As part as our Edinburgh Fringe 2024 coverage we are running a series of interviews with artists and creatives that are taking part in the festival.
In this interview we speak to Frances Ruffelle (Frankie) and Norman Bowman (Beausy) about their show The Scot and The Showgirl.
Where did your arts career begin?
Frankie: I was born in a trunk. Brought up watching theatre and being backstage while my mum performed in the Community Theatre. I performed as a child, but I think my real career started when I was 16, I did some TV and film and my first West End play when I was 17. The Sleeping Prince by Terrance Rattigan (not a panto ha ha) It starred the legend Omar Sharif (who also taught me to play backgammon).
How would you describe the style of the show?
BEAUSY: Performing fell into the void that was my early teenage life when I got caught stealing and experienced the ignominy of being in the local papers. Faced with running away or worse, my best friend convinced me to go with him and his Mum to the local panto group and then musical theatre group. Turned out I could sing a note, move a bit and even act a little. Lead roles followed, then a rock music course, then London drama school, then Les Mis….then, the rest is history!
 |
| Photo by Debbi Clark |
What can you tell me about your show?
BEAUSY: Couldn’t have put it better myself.
How would you describe the style of the show?
Frankie: We strive to be unique, funny, touching and entertaining. Re style, we’d like to call it our own style.
BEAUSY: Like a pop-up musical story book. For grown-ups.
How have you approached developing the piece?
Frankie: We write together, giggle together, muck around together and boom, we come up with truth, love and laughs over breakfast.
BEAUSY: Haha. What Frankie said. We both have so many years in the industry so it was very exciting - and somewhat inevitable - to bring our styles, thoughts and quirks together.
How do/will you prepare yourself for a run at the Fringe?
Frankie: We work hard, both of us doing 8 shows a week a lot of the time. I’m doing the Pet Shop Boys musical Closer to Heaven in London with one day off before traveling up to Ed, that’s my preparation, and Beausy is playing the Bodyguard in The Bodyguard just before we travel too. We’ll fit in some Edinburgh rehearsals somehow, but we are used to working hard and we love it. We feel excited to not only perform in Edinburgh but also to watch other shows and breathe in the atmosphere.
BEAUSY: It’s hard to know what to expect and therefore prepare for. I’m used to doing 8 shows a week for an entire year so hopefully that will help and we will squeeze in rehearsals around our other commitments.
Other than the show, what’s something you’re looking forward to doing in Edinburgh this year?
Frankie: I’m looking forward to seeing my Edinburgh friends and family, and seeing tons of theatre. Also, I’m taking Beausy to The Witchery for his birthday. Posh.
What keeps you inspired?
Frankie: I think my brain is always creating and I get creative from experiences in my life. I don’t feel ambitious, but I get a buzz from creating. I think it keeps me sane (Beausy and my friends may disagree).
BEAUSY: By honouring what I already know and giving myself credit for those achievements - big and small - then using that to evolve, to explore and to experiment. It’s amazing what the subconscious has been collecting while you were busy doing other things. Remain curious.
What do you hope an audience takes away from seeing the show?
Frankie: I hope they will connect and view their own relationships and identify with our up and down relationship journey and feel ok. Feel alright. It happens to most of us. We’ll get by.
BEAUSY: We all have a song that can transport us back to a particular moment or era and affect us in a way we cannot help and I would love for our wonderful and eclectic selection of music to remind us of the beauty of those moments - even the sad ones. A reminder that, in those situations, we are alive, we are feeling,
Where can audiences see the show?
Frankie: The Scot and the Showgirl is at Pleasance Dome (Queen Dome) from 31 July - 26 August (not 6, 13, 20) at 3.50pm. We’re very excited for you to join us.
Tickets are available from https://www.pleasance.co.uk/event/scot-and-showgirl
Post a Comment