Kieran Hodgson is set to return to the stage this August, with a full run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, followed by a national tour, kicking off at the Soho Theatre in September with his highly anticipated new show ‘Big In Scotland’.
‘Big In Scotland’ is the story of being a not-quite immigrant in a not-quite different country. It’s a journey of discovery and belonging, as Kieran’s Anglo-centric view of the UK is challenged and destroyed by a cast of Scottish characters, and as Kieran himself builds a new life for himself that he could have never imagined.
Kieran Hodgson had a plan. It was to be one of those London people: wandering the streets of Chelsea, Tottenham and Leyton Orient, doing guest roles on Radio 4 sitcoms alongside Nigel Havers, and laughing scornfully at the provinces. But was this really the route to Kieran’s happiness? Is it anyones?
Then everything changed: in 2020 Kieran moved to Scotland because of his husband’s job, plunging a world still in shock from the Pandemic into further confusion. Who would Kieran be in this strange new land? Could he become someone totally different – better, even? Was he now obliged to give ill-informed opinions about independence to English members of his family? What was the difference between a stooshie and a rammy, and could Kieran discover it in time not to make an idiot of himself while trying to make new Scottish friends?
At a time when numerous obituaries for the United Kingdom are being written, ‘Big In Scotland’ takes a look at the non-newsy aspects of the England-Scotland relationship and makes the politics both personal and daft. Kieran learns Gaelic (a bit), climbs Munros (a few), ends up starring in a Scottish sitcom (not really starring as he’s a secondary character). He meets Prime Ministers and panto stars, Weegies and Walter Scott. He asks himself and the people of his new home whether he belongs, though it turns out the answer is perhaps less important than how you ask the question.
There’s a song and maybe a tartan jacket, depending on how hot the venue is. Kieran Hodgson is a three-time Edinburgh Comedy Award nominated comedian, an award-winning television writer and actor, and a new cat owner.
He was born and raised in Holmfirth, West Yorkshire and has strip-mined his formative years to create the acclaimed live shows ‘Lance’ (2015), ‘Maestro’ (2016) and ”75′ (2018), all three of which were nominated for ‘Best Comedy Show’ at the Edinburgh Fringe. As a writer/performer on television, Kieran has created and starred in three acclaimed specials for Channel 4: ‘How Europe Stole My Mum’, described by the Guardian as a ‘miracle’; ‘How We Forgot To Save The Planet’, winner of the RTS Scotland Best Comedy Award 2022; and ‘Prince Andrew: The Musical’, to which The Independent declared ‘This programme should never have been made’.
A successful, or at least working actor since 2011, Kieran appears as a regular in the BBC sitcom ‘Two Doors Down’ as ‘Gordon’, (Pictured) and has had roles in comedies such as ‘Upstart Crow’, ‘Pls Like’ and ‘Famalam’, as well as in major films ‘See How They Run’ and ‘The Flash’. Kieran’s work uses storytelling and character comedy to explore seemingly-obscure subjects in passionate and universal ways, from professional cycling to environmentalism to the symphonies of Gustav Mahler. He has been described as ‘immensely likeable’, ‘nuanced’, and ‘foolhardy’. His new show is about Scotland and risks making him a lot of enemies.
Kieran got a ragdoll kitten in February 2023 and both man and cat are doing well.
www.edfringe.com / www.pleasance.co.uk or www.berksnest.com for gig information.
