Scotland the What?

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Scotland the What? were a Scottish comedy revue act comprising William "Buff" Hardie, Stephen Robertson and George Donald. The trio played to sell-out audiences from Bangkok to London and, of course, in their home city of Aberdeen where the members had first met as students at the University of Aberdeen. The sketches and songs which they performed were largely based in the local dialect of the North-east of Scotland known as the Doric. They were directed by James Logan. When James died in 1993 they were directed by Alan Franchi who had previously directed their shows for Grampian Television.

The trio first appeared under the banner of "Scotland the What?" at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 1969. They became a 'hot ticket' when Allen Wright from the Scotsman Newspaper wrote a favourable review. They described themselves at the outset as "three semi-literate Scots taking an irreverent look at their country's institutions," and for the following 26 years (14 years with the same Stage Manager,Peter Garland) the trio proceeded to do just that. Prior to each show, they had a handshaking ritual at the side of the stage which continued until their final performance which was at His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen on the 25th November in 1995. The trio were awarded MBEs in 1995, having already received honorary degrees from Aberdeen University in 1994.

On 25 April 2007 Aberdeen City Council approved a motion by Councillor Ramsay Milne to award the Freedom of the City of Aberdeen to the trio for "their services to the Fine Arts, the Doric language and North East of Scotland culture; promotion of the City and, above all, for makin' a'body laugh." The conferral took place on 20 April 2008 at His Majesty's Theatre.

An Early Day Motion tabled at the House of Commons by Malcolm Bruce MP asks that "That this House congratulates Scotland the What?, comprising Buff Hardie, Stephen Robertson and George Donald, on receiving the Freedom of the City of Aberdeen and thanks them for 50 years of entertainment and the promotion of Aberdeen, the Doric dialect and the distinctive character of North East country and city folk and, to quote the official citation, above all, for `makin a'body laugh'." As at 08 May 2008 it has 23 signatures.

Steve Robertson's most recent appearance was in "Bon Record!" - A show to celebrate 750 years of Aberdeen Grammar School - the school that he attended. (The motto should not be confused with that of Aberdeen City, which is "Bon Accord".)

In May 2008 Stephen Robertson was elected as Rector of the University of Aberdeen.

[edit] References

Hardie, Buff, Stephen Robertson, George Donald, Scotland the What? (Edinburgh: Gordon Wright, 1987). ISBN 978-0-903065-59-7
Hardie, Buff, Stephen Robertson, George Donald, Scotland the What? - Second Helping (Edinburgh: Gordon Wright, 1996). ISBN 978-0-903065-85-6