Another great night with Monarchs 100

NEWS Wednesday 7th June 2017, 11:07pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Monarchs 100 Fundraising group continue to support the club with unique and enjoyable events, tonight raising a four-figure sum through a special showing of I Ran with the Gang, the Bay City Rollers story which has proved so popular at the Festival and also overseas.

The show’s writer and director Liam Rudden and the original Roller, Alan Longmuir (who is now patron of the Monarchs 100) came up with the idea of the this special showing, an idea eagerly seized on by the Monarchs 100 organisers Derek Wilkinson and Scott Wilson.

It’s a terrific show carried off with great style and it is no wonder that it has been so successful. Whether you are old enough or not, whether you were a Rollers fan or not, you will know the songs and sing along.

The “young Alan” takes you through the early years, how the name was chosen, what the times were like (namechecks for various landmarks such as Ryrie’s and Brattisani’s!), finishing up with the songs as Monarchs’ fans and Rollermaniacs alike joined in.

Then we had a special Q&A between Scott Wilson and Alan Longmuir, such an unassuming and friendly guy it’s hard to believe he was part of a worldwide phenomenon.

And finally of course, it was “Shang-a-Lang”!

The four-man ensemble head off on 16th August for Canada but will be back for the Festival. They will be at Le Monde Hotel, George Street, 4, 6-11, 13-18 August 7pm, £15, VIP £20 Tickets www.edfringe.com or 0131 226 0000 VIP via Le Monde Hotel

The cast was:

Alan Longmuir - Himself

Stephen Arthur - Young Alan

Stephen Humpage - The Roller

John McColl - The Narrator

Written and directed by Liam Rudden