience members. Our story ends well (We closed that year with 200+ houses) but it is obviously not always the case and taking a punt on independent theatre is an absolute must for anyone who loves the Fringe Festival.
In your ideal world, how can we improve the Fringe, of performance, and the industry?
Yikes. Likely the same diatribe as all the other artists who fill in this Q&A.
All the big houses (Assembly, Pleasance, Gilded Balloon) need to use some of the millions they make to supplement accommodation costs.
They need to behave like artists and put a cap on their profits. Use any capital gained above that cap to directly assist and aid the artists.
Now more than ever they need to step up and contribute to Scotland’s creative industry as it seems likely that we are all about to undergo a period of immense hardship.
Scrap the disgraceful “minimum fringe fee” and develop a system where risk is at least shared between artist and venue. We don’t want a free run at the fringe, just a world where even if you’re not the sort of person who can bankroll your own fringe show there are things that can be put in place to make sure your story is told without risk of serious financial harm.
It’s in everyone’s best interests that fringe remains fringe and that rough theatrical diamonds are always discovered, embraced and rewarded.
Interested in being featured on our Have a Gander page? With many previews and Q&As lined up, we’re always happy to chat about including your show in future articles. Please do get in touch through the contact page to feature in an upcoming ‘Have A Gander’