Writer Jack MacGregor speaks to Nan Spowart about the 10 things that changed his life.
1. Other playwrights
THERE’S a misconception of writing as a solitary act. My experience couldn’t be further from that. I consider myself extremely lucky to know incredible playwrights across Scotland and the UK who support my development and challenge me to write better plays.
They write things I cannot and I like to think we are each making something unique to our own voice and that’s always worth celebrating.
2. Frightened Rabbit
SCOTT Hutchison (below) embodied a type of extraordinary feeling that connected with a teenager who was struggling with being a bit different.
Whether you want to call it an alternative model of Scottish masculinity, or simply a plea towards empathy, there’s something unforgettable about Frightened Rabbit’s discography.
I wear a silver Cross of Lorraine necklace, which is both an anti-fascist symbol and the icon referenced by their album Pedestrian Verse.
3. Xbox 360
AS a child of the 2000s/2010s, I grew up playing video games, particularly the seventh-generation consoles like the Xbox 360.
They featured titles that I (and probably millions of others) consider classics: Halo, Gears of War, The Orange Box, Fable, and Bioshock. These games were foundational for my understanding of what storytelling means.
Halo is the modern Iliad. No further questions.
4. Japan
I FIRST went to Japan in 2022 and haven’t shut up about it since. I’ve fallen into a stereotype and it’s become a bit of a regular destination.
I have friends and colleagues all over and especially enjoy my time on the small island of Shikoku – a super underrated region with incredible history, some of the best food in the world and the kindest people you’ll ever meet.
5. My twin brother
I THINK everyone should have a twin because you learn very early on the benefits of sharing. I’ve got a friend for life. He’s my Day 1 (literally). I’m four minutes older by the way and no, we aren’t identical.
We’re very different people but we both have a similar sense of humour.
6. Eden Court theatre
EDEN Court in Inverness was where I first encountered theatre (the Christmas panto! Aladdin! 2001!) and almost every other show I saw during my childhood.
It was a huge deal when the National Theatre started doing NTLive because it meant I could see “cool theatre” with real stars.
Later, I saw inspiring productions like The Tailor of Inverness by Dogstar Theatre Company, which was slick and professional and showed that Scottish theatre-makers can make great work no matter where they are based.
Instantly I fell in love with touring theatre and the amazing power of plays going to meet communities where they are.
7. Highlands and Islands
I GREW up around Inverness, a town that became a city at the turn of the millennium and since then has grown while other parts of the Highlands and Islands have been depopulated.
I have a lot of feelings about that and how the Highlands and Islands have shaped my relationship with the rest of the country. I’m really interested in writing about the north of Scotland.
The Highlands and Islands would be a worthy nation state in its own right, with the same area and population as Iceland. Inverness is hardly Reykjavik but maybe one day it could be.
8. Dungeons & Dragons
I SPENT an unholy amount of hours playing various iterations of D&D style games in-person and online.
When I got bored of playing characters, I started designing campaigns for players. I did this every single day for more or less 10 years.
I didn’t know it at the time but writing and telling stories all day long was pretty good practice for being a writer later in life.
9. Edinburgh
THE central belt still feels a bit strange to me but I feel like I have an understanding with Edinburgh.
I love this city and living here – for now – as resident writer at the Institute for Advanced Studies of the Humanities & the Traverse Theatre is the honour of a lifetime.
I love the Fringe (sometimes) and I love the amount of people here (sometimes).
I can see why David Hume got so hung up on what’s real and what’s not. Edinburgh is a city of mad fictions, with lots of competing realities.
10. OSINT
OPEN Source Intelligence. Fancy way of saying “monitoring the situation” online.
Current affairs, global conflicts, analysis of diplomatic and economic trends. I’m not an expert by any definition but I like to try and learn as much as I can about the world. OSINT as a hobby combines my love of history, geopolitics and doomscrolling.
I try to do less of it these days. I’ve taken all news apps off my phone and limited my screentime.
The future is analogue.
I’m waiting for the next Carrington Event to reset things. At least theatre will survive.
Jack MacGregor’s new play Prophets will premiere at the Edinburgh Fringe, from August 5-31 at Assembly Festival. https://assemblyfestival.com/whats-on/prophets
