‘She Burns’ returns from a sell-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, to celebrate not only the life and art of Robert Burns, but the lives of the women that surrounded him and inspired some of his most famous works. Written by Sarah MacGillivray, with musical arrangements by Nicola Alexander – and of course incorporating the words and music of Rabbie Burns – ‘She Burns’ is playing at Johnnie Walker Princes Street on Saturday 25th January at 7.30pm.
The piece involves a small cast of 4 performers (Sarah MacGillivray, Nicola Alexander, Lori Flannigan and Eilidh Hughes). Together they make a coven of witches who represent the North, East, South and West. At their gathering, they attempt to conjure the ghost of Rabbie Burns in the hopes he will offer some words of wisdom on these trying times in which we live. In their efforts, the audience is told stories of various women who impacted Burns and how mentioning them may encourage the beloved bard to appear. From his lovers to his mother, to friends on the farm, MacGillivray’s monologues on the history of Robert Burns are well-studied and captivating. MacGillivray also has an endearing wit that consistently won laughs from the audience. Their talent for writing particularly shone through when the coven finally discussed the significance of Jean Armour. Jean was the wife of Robert Burns who looked after his 9 children and was consequently the reason he was able to dedicate so much of his time to creating art. By the end of the 60-minute piece, it is apparent that the legacy of Robert Burns was indirectly built by women.
Unfortunately, there were some audio issues throughout the show. One of the microphones kept popping and cutting out which would often distract from the dialogue. However, MacGillivray dealt with this like a true professional and at points simply abandoned using the microphone and projected well enough that she could have potentially done the whole thing without using any microphone at all.
Nonetheless, the strongest points in the show were undoubtedly the musical numbers. Each one of them was stunningly performed with impeccable harmonies and emotional connection. Flannigan, Hughes, and Alexander are all masters of their craft. Each of them had their own unique style and knew exactly when to stand out and when to blend their voices together. Two highlights of the night were Ae Fond Kiss and Auld Lang Syne. The latter involved some audience participation which ended the show on a distinctly joyful note and earned the cast a rapturous standing ovation!
Something that makes this production particularly exciting is its versatility. It has played at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival before and a in a small space, but it would also be well-suited to a tour, or a large venue such as the Festival Theatre. With the themes of witchcraft and conjuring the deceased, this could also be adapted to an outdoor venue, perhaps even in Dumfries where Robert Burns is buried? There’s almost limitless potential with this production which certainly makes its journey worth following via social media platforms. After all, it was announced after the show that the story for ‘She Burns’ was far from over.
‘She Burns’ is a refreshing and engaging exploration into the works of Robert Burns which reminds us that this gifted man would not have achieved what he did without the support and love of the women around him. This piece should inspire us all to look upon the other famed men of history and endeavour to learn more about the women around them whose stories are just as vital to history.
Get tickets for ‘She Burns’ at the Johnnie Walker Experience on Saturday 25th January – https://www.tickettailor.com/events/bestlaidplans/1519106?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaZa4qpQIBgyEDFivk0cvE2eEHhetsVy-8lZVqlC8EbC2mp0GUmS8Cek1zg_aem_WZZC6m0BnOPpbCkQfiR3hg
Theatre Scotland 
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