The Strathspey King
The Strathspey King follows the story of James Scott Skinner (1843-1927), a composer, publisher, early recording artist and outstanding performer of traditional Scottish fiddle music.
From meagre beginnings in the Kincardineshire Deeside district of north east Scotland, Skinner’s early life as a childhood musician led to an eventful, turbulent and highly colourful career that spanned either side of the Atlantic. The start of the play finds Billy Riddoch as James Scott Skinner in his 83rd year, entering the dressing room of an American theatre in a fit of pique, having stormed from the stage highly dissatisfied with matters at the World’s Fiddling Contest of 1926 he has crossed the ocean to attend. Confronting the musical instrument that has been the main tool of his trade for over seventy years, he ponders on the beginnings that have led him to this moment, setting off on the memorable journey of his life, raising the ghosts of his past; the legacy of a musical father who died while James was in infancy, the rigorous tuition of his elder brother. The seminal twists and turns of the career of the self-elected genius are encountered; from life on the road with his opium addicted mentor and maestro fiddler Peter Milne, to an apprenticeship with Dr Mark’s Little Men Orchestra, through working as dancing instructor at Queen Victoria’s Balmoral, to a bizarre spell of employment as Mr Grace Egerton – a blacked-up dancing, fiddling female impersonator on a Vaudeville touring show.
From meagre beginnings in the Kincardineshire Deeside district of north east Scotland, Skinner’s early life as a childhood musician led to an eventful, turbulent and highly colourful career that spanned either side of the Atlantic. The start of the play finds Billy Riddoch as James Scott Skinner in his 83rd year, entering the dressing room of an American theatre in a fit of pique, having stormed from the stage highly dissatisfied with matters at the World’s Fiddling Contest of 1926 he has crossed the ocean to attend. Confronting the musical instrument that has been the main tool of his trade for over seventy years, he ponders on the beginnings that have led him to this moment, setting off on the memorable journey of his life, raising the ghosts of his past; the legacy of a musical father who died while James was in infancy, the rigorous tuition of his elder brother. The seminal twists and turns of the career of the self-elected genius are encountered; from life on the road with his opium addicted mentor and maestro fiddler Peter Milne, to an apprenticeship with Dr Mark’s Little Men Orchestra, through working as dancing instructor at Queen Victoria’s Balmoral, to a bizarre spell of employment as Mr Grace Egerton – a blacked-up dancing, fiddling female impersonator on a Vaudeville touring show.
“…a colourful roller coaster of huge successes and dramatic failures…Billy Riddoch brought the character alive in vibrant and sympathetic fashion, fuelled by Hamish MacDonald’s sensitive and often very funny script……Scott Skinner’s music was also in good hands. Fiddler Bruce MacGregor and cellist Christine Hanson performed his tunes live throughout, and were worth the admission money on their own…This was a piece of imaginative and beautifully realised music theatre honouring a flawed genius of Scottish music.” The Herald
Written by Hamish MacDonald
Adapted from the BBC Radio Scotland award-winning series.
Written by Hamish MacDonald
Adapted from the BBC Radio Scotland award-winning series.
Directed by Billy Riddoch and Hamish MacDonald
Performed by Billy Riddoch
Musical Direction by Bruce MacGregor
Music performed by
Bruce MacGregor - Fiddle
Christine Hanson - Cello
Production Design by Robin Peoples
Lighting Design by Mick Andrew
Production Management by Alan MacKinnon
Publicity Design by Karen Sutherland
Produced by Hamish MacDonald
…The tragedies of my life could never be written – it would need to be in blood…
...The bible says the way of transgressors is hard. But I say the way of the Genius is sometimes desperate…
From the letters of James Scott Skinner
Talent does what it can, genius does what it must.
The motto of James Scott Skinner
Performed by Billy Riddoch
Musical Direction by Bruce MacGregor
Music performed by
Bruce MacGregor - Fiddle
Christine Hanson - Cello
Production Design by Robin Peoples
Lighting Design by Mick Andrew
Production Management by Alan MacKinnon
Publicity Design by Karen Sutherland
Produced by Hamish MacDonald
…The tragedies of my life could never be written – it would need to be in blood…
...The bible says the way of transgressors is hard. But I say the way of the Genius is sometimes desperate…
From the letters of James Scott Skinner
Talent does what it can, genius does what it must.
The motto of James Scott Skinner
