Countdown to Kirkcaldy launch of '˜Canned Laughter'

In that case, Fife is set to be in the best health when Canned Laughter rolls into the Kingdom.

The new stage show brings together the talents of master impressionist Allan Stewart and comedy virtuosos Andy Gray and Grant Stott in a funny new play – about well, being funny! Canned Laughter takes us back to the 1970s when comedy trio Alec, Angus and Rory are one of Scotland’s top acts who are just about to hit the big time. The lads are riding high and nothing is going to stop them. Or is it?

Fast forward to today and the three find themselves together again for the first time in decades. Will they be able to put their past differences behind them and make the country laugh once more?

The new play has been years in the making, as Grant Stott explains.

“We’ve been playing around with the idea of doing a play for a while now,” he said. “We initially thought about basing it on a band who had split up and reunited. Well, that was until we realised that not all of us could play any instruments!

“Then we thought well, comedy is what we all do, so let’s keep it simple and just do exacty that.”

The trio are no strangers to working together as they are perhaps better known for appearing in Edinburgh’s annual panto.

“Because we have worked together for many years, we get on really well and we are friends which comes across on the stage,” Grant continued.

“To take the relationship that we’ve formed over many years of doing panto together into a play and take that across Scotland just seems like a dream to me. We all know each other well enough to say if we don’t like something or fell that something isn’t working. I can’t wait to get started.”

“The joy of working with Andy and Grant is that the fun we have backstage translates on to the stage and the audience can see that we love our work,” Allan chimed in.

Having taken to the stage for panto for many years, Grant is no novice in treading the boards.

“Other than the pantos of course, I made my straight acting debut in 2013 in ‘Kiss Me, Honey Honey’ with Andy, so I know what to expect,” he said. “It’s great to work with seasoned pros since I am still a bit of a newbie. Of course, there is always that doubt that what we’ve done isn’t going to be funny, but Ed Curtis who wrote the play along with Allan is great and I think the finished show is hilarious and I hope that the audiences think so to.” Grant said.

Fife is the starting point of the tour, with the world premiere opening at the Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy.

The Kingdom is a place that Grant thinks of fondly and can’t wait to take to the stage there.

He said: “I love Fife and the people and it’s a place that I hold quite close to my heart. Audiences at the Adam Smith will be the first to see the play, so hopefully they like it and they laugh!

The ‘That’s Fife’ song that I wrote as an ode to the Kingdom (Grant did a parody of ‘That’s Life’ by Frank Sinatra a few years ago) goes down quite well I think whenever I perform it.

“Fifers can take a joke – even if it is at their expense!” Grant laughed. “But those expecting to see a performance of it will be disappointed. There will be plenty of other things to laugh at, though – I hope!”

Canned Laughter is at the Adam Smith Theatre Wednesday, March 9-12.

>> To book tickets visit OnFife