My Festival – David Lutken
The man behind the Woody Guthrie musical on how it’s changed with the world since debuting in 2007, why the folk singer continues to be an inspiration, and which Fringe shows he’s most excited about seeing
There are thousands of shows in Edinburgh this month. Please tell us why we should come and see yours?
Woody Sez: The Life & Music of Woody Guthrie is an 80-minute crash-course introduction to one of the world’s greatest and most famous protest songwriters. The show began at the Fringe in 2007, and The Scotsman was actually our first important review that year – a four-star! Woody’s incredible and undeniable influence has continued – even grown – among protesters and songwriters of the 21st century.
We’ve had near-90 productions in the intervening 19 years, all around the world. Come and see where and how the show – its humour, satire, advocacy and resistance – has changed and grown, and where and how we haven’t, with regard to the shocking political landscape of 2026!
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What will we learn from your show that we didn’t know before?
I hope you’ll learn a good deal about Woody Guthrie and about America in the 20th century and have a chance to listen to his songs (even if you do know them) in a way, and in a context that you haven’t heard them before.
Who or what was the biggest inspiration for your show?
Depending upon the point of perspective, my inspirations for the show were: many of my very early teachers in school, especially in music and history; growing up in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and North Carolina; my musical siblings; my independent-thinking parents and grandparents, and my own travels as an itinerant singer.
More directly, of course, would be Woody Guthrie’s indelible, inimitable songs and his writings and his life – as well as the writings and musings of another Oklahoman, Will Rogers, who might have been considered his mentor if they had ever met. Finally, Woody’s manager, Harold Leventhal, who encouraged me to devise this show.
What’s the best review you’ve ever had, and the worst?
I guess one of the worst reviews I’ve ever gotten was that “the casting of David M. Lutken was the most damaging thing” a misguided director had done in a bygone Summer stock musical (in the critic’s defense, I had a very bad singing night). Thanks for bringing that one up!
On the other hand, the best review was when The New York Times said that Woody Sez “transcends its homespun materials to become a work of art”.
Who or what are you most excited about seeing this year?
There are quite a few shows I’m excited about at The Fringe and elsewhere: Daniel Cainer’s What Am I, Chopped Liver?; Alex Edelman’s What Are You Going to Do; To Be Frank; The Palestinian Circus’s A Step and a Half; Joey Jennings’ Little Pink Dress; Big Stuff; and The Real Kyle McCarren.
Then when I get back to the USA, I’m looking forward to seeing The Public Theater’s production of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button in New York, as many of my actor or muso friends will be on stage.
Who do you most like spending time with in Edinburgh?
My wife. And our cast, Nyssa Grant, Raquel Chavez and David Finch, all really wonderful friends.
Tell us something about you that would surprise people.
I read Classics at university, and I’m an avid fly fisherman.
What are the best and worst things that have happened to you at a festival?
I’ve had countless wonderful experiences at festivals in many countries - and a few bad ones, too. The question brings up a wonderful memory of the Boulder County Fair Music Festival in 1980, when I saw John Hartford play solo for several thousand people. He was an incredible performer and I was in awe, and just about two hours later, I had a very bad run-in with a burrito.
What’s the first thing you do in the morning and the last thing you do at night?
As I get close to the age of 70, the first thing in the morning I do my back exercises, take a walk, and then drink coffee. These days at the Fringe, it seems that the last thing I do most nights is write (which, thankfully, I enjoy).
Woody Sez: The Life & Music of Woody Guthrie, Underbelly Bristo Square, 5.30pm, until 30 August
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