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Sunday, 19 August 2012

David Hayman: Six and a Tanner review and interview

  • Review: Six and a Tanner
Date Reviewed: 15 August 2012
WOS Rating: 4 stars
The Assembly Rooms
1-26 August
After a successful run at A Play, a Pie and a Pint at Glasgow's Oran Mor and an extensive tour of Scotland, David Hayman brings Rony Bridges' autobiographical Six and a Tanner to the Edinburgh Fringe.
Standing over the coffin of his abusive father, a Springburn man recounts the heartaches of his childhood, laying his father's imposing leather belt before him and telling the story of the man who both made and wronged him. 

What opens as a personal exorcism of childhood demons develops into a funny and captivating seance of the loves and loathes of the character's life, offering a nostalgic yet bitter look at old Glasgow, its people and its romanticised decay.

David Hayman proves himself to be one of Scotland's finest actors. His voice, gruff and full of the private memories of a neglectful childhood, fills the Assembly Room's ballroom like the most potent incense, dramatic in its effect and at times breathtaking. His emotional intensity is rapturous and his handling of the gallows humour both poignant and affecting.

Sylvia Plath gave to the arts poetic patricide; Rony Bridges has achieved something similar in Six and a Tanner. Emotionally powerful and outstandingly acted, this a truly unmissable performance.
- by Scott Purvis



  • Front Row
Mark Lawson reports from Edinburgh's Festival and Fringe, in a programme recorded in front of an audience, with guests including David Hayman, Tom Thum and Virginia Ironside.

The Edinburgh Fringe Festival has just reached the half-way mark, and this evening Front Row comes from the world's largest arts festival. Recorded in front of a live audience in the big blue tent, Mark Lawson will be providing at taste of this year's Fringe.

Guests include the Scottish actor David Hayman, whose show Six and a Tanner is a solo performance of one man railing against his dead father; Australian beatboxer Tom Thum demonstrates his extraordinary vocal talents; the writer of a new play based on the story of Anders Breivik who killed 77 people in Norway last summer discusses the background to his play The Economist.

Read more (includes iPlayer recording) at BBC
 
Please note that the interview may only be available for a limited period, and may only be accessible by UK residents.

1 comment:

  1. Yes David Hayman delivers a wonderful performance as the son of his dead abusive father. Tis a pity then that he used his excellent acting skills in a bullying(arguably abusive) way to belittle a member of his(paying) audience. During the Q&A session following the play, he heckled(verbally abused) audience members who chose to leave before giving a patronising put down to a lady in the audience. Furthermore, he pontificated about those in society who choose to watch television rather than be proactive in helping others. Are viewers of Trial and Retribution excluded I wonder?!

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