KT Tunstall returns to Edinburgh Fringe with deaf-led musical The Singer
Nearly three decades after her initial appearance, KT Tunstall is set to return to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe as the composer for The Singer, a musical inspired by a short film created during the pandemic. This show, which debuts at the Fringe, showcases both deaf and hearing artists and incorporates technology to enhance accessibility. Having lost hearing in her left ear in 2018, Tunstall resonates with the narrative of a deaf musician collaborating with a busker, echoing her own experiences in Glasgow. The production features contributions from Cora Bissett, Jamie Rea, Aberdeen Performing Arts, Dundee Rep, and Solar Bear, with Rea performing alongside Dylan Wood in a vibration vest. Tunstall describes the music as a blend of 'Massive Attack meets Hozier,' designed for audience enjoyment.
Key facts
- KT Tunstall returns to the Edinburgh Fringe nearly 30 years after her first appearance.
- The Singer is a full-length musical developed from a short film made during the pandemic.
- Tunstall lost hearing in her left ear in 2018; her younger brother was born profoundly deaf.
- The production integrates deaf and hearing performers and crew using technology and lighting cues.
- Jamie Rea, a graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland's BSL and English degree, stars in the show.
- The show is a collaboration with Aberdeen Performing Arts, Dundee Rep, and Solar Bear.
- Rea uses a vibration vest to feel the tempo and trigger his own beats.
- Tunstall described the music as 'Massive Attack meets Hozier'.
- The creative director of Solar Bear, Jennifer Bates, called it 'a significant moment' for Scottish theatre.
- The Singer tells the story of a deaf musician and a washed-up busker.
Entities
Artists
- KT Tunstall
- Cora Bissett
- Jamie Rea
- Dylan Wood
- Jennifer Bates
Institutions
- Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
- Aberdeen Performing Arts
- Dundee Rep
- Solar Bear
- Edinburgh Festival Fringe
- Gilded Balloon
Locations
- Edinburgh
- Scotland
- Glasgow
- United Kingdom