Meet the new Young Alan, The Roller and The Narrator of the 2014-2018 smash hit Toronto and Edinburgh Fringe sell-out tribute to the original Bay City Roller, Alan Longmuir.
As the show returns to make it’s London debut and return to the Edinburgh Fringe in a brand new production, Aberdeen actor and singer Michael Karl-Lewis takes on the mantle of the Bay City Rollers legendary bassist Alan Longmuir, popular Glasgow actor Lee Fanning plays The Narrator and corrupt band manager Tam Paton while Edinburgh actor and singer Ross Jamieson plays The Roller and Young Les.
I Ran With The Gang tells Alan’s story, from growing up listening to Elvis as a kid in Edinburgh, to completing his apprenticeship as a plumber and forming the band that would go on to become the global sensation known as the Bay City Rollers. The piece tells of Alan’s life before he became famous, through the hysteria of Rollermania and of how he returned to life as a ‘plumber from Edinburgh’ when the screaming stopped.
Written and directed by award-winning playwright Liam Rudden and featuring the hit songs Bye Bye Baby, Summerlove Sensation, Shang-a-Lang! and more, this new production is a moving tribute to Alan Longmuir, who sadly passed away in 2018 and returns with the blessing of Eileen Longmuir, Alan’s wife, who says, “I am delighted I Ran With The Gang is returning to keep Alan’s memory alive. He loved being a part of the I Ran With The Gang family and liked nothing better than sitting at back, watching the fans reaction as his story unfolded, chuckling to himself that they hadn’t noticed him.”
I Ran With The Gang will get its London premiere with a week long run at The Stage Door Theatre, Drury Lane, from 13-17 August, 2024 before returning to where it all began, Edinburgh, to play The Fringe at Prestonfield on 24 August.
Looking forward to playing on of Scotland’s most iconic pop stars, Michael Karl-Lewis, says, “I am absolutely honoured to be playing Alan Longmuir in I Ran With The Gang. Despite being a global sensation, Alan remained a brilliant, genuine man with a huge heart. I have loved reading his autobiography and it is going to be a blast stepping into his shoes.”
Lee Fanning, who is also one half of the show’s production company, Stageworks East West Ltd, adds, “There can be few people not familiar with the music of the Bay City Rollers, a band that without Alan, would never have existed. It’s exciting to be able to tell his story and keep his legacy alive both on stage as The Narrator and off stage as co-producer.”
Ross Jamieson too is excited about donning the Rollers trademark tartan and baseball boots. He says, “When I was offered I Ran With The Gang, I was as ecstatic as a 70’s teenybopper seeing the Bay City Rollers for the first time. I know how much this group means to people, and looking forward to giving the fans exactly what they want. As I come from a similar upbringing to Les, originally being from an Edinburgh council estate, there will be no dodgy Scottish accents. Les and Alan left us well before their time, but their energy and music live on.”
The Bay City Rollers were no strangers to London indeed, lead singer Les McKeown loved the city so much, he made it home, settling in
Hackney where he had a family and was a popular face with locals until his passing in 2021.
Long before that, however, the band had left it’s mark on the British Capital including in February 1974 when Remember (Sha-La-La) charted, and the band were excited to get last minute booking on Crackerjack, only to arrive in London and find that a technician’s strike had forced the
cancellation of Crackerjack. Disappointment, however, quickly turned to joy when they were told to stay in London – they were wanted on Top of the Pops. That appearance consolidated the band’s meteoric rise to fame.
From the Rainbow Theatre to The Supersonic, The Lyceum Ballroom to the Eventim Apollo, from the early 70s to 2015 (the Reunion Tour) the Bay City Rollers were no strangers to London’s venues, including an afternoon performance at the Wimbledon Theatre which saw fans still swarming backstage in search of their heroes to the bemusement of the cast of that evening’s production who were preparing to go on stage.
I Ran With The Gang: A Tribute To Original Bay City Roller, Alan Longmuir, is produced by Stageworks East West Ltd. Written and Directed Liam Rudden. Music Programmer/Arranger Erik Grieve. Musical Director Gavin Dickson. Costumes Shiela Beehler-Nitz. Sound Design Erik Grieve and Gavin Dickson. Lighting design Richard Lambert. Company Stage Manager Sabina Smith. Video Production and Creative Associate Stephen Hunter. US Producer Kathy ‘Kat’ Connor. Press and PR Kevin Wilson PR.
Tickets for I Ran With The Gang: A Tribute To Original Bay City Roller, Alan Longmuir in London, here.
Tickets for I Ran With The Gang: A Tribute To Original Bay City Roller, Alan Longmuir in Edinburgh, here.
OMG, I so would love to see this.