A Clown For The Ages | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Scaramouche Jones | Thom Tuck | The Hoots Comedy Yurt

1st-25th August | Edinburgh Fringe Fringe Festival | Follow Thom on Instagram | Learn More and Buy Tickets

From the fading footlights of Millennium Eve, Scaramouche Jones shuffles into his dressing room and begins a haunting mediation on a century’s worth of laughter and loss, stories and secrets. Justin Butcher’s one-man masterpiece bursts to life in the masterful hands (and quite frankly, impeccably white gloves) of Fringe legend Thom Tuck.

Thom isn’t just an actor—he’s Fringe royalty. His back catalogue of credits is astonishing. You’ve seen him in sketch troupe The Penny Dreadfuls, laughing it up on Horrible Histories, or even playing himself in Birmingham REP’s The Play What I Wrote. But here, he’s something else entirely.

Now, donning the white mask, he steps onto the streets for his final bow. An hour before each show, you might spot him on Potterow, fully inhabiting Scaramouche Jones, handing out magical moments to strangers in a wonderful bit of street clowning. Then, retreating to his dressing room “offstage” (which is really onstage in Hoots Comedy’s intimate yurt), he invites you into a century-long confessional. Each vignette – whether in the dusty corners of a Mediterranean port or the smoke-filled aftermath of war – comes alive with Tuck spinning the stories. They become vivid, impassioned and heartbreakingly human.

What truly sets this incarnation apart is Tuck’s deepening relationship with the role. He’s played Scaramouche at the Fringe in both 2005 and 2015, and plans to revisit the piece every decade until he dies. Tuck’s commitment mirrors the act of living itself: returning, reflecting and growing closer to the character’s centenarian as his own years lengthen. Each revival brings new depth, like opening an old love letter and finding something you missed the first hundred times.

With Thom at the helm, Scaramouche Jones is funny, tender, and impossibly alive. It’s proof that sometimes the last curtain call isn’t an ending at all – it’s an encore.

THE ARTS BUSINESS TOP TIPS

1. Build a Legacy

Thom Tuck’s decision to revisit Scaramouche Jones every decade creates an ongoing sense of anticipation. Fans know it’s coming back, and newcomers are intrigued by the tradition. This kind of long-term thinking transforms a single show into a legacy event.

Action: Consider what you could bring back at regular intervals — a show, a workshop, a limited edition product or a seasonal event — so your audience knows they can return for more. The predictability builds brand loyalty.

2. Create Pre-Show Buzz

Instead of waiting for audiences to come to him, Tuck takes to Potterow before each performance, fully in character. It’s free street marketing that draws in curious passersby and sets the tone before the audience even steps inside.

Action: Bring an element of your work into public view before the event. This could be live demos, character walkabouts, teaser performances or behind the scenes online content. If people are intrigued before the event, they’re far more likely to buy a ticket or tell a friend.

3. Use Your Personal Story as a Hook

Tuck’s deep connection to the role — having played it in 2005, 2015, and now — adds emotional depth to the marketing narrative. It’s more than just a performance; it’s part of his life’s journey.

Action: Tell people why this project matters to you personally. Whether it’s a long-time dream, a career milestone, or something that changed you, audiences connect with human stories over polished sales pitches.

4. Make Every Space Part of the Experience

By using the intimate yurt as both “dressing room” and “stage,” Tuck transforms the environment into part of the story. It’s immersive and makes the audience feel they’re stepping into his world.

Action: Consider how your venue — no matter how small — can be transformed into a set or experience. Details like lighting, decor, sound, props or even creating a certain ambience pre show can turn a functional room into a storytelling space.

5. Leverage Your Past Work & Reputation

Tuck’s history with comedy troupes, TV appearances and stage credits builds credibility. It reassures potential ticket buyers they’re in good hands.

Action: In your marketing, highlight past successes, notable collaborations and recognisable work. This isn’t bragging – it’s giving people a reason to trust you’ll deliver a great experience or product.

6. Embrace Multi-Channel Storytelling

Tuck’s version of Scaramouche Jones isn’t just a play — it’s part live street theatre, part intimate monologue. That layered approach gives more entry points for audiences and more elements that they can go on to talk about.

Action: Think beyond the main show or product. How can you tell parts of your story through Instagram Reels, behind-the-scenes blogs, podcast interviews, or short clips? Multiple touchpoints mean more ways for people to connect with your work.

7. Let the Character Live Beyond the Stage

Scaramouche appears before the show, interacts with strangers, and lingers in the audience’s memory after the curtain falls. This gives the character life outside the confines of the play.

Action: Extend your creations into merchandise, online appearances, pop-up events and throughout your marketing. A character that audiences can encounter in multiple contexts becomes a brand in itself — and that brand can keep attracting interest long after the original show ends.