Former Fife student's online play tackles aftermath of hate crime

Gavin Yule (26), from Anstruther, who studied acting and performance, will showcase, ‘The Bus Stop’, online over Zoom in the coming weeks.

Based on his own experience, the play’s premiere comes as he prepares to return to the college to speak with current performing arts students about his studies, the challenges he overcame and where his career has taken him.

Since graduating from the HND Acting and Performance course in 2015, Gavin has been working with Active Inquiry, a theatre in education project which has toured Scotland. He has regularly performed with the Edinburgh based Lung Ha Theatre Company - the leading theatre company for people with learning disabilities in Scotland.

Gavin, a former pupil at Waid Academy, said: “The play came about through the fact that I had experienced a verbal disability hate crime about two and a half years ago. I wasn’t sure how to move forward, and then a friend of mine suggested I write my thoughts down to help with the healing process.

“The only way I know how to write is in script format, so I sat down and wrote what is actually the second scene of the play.”

“Initially it was going to be done onstage as a rehearsed reading, but due to current circumstances that is not possible.

"Doing it online and finding a way through these difficulties is very exciting. I can’t wait to show this to an audience.”

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Throughout his time at college, Gavin, who requires the use of a wheelchair, was supported by lecturers and classmates, while a Mary Leishman Scholarship award also allowed him to take lessons which helped enhance his mobility.

It let him take lessons in the Alexander Technique which explores posture, stance and breathing and how they are connected.

His former lecturer, Tina West, said: “We are delighted to welcome Gavin back to speak with our current students about his experiences.

“We have two students in our current class who are wheelchair users so I’m sure Gavin’s journey as an actor will be particularly interesting and inspiring for them.”

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