Weaving a true story around a historical figure, Thunderstruck is elucidating, charming and rip-roaringly inspirational.
📍Scottish Storytelling Centre – Netherbow Theatre
📅 Aug 19-22, 24-29
🕖 6:30pm
🕖 Running time (approx.): 1 hour 15 minutes
👥 Creator/Performer: David Colvin
🎬 Director: Tom Freeman
👥 Producers: David Colvin/Scottish Storytelling Centre
💰 From £10.00
🎂 12+
🎭 Wheelchair Accessible Venue, Wheelchair Accessible Toilet, Audio Enhancement
Gordon Duncan (14 May 1964 – 14 December 2005), blazed a trail through the bag-piping world, and as musical prodigies are want to do, upturned the apple cart of the musical establishment. Respecting none of the ‘rules’ of traditional playing, Duncan is credited with creating a radically new approach to the instrument, and opening up new vista of musical possibility.
Creator/Performer: David Colvin grew up in the long tradition of Scottish Pipe Bands, developing no little skill of his own, but a teenage encounter with Duncan’s playing left him dumbfounded. The play then, is David’s story of his adventures and misadventures with the Lochgelly High School Pipe Band, of growing up in one tradition, only to be confronted with this avatar of change.
Though he never knew Duncan personally, their paths would cross, unnoticed to the older Duncan, but with seismic impact on the youthful Colvin. Thunderstruck is a coming of age story, replete with underage drinking, glorious triumphs, and despicable bullies; a life both inspired & goaded by Duncan’s example.
Colvin sees his hero as an avatar of change, a prophet inevitably challenged by the gatekeepers of his musical religion, and creator of a legacy worth celebrating. Creating no illusions of Duncan’s perfections, or his own, Thunderstruck is a truly human story, and a very well written, and performed piece of work.
Colvin is excellent, completely invested in the play, and creating himself as a younger man. Without any lumbering exposition, he introduces us to his school, his grumpy mentor, his friends, and enemies, and the pipes. You don’t see much audience interaction in theatre, but recruiting a novice from the front row to play himself during his first lesson is a stroke of genius.
Music is writ large across the production, Colvin has his chanter, and his pipes to hand, and a three piece backing band. This isn’t a concert pretending to be a play however, it’s a play with a wonderfully musical dimension.
The Fringe is never short of personal stories made into shows, but Thunderstruck knows not to rely on the fascinating and worthiness of its biographical elements alone. Ultimately it’s a very, very good play, and as for its finale…it’s just brilliant. Theatre to make you get up and cheer is rare, so don’t miss it.
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