Aaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yup, that about sums up my level of nervousness and excitement at the prospect of trying to do justice to arguably Scotland’s favourite son….EVER!!
I was amazed, humbled and terrified in equal measure when I was informed that the role or Burns was mine. I have been a great lover of Burns’ work from a very early age and competed in many Burns recital competitions throughout primary and high school. I even based my drama school ‘Movement Assessment’ (possibly the most daunting thing I’ve ever done, considering how ‘gracefulness impaired’ I have always though of myself) on debatably Burns’ greatest masterpiece, Tam O’Shanter.
Now I find myself trying to bring the great man himself to life and one question stands out like a sore thumb every time this concept springs to mind…WHERE DO I START??
Thus far, I’ve spent most of my spare time reading various biographies, guides and opinions of Burns and I think I’m starting to get a better understanding of what is a very complicated individual. From such humble, agricultural beginnings, it is fascinating to see just how far his talent and passion for the written word would take him…and yet how unfulfilled it would ultimately leave him without the love of a good woman (or twelve!!) to share it with. I was also very pleased to learn that, contrary to popular assumption, Burns’ was actually around 6’2” tall (only an inch and a half less than myself, as opposed to the 9 inches I previously thought I had on him) and was not quite as slim as many of his statues etc would tend to suggest…which considering he spent so much of his early life toiling in the fields, would seem to make sense also. I’ve got a long way to go to match his trademark “sideboard” facial hair, but I’ll give it a bloomin’ good go!!
All in all, I am incredibly excited to get started and really get my teeth into this amazing character!
Here tae us, wha’s like us…?!
