KT Tunstall returns to the Fringe 30 years on with ground-breaking musical

That student was Jamie Rea. During the pandemic, he would go on to collaborate with Cora on a short film called The Singer.

It tells the story of a deaf musician who forms an unlikely partnership with a washed-up busker.

The pair have now expanded that into a full-length show, working with Dundee Rep and Solar Bear, a theatre company which works with both deaf and hearing performers.

Their creative director, Jennifer Bates, describes it as “a significant moment” for the Scottish theatre landscape, integrating deaf and hearing cast and crew.

Singer-songwriter KT Tunstall was delighted to be approached to write the music for the show.

“I couldn’t believe the convergence of elements being so close to my life because we’ve got a deaf character,” she says.

“My younger brother was born profoundly deaf and I lost my hearing in 2018, so I don’t have any hearing on my left hand side.

“That’s been a real kind of journey, getting used to being someone who’s hard of hearing and being a musician.

“And then the other character is a busker in Glasgow. Which was me!”.