18/08/2024
I love London. Have done since I was 15, even lived here for a while, but now I have to know I have a return ticket in my pocket.
London in small doses is the most amazing melting pot, but there comes a time when I’m ready to go home, that time was yesterday, sitting on a rammed Tube surrounded by football fans, Swifties, tourists and dafties brought out by a drop in the Mediterranean temperature London has been experiencing for the last week.
After 17 days in the city, seven days rehearsal and five performances, the curtain fell on I Ran With The Gang’s London Premiere yesterday and now it’s time to head to Edinburgh and the Fringe. But first, a few shout outs.
To our amazing cast, Michael Lewis who is an amazing Young Alan, and to Ross Jamieson a brilliant Young Les, thank you. I am so proud of you both.
To Lee Fanning, The Narrator and my Co-producer at Stageworks East West , thank you, pal. We did it again. Be proud.
To Sabina Smith, our Company Stage Manager, who I have now worked with for nearly two decades, thank you for all your hard work behind the scenes.
To the others on the show that you never see, creative associate Stephen Hunter, music arranger Erik Grieve, costume maker Sheila Beehler Nitz, musical director Gavin Dickson and Northern territories producer Kathy Kat Connor, we are indebted to you. Thank you.
To Richard Salkeld at Lumo Trains, Jess at The O Agency and Holly Aynsley at Holyrood Distillery, our partners/sponsors, thanks for being part of our journey.
To Richard Lambert, Executive Director of The Stage Door Theatre Drury Lane, what an amazing venue you have. Thank you for your support. Thank you too, to all the staff of the Prince of Wales theatre for looking after us and our bar discount!
To Kevin Wilson, the most genius PR in London, thank you for weaving your magic and even getting the Bay City Rollers on Elaine Paige’s BBC Radio 2 musicals show.
To all our special guests, Eileen Longmuir, PekoKeiko Tsukioka McKeown, Jubei McKeown, Martin Knight, Irvine Welsh, Emma Currie, Glenn Chandler and John King, thank you for joining us.
A very special thanks goes to Eileen Longmuir for allowing us to continue to tell Alan’s story and her constant support and belief in the show. You’re a star, Eileen.
Finally, a thank you to everyone who came to see I Ran With The Gang. We do it for you and the smiles on your faces. Your singing, dancing and participation make it all worth while. I hope we make you feel 13 again!
We head home ‘direct from London’s West West’, and you don’t get more West End that Drury Lane, with five star and four star reviews - thank you to the reviewers who got it.
Finally, finally, we raise a glass to our favourite ‘plumber from Edinburgh’, the legendary original Bay City Roller, Alan Longmuir. We promised him we wouldn’t let the music die before he left us.
We will now keep it alive at the Edinburgh Fringe, the place it all started. If you’re in town, come and run with the gang at Prestonfield House! See you there.
Lx
