How Michael Rudman’s wit led to a sellout show for me and Billy Connolly

Billy Connolly in 1979. ‘The show sold out for three weeks, and Billy never looked back.’ Photograph: Mirrorpix/Getty Images

During the 1972 Edinburgh festival, I was part of the cast cooperative which mounted a financially reckless production of The Great Northern Welly Boot Show in the vast and long-demolished Waverley Market. It was partly written by, and starred, an up-and-coming Billy Connolly.

We gave Michael Rudman (Obituary, 30 March), who was running the Traverse theatre, a free ticket to our show and asked for his reaction.

When we got it, we decided to turn it into a publicity banner with two-feet-high letters: “‘IT’S CRAP – BUT IT’S GOOD CRAP’ – MICHAEL RUDMAN, TRAVERSE”.

The show sold out for three weeks, and Billy never looked back.
Bill Paterson
London

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