Edinburgh Fringe 2026
Common Tongue
JGProducing
Genre: Comedy, Dark Comedy, New Writing, One Person Show, Political
Venue: Scottish Storytelling Centre
Festival: Edinburgh Fringe
Low Down
Official languages since 2025, Scots and Gaelic have found themselves at the centre of a recent language revival that strikes deep at the heart of Scottish culture, and this linguistic pride is the central crux explored in Fraser Scott’s play, Common Tongue.
Review
What do you think of when you think of Scots? If you don’t live in Scotland, it might be an odd Burns Night supper, or someone like Groundskeeper Willie on The Simpsons. And even if you find yourselves up north of the border, the answer might still be more stereotypical than you’d think. Official languages since 2025, Scots and Gaelic have found themselves at the centre of a recent language revival that strikes deep at the heart of Scottish culture, and this linguistic pride is the central crux explored in Fraser Scott’s play, Common Tongue.
Cue Bonnie, the narrator, masterfully played by Olivia Caw in this one-woman show about linguistic differences. A powerful consideration of Scots as a language, particularly in the Scotland of today and beyond its borders, Common Tongue charts Bonnie’s experience through school and university as a Scots speaker, spurred on by her Papa and her upbringing in Paisley. Exploring language and its intersections between class and identity, Caw delivers a powerful hour-long monologue about “imperfect scots,” reckoning with the weight of classist stereotypes and twisted connotations of speaking a language long considered improper.
Caw gives a passionate performance as Bonnie, carefully balancing the role with a beautiful blend of fiery passion and deeply-held vulnerability. She brings a large heart to the role, subverting any preconceived expectations of Bonnie as a Scots speaker at every turn, and even convinces the audience to join in with a jocular rendition of Auld Lang Syne. Fraser Scott, in a dual role as writer-director, likewise stands out with his input, working well with the space to deliver a compelling hour where his words have the platform to shine. Even the venue itself, the Scottish Storytelling Centre, is an apt choice for the show.
In a festival where Scottish voices often get swallowed up by the sheer volume of noise, a play about Scots and what it means to us as individuals is more pressing than ever before. Common Tongue, then, is a complex exploration of language and identity in a time where perhaps Scotland needs it the most. When the lights cut for the end of the show, Caw and company were awarded a standing ovation – and rightly so. The creatives behind this show are certainly talents to watch.
