As part of Edinburgh’s 900 celebrations, the Scottish Storytelling Centre is holding a selection of free talks and performances exploring Edinburgh’s rich theatre history on the weekend of St Andrew’s Day, 30th November and 1st December 2024.
Highlights include A Noble Clown, a new solo play written and performed by Edinburgh born actor Michael Daviot, that tells the story of Duncan Macrae (1905-1967) who has long been considered one of Scotland’s greatest actors having starred in Scottish classics such as Whisky Galore, Para Handy and Dr Finlay’s Casebook. The play, a celebration of the renaissance of Scottish Theatre in the mid-20th Century, features excerpts from Macrae’s finest roles in plays such as Jamie the Saxt, Gog and Magog and The Warld’s Wonder and, de rigeur, his signature song, The Wee Cock Sparrasung in Glaswegian Scots.
Performer and playwright Michael Daviot said “For 20 years as an amateur and 23 as a professional, Duncan Macrae dominated the Scottish stage. He co-founded Scottish Equity and loudly promoted Scottish Independence. Remembered mainly for his Hogmanay rendition of The Wee Cock Sparra and as the Pipe Major in Tunes of Glory, his greatest work was done on stage in roles such as Jamie the Saxt, Harry Magog and Michael Scott in plays by Robert McLellan, James Bridie and Alexander Reid. But he was also acclaimed in Macbeth, An Inspector Calls, Ionesco’s Rhinoceros (with Laurence Olivier) and the original production of Joe Orton’s Loot. He, and the works he found fame in, deserve to be rediscovered.”
Other speakers in the talks programme include:
Helen Graham author of debut novel The Real Mackay: Walter Scott’s Favourite Comedianbased on the life of her ancestor Charles Mackay, one of the finest Scottish comedians of the 19th century who performed regularly at the Theatre Royal, and was one of Walter Scott’s favourite comedians
David Pollock journalist and author of The Edinburgh Festival: A Biography
Donald Smith author of Edinburgh: Our Storied Town speaking about the Pleasance and Gateway Theatres
Development Director Charlotte di Corpo on the restoration of the Kings Theatre.
Dates and Times:
Saturday 30th November
2pm: Helen Graham
3:20pm: Charlotte di Corpo
4pm: David Pollock and Donald Smith
7pm: A Noble Clown
Sunday 1st December
1:30pm: Duncan Macrae: Writing his Life with Priscilla Barlow author of Wise Enough to Play the Fool: A Biography of Duncan Macrae, and Iain Wigglesworth
3.30pm: A Noble Clown
Venue: Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High St, Edinburgh EH1 1SR
Price: All Talks are free but ticketed
Tickets for A Noble Clown are £12
Irene Brown
Radio Summerhall Arts 