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newspaper wrote a favourable review. They described themselves at the outset as "three semi-literate Scots taking an irreverent look at their country's institutions," and for the following 26 years (14 years with the same Stage
Manager, Peter Garland) the trio proceeded to do just that. Prior to each
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MP asked that "That this House congratulates
Scotland the What?, comprising Buff Hardie, Stephen Robertson and George Donald, on receiving the Freedom of the City of Aberdeen and thanks them for 50 years of entertainment and the promotion of Aberdeen, the Doric dialect and the distinctive character
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student, wrote music for the 1954 Student Show, but did not take part in it. So all three only met together later through the
Aberdeen Revue Group, which is where they also found their future producer Jimmy Logan. (He later had to revert in public to his formal first name "James" in order to join
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show, they had a handshaking ritual at the side of the stage which continued until their final performance, which was at His
Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen on 25 November 1995. The trio were awarded MBEs in 1995, having already received honorary degrees from Aberdeen University in 1994.
51:– which the four men wrote, composed, produced and directed – that the idea of putting on a show of their own at the Edinburgh Festival was first mooted. Jimmy Logan directed "Scotland the What?" from 1969 until his death in 1993.
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to the trio 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." The conferral took place on 20 April 2008 at
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village called "Auchterturra". After the death of Jimmy Logan in 1993, the on stage trio were then directed by Alan
Franchi, who had previously directed their shows for
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of North East country and city folk and, to quote the official citation, above all, for 'makin a'body laugh'." As at 8 May 2008 it had 23 signatures.
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The trio played to sell-out audiences in their home city of
Aberdeen and in locations throughout the world. The
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and songs which they performed were largely based in the local dialect of the North-east of
Scotland known as
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were a
Scottish comedy revue act comprising William "Buff" Hardie, Stephen Robertson and George Donald.
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the actors' union Equity, because there was already a
Glaswegian comic using the professional name
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On 25 April 2007, Aberdeen City Council approved a motion by Councillor Ramsay Milne to award the
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Steve Robertson also appeared in "Bon Record!" – a show to celebrate the 750th anniversary of
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Interview with William D "Buff" Hardie. Aberdeen University, Special Libraries and Archives
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In September 2013 George Donald died aged 79, and in 2020 Buff Hardie died aged 89.
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Ross Records – Publisher of two Best of Scotland the What? albums in 2000 and 2006
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Steve Robertson: "Scotland The What? An Inside Story", Leopard Press 2010.
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The trio first appeared under the banner of "Scotland the What?" at the
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in 1969. They became a 'hot ticket' when Neville Garden from the
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Minute of the Council Meeting conferring the Freedom of the City
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219:, Evening Express, 17 October 2008. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
266:"Last of Scotland The What? trio Buff Hardie dies at 89"
331:The Career and Performances of Scotland The What?
30:Buff Hardie and Steve Robertson first met in the
299:Hardie, Buff, Stephen Robertson, George Donald,
285:Hardie, Buff, Stephen Robertson, George Donald,
248:"Scotland The What? comedian George Donald dies"
230:"Scotland The What? comic Steve Robertson dies"
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134:In May 2008 Stephen Robertson was elected as
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47:. But it was after the 1968 student show
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303:(Edinburgh: Gordon Wright, 1996).
289:(Edinburgh: Gordon Wright, 1987).
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333:Aboutaberdeen.com
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