The artistic director of the infamous Blue Man group says the stars might consider adding a white saltire cross to their make up when they perform Edinburgh tomorrow. Matt Ramsay, who has been with the company for 24 years, says they are delighted to be bringing The Bluevolution Tour to the capital and admits their hue of blue is very similar to the Scotland flag.
The performance art troupe, who wear bald caps, cover their bodies with thick blue grease paint and do not speak, have been wowing audiences around the world since the late 1980s. Their bonkers show is an incredible explosion of slapstick comedy, miming, paint drumming and stunts involving marshmallows and yards and yards of toilet roll.
Former Blue Man Matt, who joined the group in 2000, said: “The Blue Men are extremely excited about performing in Scotland as we know the Scots audiences will be very excited and keen to join in. The show is very interactive and with lots of crowd involvement so it’s important the audience are up for it and in Edinburgh I am confident this will be the case.
“You never know we will maybe get them to paint a white saltire cross on their blue faces as a tribute? You just never know what surprises lie ahead if you go along to a Blue Man show.”
Blue Man Group are one of the most successful stage acts in the world and this is their first UK tour in seven years. They have performed for more than 50 million people around the globe since their inception in 1991, and have appeared across some of the world’s biggest TV shows, including The Royal Variety Performance, Arrested Development, and the Tonight Show.
Matt said: “I have been with the company for 24 years and I’m still trying to figure out what connects these weird blue characters with people all over the world. It’s just very special. There are many things about this show which separate it from other types of performance. Its more than just a musical or a stunt show – it’s pretty magical.
“The fact the Blue Men don’t speak mean there are no language barriers and everyone is entertained no matter which country they live in or what language they speak.”
He added: “When people come to the shows they form a bond with the performers and feel like they are a part of the action and the atmosphere. It’s pretty surreal and indescribable. The cast connect with people on a very personal level through drums, stunts and surprises. It’s more than just a performance; it is an experience and I just know Scotland is going to be blown away.”
In addition to the usual three Blue Men audiences will be introduced to a female character – Rockstar – who is an multi-instrumentalist and is exclusive to the world tour.
Blue Man Group’s Bluevolution World Tour is at Edinburgh’s Festival Theatre from October 9 to October 13.
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