KT Tunstall returns to the Fringe 30 years on with ground-breaking musical

Ten years ago, theatre-maker Cora Bissett attended a showcase at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS).

She was there to see some of the first graduates in the Performance in British Sign Language (BSL) and English degree. Among them was one performer who really stood out.

"He was signing his music but it was much more than interpretation of the music," she recalls.

"He was inhabiting the music through his whole body."

That student was Jamie Rea. During the pandemic, he would go on to collaborate with Cora on a short film called The Singer.

It tells the story of a deaf musician who forms an unlikely partnership with a washed-up busker.

The pair have now expanded that into a full-length show, working with Aberdeen Performing Arts, Dundee Rep and Solar Bear, a theatre company which works with both deaf and hearing performers.

Their creative director, Jennifer Bates, describes it as "a significant moment" for the Scottish theatre landscape, integrating deaf and hearing cast and crew.

Singer-songwriter KT Tunstall was delighted to be approached to write the music for the show.

"I couldn't believe the convergence of elements being so close to my life because we've got a deaf character," she says.

"My younger brother was born profoundly deaf and I lost my hearing in 2018, so I don't have any hearing on my left hand side.

"That's been a real kind of journey, getting used to being someone who's hard of hearing and being a musician.

"And then the other character is a busker in Glasgow. Which was me!"

Tunstall was keen that the music – which she describes as Massive Attack meets Hozier - be more than BSL-signed singing.

Jamie used a vibration vest – "like a rock and roll ninja" she said - which allowed him to feel the tempo around him and trigger his own beats.

"He'd never done it before and he took to it like a duck to water.

"He just immediately got the drumsticks and made these massive hip-hop style beats."

The production has developed new ways of working, using technology and lighting cues to help deaf and hearing performers and crew work together.

Jamie Rea says he's proud to be putting that first cohort of ground-breaking performers on the map.

"If it wasn't for the RCS, I wouldn't be in this position," he said.

"I think it's very important to believe in yourself and push yourself forward.

"Yes, there's been a lot of barriers and lots of moments when we've had to adapt and change with the ebb and flow but it's a very supportive team and we've had a huge team of interpreters so it's hats off to them as well."

KT Tunstall first appeared at the Fringe nearly 30 years ago, in a late-night session at the Gilded Balloon.

She's looking forward to having family and friends along to the new show, especially her brother.

"I can't wait for my little brother to come and see a show where it literally doesn't matter whether you can hear or not.

"You are going to have a great time watching a show that is full of music and made for deaf people as well as hearing people."