Help with Scottish Accents

[KT843]

wow, thanks so much neil! that's so cool. i'm not a good researcher online. ha!

[Proteus1971]

I'm an American actor who will be playing one Angus McCallister in W.S. Gilbert's play, "Engaged" this Spring.
I just joined this board minutes ago and will be shooting questions to people on a whole litany of subjects.

At any rate, Gilbert wrote my part with the dialect in mind and words like "dinna, whadna, ganging, braw" appear regularly. It's very important to me to do a proper dialect on stage, but for your purposes, you may want to read Gilbert's play. For the moment(and someone please correct me if I'm wrong,) it seems like Gilbert(who was English) did a pretty good job of writing dialogue with a 19th Century Scottish character in mind.

[BevoZ]

Your suggestion about reading the play is an excellent one. I have to admit that I'm not too familiar with it. Is it something available in a bookstore? If not, how would a non-actor type like me get my hands on it?

By the way, thanks for the message and good luck with your production. Is this something that will be in national movie theaters, or is it something you are doing locally?

BevoZ

[Proteus1971]

I got my copy from my agent. You can probably get a copy in any bookstore with a comprehensive drama collection. If not, see if "Samuel French" has a website. Or just call information in Los Angeles or New York and find "Samuel French." There might also be one in London. They are a huge drama publishing company and will send you anything. Or, if you want to give your email, I can even type out the scenes as written. It's only a few pages, because once the British aristocratic characters come in, they pretty much dominate the play.

Oh, and it will be at the Lucille Lortell Theatre(Off Broadway) in New York City, produced by Theatre for a New Audience.

I'm anxiously awaiting responses on my thread in the "film and literature" forum. Any thoughts?

[Soapy]

A wee word aboot the Elgin story, ive got a friend fae Elgin and Ive noticed he and his family says "Nae" meaning "Not", where as people in my part of Scotland say "No". For example he would say "He's nae going" instead of me sayin "He's no going". Dinnae ken if that is any help but thought it was worth a mention. Good luck

[Scrat]

I have been hearing lots of Scotish accent for the last couple of years. Recently I have grown absolutely excited about actually picking it up myself. Could anyone tell me the best way to do it? I am good with accents, but it's the Scotish accent I am absolutely in love with. Audio courses and stuff.

Thanks!

[Polwarth]

Hmmmmmm
If you read this long thread - you will see the advice we gave an American who asked for the SAME information