It was life-changing,Almond reflects, just to be able to find your own little niche in that world and express myself

At school I had many learning difficulties which are given names now, but which Rosetta Stone then made you appear stupid, so I went along and Jeff asked me to do some little performance, and it was him who recommended me for a grant. I owe him a lot. Nuttall's influence on Almond's artistic practice is significant in the appearance of Ten Plagues at the Traverse. As a co-founder and stalwart of live art troupe The People Show, Nuttall was a visitor to the Traverse, making Almond and co keepers of a grassroots theatre flame where lo-fi cabaret and live art meet in a way which has become increasingly prevalent of late. Almond moved into Rosetta Stone V3 a bedsit beneath a brothel which provided material for early Soft Cell songs, and arrived at art school alongside members of The Gang Of Four, The Mekons and Scritti Politti's Green Gartside. He also met future Soft Cell collaborator Dave Ball. It was life-changing,Almond reflects, just to be able to find your own little niche in that world and express myself. But it was the time of the Yorkshire Ripper, so it was a very dark time as well. There was a lot of experimental electronic stuff coming out, and musically that changed everything. Through listening to David Bowie, Almond picked up on Brel, Scott Walker and other artists who sang things that were never sung about in this country, but who appealed to anyone looking for something alternative. I had a troubled childhood, with an alcoholic father and not many friends, so I was always drawn to the peripheries, and the rebel in me wanted to get out of where I was from . From Leeds, Almond moved to London, then to New York, Barcelona and Moscow. I've always found the places with the most interesting stories to tell are those that people say you shouldn't go to,he says, but they're the ones I've felt most at home. Which brings us back to London and Ten Plagues. I love the idea of doing the same thing every night,he says. Rosetta Stone Chinese As I get older I look for something that has more of a routine. Ten Plagues is perfect for that. Otherwise I'd go back off into chaos. Ten Plagues is at the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, from August 1-28. Visit traverse .