A musical story that has involved some of the most famous names in showbiz and focuses on one of Scotland's most iconic figures, is now set to come full circle, as one of Scotland's most talented stage writers brings it home this year.
Robert Burns the Musical first began life in the early 90s, when renowned producer David Gest and the King of Pop Michael Jackson discovered a shared love of Scotland's national bard.
Now, nearly 30 years later, it's grown to become a tale that's involved names as famous as Kirk Douglas, Anthony Perkins and Gene Kelly, with talented Scots producer Tish Tindall finally ready to relaunch the show with a Scottish voice.
Speaking to the Daily Record, Tish explained: "David [Gest] was fascinated by the story of Burns and everything he achieved in only 37 years, and of course, David was so good at bringing things together and getting people to do what he wanted.
"Somehow, he brought Hollywood, the West End, and Scottish writers together to make this thing happen."
Using music that had been recorded in Michael Jackson's California recording studio, the original musical Red Red Rose, starring John Barrowman, was performed for backers in Hollywood in 1992.
The project was then set to go ahead as a stage musical in 1993 under the direction of Hollywood legends Gene Kelly (Singin’ In The Rain) and co-producer Anthony Perkins (Psycho) but unfortunately, before it was fully finished, both gentlemen died and Gest put the musical on hold.
Tish explained that it took him over a decade before he finally rediscovered the tapes and the script in 2008.
She added: "David then wanted to gift it to Scotland, to the Burns Museum.
"However, in 2014 he decided he also wanted new life breathed into the project and that's when he was put in touch with me through a mutual friend called Richard Smith."
The talented Scot explained that she was petrified, but also tremendously excited, about taking charge of such an incredible project and retelling the story for a Scottish audience.
She said: "I felt everything at once. Overwhelmed, petrified, excited. David could have asked anyone from Hollywood, Broadway or the West End to do this.
"I started to think about what I could do with the life of Robert Burns, without focussing too much on the drinking and womanising, and just dealing with the story of the man himself.
"The genius of the writer, and what he achieved in such a short space of time and who he influenced. When you start looking at him that way, it's really a unique story."
Burns has had a major cultural impact on everything from historical figures such as Abraham Lincoln and his abolitionist movement, through to modern pop music and stars like Michael Jackson.
Tish hoped to modernise the script and that meant updating David's story for a new audience.
The talented writer said: "We felt that David's original version was very much a Hollywood production of its time, and I didn't feel that would be the story, that version wasn't something I could produce.
"I felt a different story needed to be told to take Robert Burns to the heart of a world of nations that would want to know more about the genius of the man.
"I thought it might be more interesting if we told a story through the prism of what it would be like if Robert was alive today.
"Reflecting the man himself, his genius, his weakness; over 37 years he made such public decisions.
"Long before there was social media everybody knew about Robert because he was doing everything he could to have his work seen and heard.
"Everybody was talking about him, everybody knew his weaknesses and I wanted to show that in the context of now because with social media, that's what happens to people in this era.
"It's about heart, and fun, and dreams and following those dreams, and believing in yourself, and that the most unlikely things can happen when you believe in what you are doing.
Using a cast of homegrown talent from the Lossiemouth Entertainment Academy which she helped co-found, Tish has been honing the show over the past seven years, from touring around Scotland to appearing alongside the likes of Dione Warwick and Freda Payne and becoming one of the top picks at the Edinburgh Fringe.
Now, in Scotland's year of storytelling 2022, and with the smoke from the pandemic beginning to clear, Tish is ready to bring the show to new audiences, both here in Scotland, and the rest of the UK, and eventually Hollywood, where it all began.
To help embrace the modern era, they've just finished filming the production for online audiences at Silverbox Studios in Newbury, featuring cameos from top West End names such as stars Carolyn Maitland and Harriet Thorpe.
With ready-made comparisons to another recent hit Broadway show - Hamilton – Tish hopes Robert Burns the Musical will appeal in the same way.
She added: "Much like Burns' life, it's about daring to dream, following your dreams, and never giving up.
"Somewhere along the line, Scotland is going to be seen, it's going to be known as a country that produces musical theatre hits like Hamilton if we keep following that dream."
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