Contribution short abstract:

Thousands are entertained annually by Student Show productions such as Ayetanic and Freezin, comedic musical theatre productions in Scots. I will explore forms of humour at play in recent productions and consider how they illuminate long-established connections between folklore and popular culture.

Contribution long abstract:

Since 1921, students in Aberdeen, Scotland have taken to the stage to entertain audiences and raise funds for local charitable causes. In recent decades, this has been done by creating a series of Scots language musical theatre shows which parody well-known films and theatre productions from ‘Ayetanic’ to ‘Freezin’, rewriting West End, Hollywood and Broadway narratives and imagining them unfolding on the Granite City's streets. These original productions are filled with song, dance and sketches, all inflected with local jokes, references and dialects. Parodies of popular songs, satirical sketches of famous figures and institutions, and commentary on local life and politics abound.

Using case studies from more recent iterations of Aberdeen Student Show, this presentation will examine the subversive forms of humour at play and consider how this funny, fundraising performance illuminates long-established connections between folklore and popular culture.