Would you mind giving us an insight into what your show/event/performance is?
Bonnie McKay’s life has been defined by how she speaks, and Common Tongue is her journey to understanding why she sounds the way she does. From her first steps with her grandfather, to moving away from home, Common Tongue is a coming-of-age comedy about Scots language and identity.
Tell us about the creative team and the process involved?
I wrote the first version of Common Tongue in 2022, and it’s had a really brilliantly supported journey since then. We workshopped the play in 2023, and it premiered at Cumbernauld Theatre & the Scottish Storytelling Centre in 2024. In 2025, we took the show on a national tour, from Peebles to St Andrews and everywhere in between. This tour also coincided with the play’s publication by Methuen, and getting to take it all around Scotland was a total dream. Each step in the process has allowed us to find new joy in the story, and it continues to be an incredibly rewarding process to make.
How does it feel coming to (back to) the Fringe?
I can’t wait for Common Tongue to be at the Fringe. It’s beautifully full circle performing at the Scottish Storytelling Centre (and rehearsing at Cumbernauld). That venue is the perfect place for this play; one that has storytelling at it’s absolute core. The Fringe presents an opportunity to engage with a diverse international audience, and I’m really excited to be able to bring them to Common Tongue. Whilst it’s a deeply Scottish story, the experience is a universal one and I can’t wait to see Olivia work with each new audience we get.
With shows from all over the world at the Fringe, what sets yours apart?
We probably have the record for the amount of times someone says “cunt” in a five-minute span – it’s worth it I promise.
On that, is there anything in the production or production team’s backgrounds which influences the way the show is performed or told?
Olivia Caw has played Bonnie McKay since our first development in 2023, and that has influenced the show in the most brilliant way. Olivia brings a sharpness and a humour to this play that I could not have found without her.
It’s a total coincidence that Bonnie’ life has continued to mirror Olivia’s in many ways, but it makes the work feel truthful in an incredibly engaging way. To me, the two are absolutely symbiotic and Olivia’s performance is one you cannot look away from. She is absolutely magnetic.
Is there anything specific you’re hoping the audience will take away?
Pride in themselves. The play is a story about finding a better understanding of yourself, and not having to hide that away.
Your Ideal audience is in attendance, who’s watching? Or more importantly – who isn’t…?
Early in the show’s life, someone with a keen interest in Scots language told me that I shouldn’t make the play. They said it wasn’t properly Scots, and an inaccurate representation of people’s experiences. I hope they are in attendance, just to see how much this show resonates with audiences – Scottish or not.
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’ll be at Assembly Roxy with a new play I’m directing called Prophets written by Jack MaGregor. Prophets is on at 5:45pm, so you can do a double bill with Common Tongue. The two plays couldn’t be more different, but I think that’s a good thing!
When I’m not at either show, I’ll be trying to leave Edinburgh at any point I can. It’s really good to leave the Fringe bubble in August.
Common Tongue runs at Venue 30, Netherbow Theatre at Scottish Storytelling Centre
Runs: 7th – 31st August at 14:45pm
Photo credit – Josie Morrison Young Photography
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