Greyfriars Twisted Tales

Bridewell Theatre Company with Edinburgh’s City of the Dead Walking Tours present a hilarious musical expedition through the horrible history of Old Edinburgh led by the rousing sounds of the Martians, the guitar, keyboard and folk song ensemble of John Kielty, Gerry Kielty and Houston, who also co-author the show.

They especially linger amid the gloomy graveyard of Greyfriars Kirk, recalling its ghostly atmosphere inspired Dickens (Scrooge), Mary Shelley (Frankenstein) and Robert Louis Stevenson (Jekyll and Hyde). Their ultra-lively Reformation number sending up John Knox sets the tone – high-octane songs with cleverly funny lyrics romping through the fabled names and tourist trails of Auld Reekie. The tear-jerking tale of faithful canine Greyfriars Bobby is re-told with rollicking relish, and the grisly crimes of Burke and Hare re-enacted with gruesome gusto.

Then an exceptionally funny tangent from Greyfriars ghouls sees Oh! What a Lovely (Second World) War meet Mary Poppins in zany forties satire – before a stirring homage to Nessie in an apt Bonnie Scotland finale.

With Derek Elsby and Marianne Sellar in splendid supporting roles, the highly talented Kielty brothers and Houston totally win their audience with this 60 minutes of Caledonian music, mirth and memories.