18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The National
The actor passionate about putting Scottish talent on the world stage
And he hopes that the recent appointment of Alan Cumming as artistic director of Pitlochry Theatre will help that happen.
'There is definitely a buzz around Pitlochry just now and Scottish theatre could really use that sense of excitement,' said Collins, who is appearing in three productions at the theatre this summer, including Grease which opens this month.
'Making Scottish entertainment more globally recognised is one thing I am always really passionate about,' he added. 'I know that Canada, America and Australia would love to see more Scottish content and I know that we have the talent here and that we can do it. It is just a matter of finding out how to package these things up.'
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He is now on the cusp of applying for indefinite leave to remain, but Collins's commitment to Scotland and Scottish theatre was tested severely back in 2017 when he struggled to renew his visa from the UK Home Office.
At the time he had been in Scotland for 10 years, having arrived in 2007 to study at the RSAMD, now the Royal Conservatoire in Glasgow.
However, when his visa ran out, he was forced to go back to the United States to re-apply after the Arts Council in England failed to endorse his initial application.
This was despite protests from well-known actors like Greg Hemphill and Jack Lowden and a successful run of work in Scotland, including playing Hen Broon to much acclaim in the stage production of The Broons cartoon strip.
Eventually successful but having lost out on months of work, Collins returned to Scotland and has never regretted it.
'The idea of starting over in America did not appeal and especially now the way things are,' he said. 'I've been super lucky, even in Covid when I got to do voiceovers for Lego and Warhammer and other amazing projects, including recording a video game after lockdown that has just come out on Xbox called Star Trucker.'
His commitment to Scotland remains even after all the setbacks his adopted country has suffered since 2014.
'One of the reasons I stayed in Scotland after I graduated is that I felt a bit of a renaissance happening here and felt I wanted to be a part of it and help that movement,' he said.
'We've had the legs kicked out from under us a few times with the indyref and Covid but I am trying to keep the faith and spotlight all the really talented Scots and people who work in Scotland as more people should be seeing them.'
Although he has now lived in Scotland for most of his adult life, Glasgow-based Collins only visited Pitlochry for the first time last year.
'It's a beautiful part of the world and it's lovely to be working here just now, as it's an exciting time with Alan coming in,' said Collins, who is appearing as Kenickie in Grease which runs in Pitlochry from June 18 to September 27.
He will also appear in the theatre's forthcoming Great Gatsby production and Sunshine on Leith.
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Grease is a co-production with Blackpool Grand Theatre and it is the first time it has been staged as an actor/musician show.
'We're all playing instruments on stage and playing all the backing,' said Collins, who plays guitar. 'That has been pretty cool and the calibre of the musicians is awesome. It's really fun and all the songs are great. It's a toe-tapper that people enjoy.'
Director Sam Hardie pointed out that although the musical is now 50 years old, its songs fill dance floors, karaoke rooms and play on radio stations across the world.
'I still remember the feeling of seeing the film for the first time, with songs that made you just want to move and characters you longed to be,' he said.
'The story is a celebration of what it means to be young: to fall in and out of love, to rebel, to dream, to dance and discover who we are and who we want to be.
'Now feels like exactly the right moment to tell this story and meet these young people who remind us of the vitality of life and that in this world we should go together rather than individuals apart.'
