‘FINZEAN IN THE RAIN’ – live at HMT

FitR_poster

W e were back at His Majesty’s Theatre Aberdeen with a brand new show in November 2013,

‘Finzean in the Rain’

 Toonsers, teuchters and inabootcomers all agreed that it was ‘nae bad’.

The Buckie Drifters, Mither & Faither, Archie & Davie, Maurice the Liar, Hilton John, the Bakery Wifies, Mrs Valentine’s P4’s, Meiklewartle Television and Ruaridh Duguid all returned to the stage of Hmt and as well as those old favourites there were some new faces, like Ron Cluny, the Cooncil spin-doctor and ex-footballer ‘Cava’ Kenny Cordiner.

Flying Pig Productions gratefully acknowledge the assistance and support of our sponsors

ETPM      Gavin Bain & Co       Sparrows Offshore      CMS      

HRH Geology      KR Steel Services Ltd      Pirie & Smith

The Silence Of The Bams

‘A…gem of a show’ – Evening Express

‘Another hilarious romp’ – The List

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We were back at His Majesty’s Theatre Aberdeen with a new live show from October 12th to 22nd.

We enjoyed it fine, as did several thousand ither folk, thank god.

More info about the show coming soon, meanwhile there are some details about our preparations, and some rehearsal photos here, a preview piece in the P&J here and the full text of the Evening Express review here (spoilers – they liked it).

Previous show: How to Look Good Glaikit – 2009

 

The Hunchback of Walker Dam

Lemon Tree Studio – 2004

‘Never short of gags or imagination.’

— P&J

‘Bristles with imagination and originality.. another winner from the Flying Pigs.’

— Evening Express

Pausing briefly to get married (Greg & Susan), move house (John), move to Glasgow (Steve), and, somewhat inconveniently, emigrate to Australia (Oli & Chrissy), the time was right for Flying Pig to return with an all new production.

Replacing Oli was no mean task, but as luck would have it, Moray Barber, experienced performer and long time friend of the Pigs, had returned from his years of exile in deepest darkest Edinburgh, and was quickly recruited.

Returning to the Lemon Tree for what was to be the last time, we made, for the first time, full use of video projection to stage Robbie Shepherd’s attempt to better David Blaine’s feats of endurance, relate the untold story of Jimi Shand’s psychedelic adventures in 60s London, and to allow Oli to continue to play Ronnie in spite of being on the far side of the world. We also saw the return of the Liar after a two year break and the creation of our political heavyweights, the Licensing Board.

Cast
John Hardie
Moray Barber
Craig Pike
Susan Gordon
Steve Rance
Elaine Clark
Greg Gordon
With
Andrew Brebner

Script
Greg Gordon
Andrew Brebner
Lyrics
John Hardie
Andrew Brebner

Directed by
John Hardie
Musical Arrangements
Steve Rance
Craig Pike

Sponsors
Ledingham Chalmers
CMS Cameron MCKenna

 

Previous show: The Madness Of Kingswells – 2002

Next Show: Best Back – 2004

Best Back

HMT at Hilton –  2004

‘The Best of Flying Pigs does everything it says on the packet. If you can beg, borrow or steal a ticket, do so. Your sense of humour depends on it.’

— Evening Express

An invitation to perform at HMT’s temporary venue at Hilton led to Best Back, our second outing of 2004 and our second ‘Best Of’ production.

Opening announcement: “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, this is Flying Pig Productions. Welcome to ‘Best Back’, oor ‘best of’ compilation. So if ye think this is bad, you should’ve seen the dirt we left oot!”

Initial concerns that our fanbase might balk at being asked to again fork out their hard-earned cash to see material which they now seemed to know better than us proved to be ill founded; enough of you wanted the proverbial another chance to see The Mither! Wedding saga, The Buckie Drifters, Ghengis Khanna and The Liar; Mother Theresa to enable us to sell out our first great muckle venue. Even a couple if feet of snow couldn’t deter the diehards, and as we gathered at Greg and Susan’s for the traditional wine and stovies, we were all agreed that the concussion suffered by one of our number inadvertently head-butting an opening car boot while loading props out of the theatre was a small price to pay for another successful show.

Cast
John Hardie
Moray Barber
Craig Pike
Susan Gordon
Steve Rance
Elaine Clark
Greg Gordon
With
Andrew Brebner

Script
Greg Gordon
Andrew Brebner
Lyrics
John Hardie
Andrew Brebner

Directed by
John Hardie
Musical Arrangements
Steve Rance
Craig Pike

What the Papers Said
Aberdeen Evening Express

In just six years, the Flying Pig has travelled from its launch pad at Aberdeen’s Lemon Tree to the stage of Her Majesty’s Theatre, earning itself a good few air miles – and a theatre full of fans – in the process. This latest show reminds us of their journey so far, presenting the eight talented comedy actors who started out in Student Show and now find themselves perfectly at home on the stage of the city’s largest theatre, where it looks as though they might be tempted to stay. As a “Best Of” show, theatregoers will have seen some of the material before, but predictable it certainly is not, as you reacquaint yourself with such classics as Mither and Archie and Davie, and laugh all over again at the hilarious lines you certainly won’t remember from last time. Characters retired a few shows back make a welcome return – The Liar, Oor Faither, Ghengis Khanna and the boys from The Cruel Sea provide some side-splitting moments, while rewritten lyrics for some of the best-known pop songs vary the pace and become classics in themselves. The Best of Flying Pig does everything it says on the packet. If you can beg, borrow or steal a ticket, do so. Your sense of humour depends on it.

Previous show: The Hunchback of Walker Dam – 2004

Next Show: The Seagull Has Landed – 2005


The Seagull Has Landed

His Majesty’s Theatre – 2005

‘Flying Pig reached the pinnacle of their success with their awesome debut on the newly refurbished stage of His Majesty’s Theatre.’

—Evening Express, 29 December 2005

After managing to lure a good number of hardy souls out to darkest Hilton in the bleak mid-winter, a long-standing ambition was realised when, in an unguarded moment, those in charge of HMT asked if we’d like to come and play in the Big Theatre. Being the sharp, professional operation we are, we checked the contract, hummed, hawed and kept ’em in suspense for a number of tenths of a second before saying yes in a thrilled, but slightly feart, collective voice.

Selma and Eddie added a fresh twist to the Mither and Faither saga; Minker TV Gold made it’s debut, Hilton John’s candid confession was a musical highlight and Aberdeen’s bid for the 2016 Olympics provided both a setting for a host of old favourites and new characters and a suitably grand (and daft) finale.

They asked us back you know. Some folk never learn.

Cast
John Hardie
Moray Barber
Craig Pike
Susan Gordon
Steve Rance
Elaine Johnston
Greg Gordon

Script
Greg Gordon
Lyrics
John Hardie
Moray Barber

Directed by
John Hardie
Musical Arrangements
Steve Rance

Sponsors
Sparrows Offshore
Town & County
CMS Cameron MCKenna

 

What the Papers Said

Aberdeen Evening Express 12/11/05

Flying Pigs Root Out Crackling Comedy.

Anyone following the progress of Flying Pig Productions knows they reached the pinnacle of their success this weekend with two sell-out shows at HMT. The local comedy group’s popularity has exploded since its first show at The Lemon Tree in 1998, later moving to the Arts Centre and finally alighting at HMT at Hilton last year. Now the company makes an awesome debut on the newly refurbished stage of His Majesty’s Theatre with The Seagull Has Landed. The beauty of the Flying Pigs is its ability to fit any venue, and please any audience. Last night, with its familiar pink sets and costumes, and carefully blended comedy and music, it finds the perfect home on Aberdeen’s largest stage. Greg Gordon’s side-splitting scripts reacquaint audiences with old favourites Mither and Faither, Archie and Davie and The Liar, while introducing Scotland The What?-style characters Selma and Eddie, the jobsworth Doctor’s Receptionist and Aberdeen City Council’s Licensing Board. With Aberdonian Pavement Dances taught by a line-up of couthy experts, and music fro The Buckie Drifters, Glen Camphill and Hilton John, local comedy has found a home in a new generation. Pigs might fly – only time will tell us how far.

Previous show: Best Back – 2004

Next show: Desperate Fishwives – 2007

Desperate Fishwives

2007 – His Majesty’s Theatre

‘Fabulously funny, outstanding’

– Press and Journal

‘If you have a ticket – hold on to it tightly… you’ll love every hilarious minute.’

– Evening Express

‘A week at HMT’ – the fantastical ambition first voiced in the Lemon Tree bar after our first show became a reality in 2007 with ‘Desperate Fishwives’. A small preview tour (or ‘Tourette’) took the nascent production to the good people of Aboyne and Laurencekirk, raising funds for local good causes and providing the cast with a couple of slap-up home-baked post-show feeds. It was all new stuff, bringing Minker TV Gold and the Planning Officer to the stage for the first time. Not to forget Mither and Faither’s coach trip to Paris and our requiem for Grampian TV.

Gallery

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A live recording of ‘Desperate Fishwives” is available on CD from the Flying Pig Shoppie.

Cast
John Hardie
Moray Barber
Craig Pike
Susan Gordon
Steve Rance
Elaine Clark
Greg Gordon

Script
Greg Gordon

Lyrics
John Hardie   Moray Barber

Directed by
John Hardie

Musical Arrangements
Steve Rance

Sponsors
Sparrows Offshore
Ledingham Chalmers
KR Steel Services Ltd
Esslemonts
Gavin Bain and Co
The Marcliffe Hotel
CMS Cameron MCKenna

What the Papers Said
Press and Journal 8/3/07

DESPERATE FISHWIVES PROVES A BRILLIANT CATCH

There was a time when the comedians calling themselves the Flying Pigs performed in the smaller, less grandiose venues of Aberdeen. In the early days of the performers’ career they found time for humble critics and would of occasion even write my review for me and print it in the programme. Now of course the Flying Pigs are in a different orbit and packing out HM Theatre to the ceiling every night until Saturday this week and I have to write my own review of their fabulously funny, outstanding show Desperate Fishwives. Still it’s the least I can do in exchange for a fantastic laugh. I’ve said this before but it seems even truer now – the Pigs have grown into the realms of HMT, they are the inheritors of ‘Scotland the What?’, in more ways than one since John Hardie, one of the principal Pigs, is Buff Hardie’s son. Now I’ve made the comparison you’ll know what the Flying Pigs are all about. Basically about helping North-east folk laugh at themselves. In a sense last night’s audience were onstage in the many, colourful, daft and couthy characters written mainly by Greg Gordon. Poor Torry gets a ribbing, as usual, but then so does Milltimber. Even the programme is a hoot. The show runs until Saturday and should not be missed.

Evening Express 8/3/07

FLYING PIGS KEEP THE LAUGHS COMING

Laughs were flying last night, as the Pigs played their first night at His Majesty’s Theatre to a sell-out crowd.This, the group’s 10th show, sees them back at HMT for the second time in as many years, playing to full houses for five nights. Quite a jump from their humble beginnings, when in 1998, their first show Last Tango in Powis played two nights at the Lemon Tree. Now, they’re exactly where they were headed, with a show which has snowballed in popularity but remains the same blend of irreverent songs, skits and hilarious characters guaranteed to have you in stitches. Often likened to Scotland The What? for a new generation, the group certainly comes from the same comedy stable. John Hardie (yes, Buff’s son) and Craig Pike share some of the show’s funniest moments on a pink park bench, with the musings of instantly familiar old boys Archie and Davie.Meanwhile Susan Gordon and Craig Pike take their well-loved characters Mither and Faither on a coach to Paris – accompanied by a troublesome prostrate and a pair of unwanted friends. With Greg Gordon’s Andy, the jobsworth jannie, sharing the laughs with Craig Pike at the council planning department lamenting the building of the Kepplestone flats, Desperate Fishwives goes where most of us fear to tread – and emerges laughing. If you have a ticket – hold on to it tightly. As ever, you’ll love every hilarious minute.

Previous show: The Seagull Has Landed – 2005

Next show: How To Look Good Glaikit – 2009

 

 

 

How To Look Good Glaikit

2009 – His Majesty’s Theatre

‘Hilarious’

– Evening Express

‘An absolute must for anyone in need of a good laugh’

– Press & Journal


After the success of Desperate Fishwives in His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen, in 2007, we returned to HMT with a new show in June 2009, for a slightly mind-boggling two week run.

Punter – “I’m coming to see your show!”

Us –          “Great! Can you bring 10,000 friends?

As if that challenge wasn’t enough, our directors, John and Gayle, (demonstrating that in comedy, timing is everything) chose opening night to expect the arrival of their first born. Happily, their daughter showed the team great consideration when she turned up just a little bit early, (not something that could ever be said about her father) and while her mum took notes, slept soundly through the dress rehearsal. Everyone’s a critic.

How to Look Good Glaikit previewed at Montrose Townhall, before bedding in at HMT from 18th until 27th June.

Highlights included the first stage appearance by the Ruaridh Duguid, telephoning the Caledonia Bank, childcare advice from Minker TV Gold and Moray’s moving tribute to the sadly defunct Bon Accord Baths.

A live recording of ‘How To Look Good Glaikit” is available on CD from the Flying Pig Shoppie.

Gallery

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Photographs by Graham Read of PhotoGFX Media.

Cast
John Hardie
Moray Barber
Craig Pike
Susan Gordon
Steve Rance
Elaine Clark
Greg Gordon
And
Scott Christie as Mr Wyzorski

Script
Greg Gordon
Simon Fogiel
Lyrics
John Hardie
Moray Barber

Directed by
John Hardie
Musical Arrangements
Steve Rance

Sponsors
Sparrows Offshore

Ledingham Chalmers
KR Steel Ltd
Esslemonts
Gavin Bain and Co
The Marcliffe Hotel
CMS Cameron MCKenna

What the Papers Said

Evening Express 19/6/04

Aberdeen comedy group The Flying Pigs make a habit of ruffling feathers among the good and righteous of our fair city. How to Look Good Glaikit flies in the face of the local institutions we hold dear – Aberdeen City Council, Seaton Bowling Club, Robbie Shepherd and even the Evening Express. All come in for a bit of stick from the irreverent laughter-makers who started out in the student show and who have successfully followed in the footsteps of Scotland The What? Writer Greg Gordon pulls out the stops introducing some hilarious and colourful new characters along with old favourites. With some great lines for Archie and Davie, the liar, and Mither and Faither, and some brilliant new songs for the Buckie Drifters and Hlton John, the show is packed with belly laughs that left this first night audience in stitches.

The HMT website also allows punters to post their own reviews and that’s where, if you click on the ‘reviews’ tab you’ll see we got this notice.

Previous show: Desperate Fishwives – 2007

Next show: The Silence of the Bams – 2011

 

 

 

The Madness of Kingswells

2002 – Aberdeen Arts Centre

“Every line delivered with precision by a confident and talented cast.”

– Evening Express

“I was sore from laughing at half time!”

—David Morrice

Back in the Arts Centre, this time for a 4 night run, we got some unexpected free publicity when the local press used our title to report on plans to build a football stadium to the west of the city. That didna harm oor ticket sales. And so the first Flying Pig audience to break 1000 discovered the fate of Wee Alickie, the defunct Green Final’s cartoon paperboy, saw Robbie Shepherd’s efforts as a roving reporter and met Billy and Dougie; ex-trawlermen turned Air Stewards.

Cast
John Hardie
Elaine Johnston
Oli Knox
Craig Pike
Steve Rance
Susan Webster
And Introducing
Greg Gordon

Script
Greg Gordon
Andrew Brebner

Lyrics
Andrew Brebner
John Hardie

Directed by
John Hardie

    Musical Arrangements
    Steve Rance

      What the Papers Said

      Aberdeen Press & Journal 03/10/02

      Flying Pig Productions, the North-east’s very own kings and queens of comedy have gone all multi-media in their new show at Aberdeen Arts Centre, and with hilarious results. Led by John Hardie, Craig Pike and Susan Webster, the Flying Pigs have rightly earned an excellent reputation for ringing laughs from homegrown targets. Their latest show, The Madness of Kingswells must be their best yet. Written by the brilliant Greg Gordon and Andrew Brebner, the show successfully develops some familiar favourite characters and takes them far beyond our comedy expectations. While the new characters just seem to get better and better. Expertly produced and performed, the Madness of Kingswells really does guarantee a hilarious night out.

      Aberdeen Evening Express 03/10/02

      I must confess to being a Flying Pigs fan – along with, I suspect, most of this first night audience. Often likened to Scotland The What?, the self-styled humour of these Student Show stars bears a passing resemblance to their predecessors. However, with four years’  experience now behind them, the group is making an impact all of their own. The Madness of Kingswells transports the comics from The Lemon Tree to Aberdeen Arts Centre, greatly increasing the staging potential, which director John Hardie oversees with his usual imaginative flair. Lighting and slide shows aside, the comedy has also moved up a gear, with writers Greg Gordon and Andrew Brebner turning in some of the group’s funniest moments yet, and every line delivered with precision by a confident and talented cast. It’s as much fun as any theatre-goer can handle.

      Previous show: Prime Cuts – 2001

      Next show: The Hunchback of Walker Dam – 2004


      Prime Cuts- The Best Of Flying Pig 1998 to 2001

      2001 – Aberdeen Arts Centre

      “Like watching a home game in which the whole team scores, even the keeper.”

      —Press & Journal

      ‘Scotland the What?’, the next generation.”

      —Press & Journal

      Alan Franchi’s kind invitation to headline the first Aberdeen Arts Centre Comedy Festival with a “Best Of” show took us by surprise. We’d known we were going to have to replace Laura Sinclair, who was off to drama school, but we didn’t realise we’d have to do it within a couple of months, for our biggest show to date. So we were very pleased to welcome Elaine Clark to the team, just in time for the move from our compact and bijou home at the Lemon Tree to a venue more than twice the size. Ever positive and forwards-looking, we hypothesised (and fretted) that :

      A larger venue + material the punters have heard before =

      Loss of intimacy + audience ennui =

      Nae b*gger laughing.

      We needn’t have worried; the laugh which greeted Archie and Davie’s reminiscences of Gothenburg 1983 nearly blew John and Pikey’s flat caps off, and Oli’s impassioned impression of Chewbacca singing the works of Barbara Dickson almost hospitalised one loyal fan, which is always nice.

      We also recorded our first CD, now sadly sold out. Sadly for anyone who wants one. Happily, though, for Andrew’s folks who finally regained full use of their loft in 2008.

      Cast
      John Hardie
      Oli Knox
      Craig Pike
      Steve Rance
      Elaine Clark
      Susan Webster

      Written by
      Greg Gordon
      Andrew Brebner

      Directed by
      John Hardie
      Musical Arrangements
      Steve Rance
      Craig Pike

      Sponsors

      Town & County
      The Press and Journal
      Gardner Accountants

      What the Papers Said

      Aberdeen Press & Journal 20/10/01

      The Aberdeen Arts Centre was packed last night for Flying Pig – Prime Cuts and rightly so. Born from Students’ Charities Shows, Flying Pig is in one sense Scotland The What?, The Next Generation, with John Hardie, Craig Pike Oliver Knox and Susan Webster magnificently taking the lead roles. In other words, if you’re from the North-east an evening with Flying Pig is like watching a home game in which the whole team scores, even the keeper. Exploiting local scenes and characters and giving them a distinctly surreal twist is Flying Pig’s secret. The sharpness of the writing and the power of the performances, however, raises it far above its Student Show origins. The laughter rocked the Arts Centre last night as one hilarious sketch followed another. Basically a greatest hits collection, this all too rare appearance of the Flying Pigs is not to be missed. They fly again at the Arts Centre tonight and cannot be recommended enough.

      Previous show: All Quiet On The Westburn Front – 2001

      Next Show: The Madness Of Kingswells – 2002

      All Quiet on the Westburn Front

      Lemon Tree Studio – 2001

      “15% of it was very funny. The other 85% was f@*#!ng hilarious!”

      —Paul Hughson

      Having refined our schtick there were no major changes for the fourth production, aside from saying farewell to Shirley and welcoming new performer Laura Sinclair. We put Robbie Shepherd in Stars in their Eyes, had PC Bobby Constable take the rap for Grampian Police, saw Davie phone a friend and revealed the hidden truth about Genghis Khan and the actor Peter Mayhew.

      Cast
      John Hardie
      Oli Knox
      Craig Pike
      Steve Rance
      Laura Sinclair
      Susan Webster
      With
      Andrew Brebner
      Greg Gordon

      Written by
      Andrew Brebner
      Greg Gordon
      Additional Material
      Simon Fogiel

      Directed by
      John Hardie

      Previous show: A Clockwork Sporran – 2000

      Next Show: Prime Cuts – 2001