NAN Spowart spoke with actor Ruairidh McDonald on the 10 things that changed his life
1. My first solo
MY parents weren’t aware I could sing until I went to nursery in Aviemore and my teacher gave me a song to sing in a little presentation for families. I sang the solo – it was Twinkle Twinkle Little Star – and my parents were really surprised when they discovered I could sing. They decided to put me into some classes because they could see I enjoyed it. I think my mum still has the video.
2. Meeting singer Fiona Kennedy
SHE was producing a show called Highland Heartbeat and they were doing some performances and workshops in Aviemore when I was about nine years old. My grandfather really loved Scottish music and I would sing Scottish songs with him. He took me along to a workshop but I was so young I didn’t know who Fiona was.
However, she took a liking to me and asked me to come and sing at the show that night. One thing led to another and I went on to sing with her at His Majesty’s in Aberdeen and was included in a show she produced called The Kist. It was part of the Edinburgh Festival about 15 years ago when I was 11, then we took it over to New York for Tartan Week. We walked up Fifth Avenue for the Tartan Parade and then we toured Scotland. I also sang at The Savoy hotel and the House of Lords.
I have a lot to thank Fiona for as she mentored me and really set me on my way.
3. A Samsung advert
WHEN I was a young teenager, I had an audition for an advert. I sang Close Every Door from Joseph and I got the job. My mum and I were flown over to Barcelona for three days but all we knew was that it was an advert and I had to learn a song – Royals by Lorde which is famous now but really unknown at the time. They said they could not say too much but it was for a telephone company and with a famous footballer.
It transpired it was Lionel Messi and for Samsung and the advert was shown all across the world. You never know with these things how much footage will be shown but I was fortunate that I was really heavily featured. It was such an amazing thing. I’ve been very lucky to get these great opportunities.
4. Great teachers
I HAVE had so many over the years – singing teachers, acting coaches, mentors – and they have been a really big part of my life and career. I’m still learning because it’s something you never stop doing. They’ve played a massive part in my life and I’m so grateful to them. It’s nice because they still come and support me.
5. Leaving home
I MOVED to Glasgow when I was 15 to go to The Dance School of Scotland and after three years there I moved down to London because I won a place at the Guildford School of Acting. That was such a massive shift for me. Aviemore is so lovely but it’s a small village so moving to London was life-changing. The sights, the people, the different cultures; everything was such a shift for me.
It was really eye-opening because you’re a fish in a big pond. I’ve learned to love that and Glasgow was a good stepping stone for me. If I had gone straight from Aviemore, where everyone knew me, to London, I probably would have been quite homesick but because I had that stepping stone and was able to travel home every weekend, it wasn’t such a shock.
6. Rejection
THIS is a precarious business. When I was younger, I was very fortunate to have great opportunities but when I moved to London, I realised that it was going to be hard. When I graduated, it didn’t just happen for me right away. I had friends who were able to secure jobs straight away but I had to wait a little while.
Looking back, I’m grateful for that because it made me realise that rejection for a part is not the end of the world. I’ve found things I can do. I teach
and I can work in coffee shops and do all sorts of things. Acting is my first love but you have to face rejection as it’s part of the business. My granny always used to say that “what’s for you will no go by you” and I stuck with that when I was facing rejection. I’ve learned not to take it personally.
7. My first West End job
I STARTED out doing smaller jobs, then I secured a job in an off-West End show in London in the Charing Cross Theatre. I was performing there in June 2023 and auditioning for Matilda at the same time. I had auditioned for it before but been unsuccessful.
When I found out I had got the part in Matilda as her brother Michael Wormwood, the whole family happened to be in London as they had come down to see my show and celebrate my grandfather’s 90th birthday. They were having afternoon tea on his birthday when I got the call. It was so nice because I was able to tell them in person. It was such a big moment and to have my grandparents down in London as well at the age of 90 was fantastic. That was a special day for me.
8. My family
THEY’VE made so many sacrifices for me to be able to do what I love. Had it not been for them noticing my talent and putting me into lessons, singing and acting might just have remained a hobby. They’ve been so supportive of my career choice and have encouraged me to pursue what I wanted to do. I’m very grateful.
9. A support network
BEING down in London and away from your family and your home can be quite isolating but I’ve been really fortunate that I’ve had such a close and solid group of friends. We support each other in everything and that has been so important, especially in a business like this as you need people to pick you up if you’re struggling. All my friends came to London from different places and it’s so nice that we’re still so close. It’s like a family when you’re away from home.
10. Mary Poppins
I GOT this part after quite a few rounds of auditions. I was delighted to get it as this is my first professional major tour across the UK and Ireland. We opened in November and it has been going so well so far. It’s great to be in Edinburgh now because all my friends and family have been coming along. Sadly, my grandparents passed last year but they knew I had got the part.
I play Robertson Ay alongside Rosemary Ashe who is Mrs Brill and we’re the comedy double act. Working with Rosemary has been such a laugh on stage and off stage, and we’re touring until the end of this year, so it’s great to have sustained work. Mary Poppins is a show that everyone enjoys because it’s such a classic. It’s magical.
Mary Poppins is at Festival Theatre Edinburgh until Saturday, February 15. Tickets available at capitaltheatres.com
