Thunderstruck: David Colvin Shares The Many Musical Lives Of Bagpipes ~ Adelaide Fringe 2020 Review

[THEATRE/Word ~ SA PREMIERE ~ UK] Le Cascadeur at The Garden Of Unearthly Delights, Mon 3 Mar. David Colvin felt the longing of the bagpipes at a very young age, but it wasn’t until adulthood that he felt their full power when he crossed paths with Gordon Duncan, the greatest piper Scotland had ever produced. Thunderstruck is the fascinating tale of these two lives, and offers a precious insider view of a sub-culture that could be quite brutal. Occasions of bullying and derision are sprinkled throughout the young David’s life as he sought to master the pipes. Passages describing the behind-the-scenes carry-on at mass pipe band competitions are full of surprising revelations. Plenty of audience interaction allows us the chance to experience first-hand the hidden secrets of the bagpipes, and learn a great deal about music along the way. Those with an interest in sharps and flats, key changes and modalities will love it! Equal parts lecture, narrative, and performance Thunderstruck is a guaranteed winner for anyone with a Scottish background, but is full of intriguing detail about Scottish society in general that will entertain anyone interested in the role of music in culture. The final scene has the bagpipes joyously exploding into the modern world and in the process challenging the intensely traditional, conservative views about how bagpipes should be played. Sadly, Gordon Duncan – the bin man (garbo) come piper extraordinaire – buckled under the brunt of a savage backlash. A quite wonderful solo performance. 4 stars Michael Coghlan Thunderstruck continues at Le Cascadeur at The Garden Of Unearthly Delights from 6.45pm until Sun 15 Mar. Book at FringeTIX on 1300 621 255 or adelaidefringe.com.au. Click HERE to purchase your tickets. #ADLfringe #GOUD20