Scotland the What ? archive

The collection is comprised of printed papers (including photocopies), mainly programmes and newspaper cuttings, relating to productions of Scotland the What ? held in various Scottish venues during the period 1969 - 1994. It also includes a copy of Buff Hardie and others Scotland the What ? (Edinburgh: Gordon Wright Publishing, 1987), which contains lyrics and music to poems, sketches and songs performed in the show.

Aberdeen based entertainers, Buff Hardie, Stephen Robertson and George Donald gave their first performance of the popular comedy act, Scotland the What ? at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival of 1969. The show, whose basic format of songs and sketches takes a light-hearted look at Scotland, its people and traditions, won rave reviews, and went on to achieve national acclaim in Scotland over a period of 25 years. Buff Hardie and Stephen Robertson met whilst studying at Aberdeen University in the 1950s, where each was involved in writing and production of student shows. In the 1960s they formed an Aberdeen Revue Group, in which they were joined by George Donald, as pianist and composer, and James Logan, as director. Their 1969 production at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival was intended to be the group's last performance, but in fact placed them so firmly in the limelight that it jump-started full time careers in the entertainment industry. In 1994 they announced their intention to retire from full-time touring at the end of 1995. They were awarded MBEs in the 1995 Queen's Birthday Honours List

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Deposited in the University in 1994, probably by Buff Hardie

Very brief collection level description available on Aberdeen University Library Catalogue, accessible online http://www.abdn.ac.uk/diss/library/

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Subject to the condition of the original, copies may be supplied for private research use only on receipt of a signed undertaking to comply with current copyright legislation.

Permission to make any published use of material from the collection must be sought in advance from the Head of Special Libraries and Archives (e-mail: speclib@abdn.ac.uk) and, where appropriate, from the copyright owner. Where possible, assistance will be given in identifying copyright owners, but responsibility for ensuring copyright clearance rests with the user of the material.

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