"Emotionally charged, darkly humorous study of one of Edinburgh’s forgotten heroes of free speech" ★★★★ The Stage.
"The ultimate example of gallows humour" ★★★★ The Guardian.
"The ultimate example of gallows humour" ★★★★ The Guardian.
Collaborating with award-winning poet Simon Armitage, Told by an Idiot, National Theatre Scotland and Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh present a wildly comic and provocatively subversive piece of music theatre.
Edinburgh; a cold town on the edge of civilisation, in very much the Year of Our Lord, 1696. The church has spies everywhere. Here, you keep your counsel and choose your words with care ... unless you are Thomas – a loud-mouthed, smart-arsed and likable student at the university. A man in the wrong place at absolutely the wrong time ... trouble is brewing for Thomas.
‘I do not agree with what you have to say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it’
Voltaire, 1770
A rich vein of black humour is exploded in this account of the last person in Britain to be executed for blasphemy. Using Told by an Idiot’s internationally celebrated theatrical invention, we glimpse into Edinburgh’s dark past to reveal this true story with universal resonance. A riotous and unsettling drama which swings between 1696 and the present day, I Am Thomas is performed with an original live score.
Directed by Paul Hunter
Music by Iain Johnstone
Lyrics by Simon Armitage
Music by Iain Johnstone
Lyrics by Simon Armitage
Designed by Laura Hopkins
Sound by Adrienne Quartly
Lighting by Paul Anderson
toldbyanidiot.org
Recommended age 14+ contains strong language and complex themes.
Sound by Adrienne Quartly
Lighting by Paul Anderson
Inspired by fact, fantasy and an original short story by James Robertson.
A co-production between Told by an Idiot, the National Theatre of Scotland, Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh in association with Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse.
A co-production between Told by an Idiot, the National Theatre of Scotland, Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh in association with Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse.
toldbyanidiot.org
Recommended age 14+ contains strong language and complex themes.