A Light on Our Stage: Robin Harvey Edwards

It says much of what you need to know about actor Robin Harvey Edwards, that within hours of the sad news that he had left us, a chat group was created and immediately filled with anecdotes and memories from those of us lucky enough to work with him at Pitlochry Festival Theatre. 

“Robbo” was one of a small core of cast regulars from around 2005 up until 2016, who was vital to the success of the rolling rep, “Stay Six Days, See Six Plays” programme. He was a massively versatile performer, and therefore ideally suited to the variety of roles and styles that a typical season presented. 

I find it impossible to write anything too formal about him, as mischief is a common theme running through his time at Pitlochry Festival Theatre! What is clear is that he adored being at this theatre; closest friends telling me that the happiest moments of his life were spent here. There was something reassuring about knowing he was to be part of the company, both as a fellow performer but also from an audience’s perspective – a rare and cherished quality.  

Many have highlighted numerous stand-out roles and productions, Pickering in My Fair Lady, Lob in Dear Brutus, Mushnik in A Little Shop of Horrors, Sir Gregory Butt in Dr Angelus, A Man For All Seasons, The Grapes of Wrath, the list goes on, and so many of his friends have so many different memories.

He was a gifted comic performer, with impeccable timing, and always with a twinkle in his eye, which made being on stage with him a joyous and occasionally dangerous place to be! In common with many gifted comics, Robbo could ambush you with a performance out of left field. Ken Alexander directed a production of William Inge’s Bus Stop, in which Robin portrayed Dr Gerald Lyman, a greying alcoholic professor, and in Ken’s words, “developed a really rich, subtle and nuanced character that was a joy to behold.” I can echo that; there was a vulnerable truth about that performance which I had not seen before and was truly unforgettable.

Many of the memories surround Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s seminal 2009 production of Whisky Galore – A Musical. Robbo’s portrayal of Capt. Waggett was straight out of the Dad’s Army playbook, and audiences loved it. Not only that, but Rob’s musical abilities were given an airing with his prowess on guitar. Rehearsals were intense, and there existed a small ante room in the main rehearsal space which became a sort of refuge when the going got tough. There you would find Robin quietly doing a crossword, or sketching an inappropriate doodle on your script, and ready with the cricket or rugby scores if you were interested. Appropriately, and for many years afterwards, the room became simply known as “Robin’s Nest.” That same room is now filled with archive material, which is, I suppose, apt, and a little sad. 

I know so many of us mourn his loss, and the times associated with his tenure at the theatre he loved. A dog-lover, mischief maker, ukulele player, sensitive, thoughtful, talented, sweet-toothed, enigmatic, and private man. The audiences were lucky to have him, and I, along with so many others, will always think of him and smile. We should all be fortunate to be remembered in that way. Slainté Robbo. 

— Greg Powrie and the team at Pitlochry Festival Theatre