Burns musical’s Edinburgh premiere

Oct 31 2022 | By More

Playhouse premiere for Musical based on Burns’ life

Tickets have gone on sale today, for Burns, a new musical based on the life of Robert Burns, which will premiere at the Edinburg Playhouse on Friday 20 and Saturday 21 January 20223.

Described as “hilarious, harrowing and heart-warming” Burns takes an inside view of the man to whom a glass is raised – for auld lang syne. Featuring an all female cast, aside from the role of Burns himself, Burns will play three performances at the Playhouse. Tickets are on sale here.

Burns will premiere at the Playhouse just before Burns Night, 2023.

Burns finds Robert Burns, alive, well and living in the modern world. A genius with weakness? Yes. A womaniser? Yes. But a cheat? No. Gifted, passionate and flawed, this farmer’s son wants to make his father proud but is pulled between a life of duty and the calling of his creative destiny.

Written by Scottish composer, musician and playwright Tish Tindall, the musical is an evolution of a project now over 30 years in the making. Its first appearance was in Hollywood as Red Red Rose, a collaboration between Michael Jackson and David Gest staring John Barrowman.

“The intention was to continue under the direction of legends Gene Kelly (Singin’ In The Rain) and Anthony Perkins (Psycho) but unfortunately before the project was fully finished, both gentlemen died,” according to Gest, speaking in 2014.

Robert Burns The Musical

It was in 2014 that Gest hooked up with Tindall and producer Diane Aspinall of their jointly owned Lossie Entertainment Academy to create a brand-new version, which premiered in Scotland as Robert Burns The Musical at Aberdeen’s Tivoli Theatre the following year.

Following Gest’s death in 2016 the musical had a dozen outings at the Edinburgh Fringe. The latest incarnation of the show grew out of workshops in 2021 and was filmed (but never screened) for online audiences, with cameos from West End stars Carolyn Maitland and Harriet Thorpe.

Speaking of the new musical, Tindall says: “Much like Burns’ life, this 21st century story about an 18th century genius is about daring to dream, following your dreams and never giving up… Scotland is going to be known as a country that produces musical theatre hits like Hamilton if we keep following that dream.”

The performances of Burns at the Playhouse will be narrated by Tindal. Other casting and the full creative team will be announced at a later date.

Listing

Burns
Playhouse, 18-22 Greenside Place, EH1 3AA
Friday 20 – Saturday 21 January 2023
Daily at 7.30 pm; Matinee Sat 2.30 pm
Tickets and details book here.

ENDS

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