Alan Cumming’s Top Cultural Highlights

The actor and writer Alan Cumming was born in 1965 in Aberfeldy, Perthshire. His prolific acting career began in the mid-1980s and has included remarkable screen roles in Emma, The Good Wife, and Schmigadoon!. On stage, he garnered an Olivier award in 1991 for his performance in Accidental Death of an Anarchist and a Tony award in 1998 for his role as the Emcee in Cabaret.

Cumming has also published a novel, two children’s books, and two memoirs. His latest literary endeavor, co-written with his old comedy partner Forbes Masson, is Victor & Barry’s Kelvinside Compendium, published by 404 Ink. The pair are set to appear at the Wigtown book festival on October 6. Cumming splits his time between Scotland and New York, where he lives with his husband, illustrator Grant Shaffer.

Oh, Mary! , Lyceum theatre, New York

This play is written and directed by Cole Escola, an exceptionally funny performer who has been a fixture in the New York cabaret scene for years. When I first saw it off-Broadway, it blew my mind. Now that it’s on Broadway, I love it even more because it stands out as one of the weirdest, most downtown, and queerest things I’ve ever seen.

Escola plays Mary, the wife of Abraham Lincoln, whose lifelong dream was to be a cabaret singer. The play is nuts, brilliant, hilarious, and dirty. I can’t wait to see it again.

SB Pressure Washing

Full disclosure: I am obsessed with pressure washing. I own a pressure washer and it gives me immense satisfaction to make everything sparkling clean – be it concrete, fences, windows, or awnings. I also follow several power-washing accounts on Instagram and YouTube. Among them, SB Pressure Washing stands out.

The person behind this channel visits people’s homes and washes their yards for free, using the videos for his content. Discovering the “Robin Hood” of pressure washing through my obsession has been delightful. Big thumbs up to him.

Just for Us (HBO)

This is a unique blend of stand-up comedy and play that I saw at the Beacon Theatre in New York. It was filmed as an HBO special and is a hilarious, moving, and thought-provoking tale. The story revolves around Alex Edelman, a young Jewish man trolled by anti-semites on social media, who ends up attending a meeting of white supremacists in Queens.

The narrative swings back and forth between various scenarios but remains brilliantly paced and judged, with a beautiful mix of tenderness and biting comedy. I highly recommend it to everyone.

Colin Davidson: Silent Testimony , National Portrait Gallery, London

I saw this incredible art exhibition a few weeks ago while killing time before a West End matinee. The series consists of portraits by painter Colin Davidson of people affected by the Troubles in Northern Ireland. It’s a striking example of how art can speak louder than mere facts and news reports.

Davidson completed these paintings in a short period, focusing on individuals sharing a common source of pain. The collective sorrow etched into their features fosters a deep sense of empathy.

Soweto Gospel Choir and Groove Terminator: History of House

This project combines a gospel choir from Soweto with an Australian electronic producer to create an album that I just adore. They’ve transformed popular house music hits using African voices, bringing a fresh perspective to familiar tunes.

I’m fascinated by familiar things reinterpreted in ways that make us appreciate them anew. When I perform songs, it’s important to me that I bring something new and different, and that’s why this record resonates with me. It connects with something you understand but offers a whole new way to enjoy it.

Somewhere: for Us

This beautiful LGBTQ+ magazine from Scotland caught my attention a couple of years ago, and I’ve been a subscriber ever since. Filled with great illustrations, photography, and articles, it exemplifies what a community magazine should be.

It isn’t just about Glasgow and Edinburgh but also covers events in tiny places throughout the Hebrides and Highlands. Receiving this magazine feels like getting a piece of art delivered to my home in Scotland. My admiration for the people who create it is immense.

Source: The Guardian, WWD