| Administrative History | Aberdeen based entertainers, Buff Hardie, Stephen Robertson and George Donald gave their first performance of the popular comedy act, Scotland the What ? at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival of 1969. The show, whose basic format of songs and sketches takes a light-hearted look at Scotland, its people and traditions, won rave reviews, and went on to achieve national acclaim in Scotland over a period of 25 years. Buff Hardie and Stephen Robertson met whilst studying at Aberdeen University in the 1950s, where each was involved in writing and production of student shows. In the 1960s they formed an Aberdeen Revue Group, in which they were joined by fellow alumni George Donald, as pianist and composer, and James Logan, as director. Their 1969 production at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival was intended to be the group's last performance, but in fact placed them so firmly in the limelight that it jump-started full time careers in the entertainment industry. In 1994 they announced their intention to retire from full-time touring at the end of 1995. They were awarded MBEs in the 1995 Queen's Birthday Honours List. In 2008 the trio were awarded the Freedom of Aberdeen City for "their services to the Fine Arts, the Doric language and North East of Scotland culture; promotion of the City and, above all, for makin' a'body laugh." In 2008 Stephen Robertson was elected Rector of the University of Aberdeen but died in 2011. George Donald died in 2013. |
| Description | The collection is comprised of printed papers (including photocopies), mainly programmes and newspaper cuttings, relating to productions of Scotland the What ? held in various Scottish venues during the period 1969 - 1995. Also, 'History Files' compiled by Graham Hunter, business manager. It also includes copies of publications and long playing records and a cassette tape. Also a DVD of the conferral of Freedom of the City of Aberdeen, 20th April 2007. |