2022 was quite the year for theatre, wasn’t it? For the first time since Theatre Scotland was established (2019), we had a full year of reviewing theatre, including our first time reviewing a full Edinburgh Fringe programme.
We absolutely loved seeing a variety of theatre made in or visiting Scotland. Thank you to all the artists, companies, theatres and marketing teams who allowed us into your venues to see some fantastic productions.
Also thank you to our amazing band of critics who over the last year have done their very best to cover as much of the theatre in Scotland as possible. We look forward to another year of reviewing in 2023.
In 2022 we awarded 49 productions five-star reviews out of the whopping 171 productions we seen across Scotland from January to December 2022. Below is Scotland’s five star productions 2022:
‘Beauty and The Beast’ (Glasgow King’s Theatre) | December 2022
“The Crossroads Pantomime production of Beauty and the Beast was a fantastic representation of Scottish theatre and gave the audience a wonderful night of Christmas joy and laughs to remember!”
Review By Keiran McLean
‘Sister Act’ (Glasgow King’s Theatre) | November 2022
“‘Sister Act’ will blow you away and you will leave in pain from laughing! From start to finish it is a very well crafted, theatre powerhouse with something for everyone – comedy, love and singing nuns. A show you really don’t want to miss!”
Review By Keiran McLean
‘Pride and Prejudice (*Sort Of)’ (Glasgow King’s Theatre) | November 2022
“If you want to feel inspired, alive and proud of where you come from, go and see this play. There’s nothing more exciting than seeing Scottish creatives succeed, they will not only give you the performance of a lifetime, but they will ignite the creativity within their Scottish audience. The impact these creatives and ‘Pride and Prejudice* (*Sort of)’ will have on Scottish theatre will be much larger than anyone can fully understand.”
Review By Rebecca Donati
‘Legally Blonde’ (Allegro) | November 2022
“Allegro’s production of ‘Legally Blonde’ is one of the best amateur productions to play in Scotland this year. The cast supply a standard of performance that excels previous professional productions of this musical. With this you leave the theatre beaming ear to ear at this joyous show performed with such energy and talent.”
Review By Lewis C. Baird
‘James IV: Queen of The Fight’ (National Theatre of Scotland) | October 2022
“The fourth installment in the James plays – James IV – is a must see for Scottish theatre. Every aspect of the show was as good as the next and it is a brilliant recipe for success. If you haven’t seen it yet, will you follow your king?”
Review by Keiran McLean
‘Girl From The North Country’ (Theatre Royal Glasgow) | September 2022
“Every performer played their role exceptionally well and each contributed something important to the success of the story and the musical as a whole. Even with a crowded act 1, everyone in attendance couldn’t help but be glued to every single thing happening.”
Review By Keiran McLean
‘The Book of Mormon’ (His Majesty’s Theatre, Edinburgh Playhouse & Theatre Royal Glasgow) | 2022
“‘Book of Mormon’ is undoubtedly the best comedy musical of all time. The comedy featured is raucous, crude and risky, however if you are into this kind of humour then this production will be one of the best things you have seen on a stage.”
Review By Lewis C. Baird
Rock Of Ages (Glasgow King’s Theatre & Edinburgh Playhouse) | 2022
“I absolutely loved this performance of ‘Rock of Ages’, so much that I’ve booked back in to see it tonight! If you’re not afraid of a rude joke, a good time and loud music, Rock of Ages is the show for you and make sure you catch it before the end of the tour!”
Review By Becky Campbell
‘One-Woman Show’ (Traverse Theatre) | August 2022
“An absolutely hilarious, relatable comedy which really questions the portrayal of the modern woman we see on stage/screen. Where Fleabag broke boundaries portraying these tropes on stage/screen this show brings us to the opposite end of the spectrum mimicking these tropes. Keep an eye out for Liz Kingsman. She is a true talent and I feel fortunate to have witnessed her bare her soul on the traverse 1 stage.”
Review By Rebecca Donati
‘Jungle Book Reimagined’ (Festival Theatre) | August 2022
“The simplicity of the whole performance was just an absolute treat, as it allowed for us to really focus on the sheer talent of the ensemble. I would watch this again in a heartbeat.”
Review By Rhona Williams
‘Sweet FA’ (Tynecastle Park) | August 2022
“The performers give their all, the music is wonderful and the story inspiring. I would encourage anyone and everyone to give this show a watch. It is a must see, one of my favourite performances at this fringe.”
Review By Rebecca Donati
‘Amy Gledhill: The Girl Before The Girl You Marry’ (Monkey Barrell) | August 2022
“It is hard to find anything worth criticising for this show, from the moment I left the venue all I could think of is telling everyone I know how much fun I had watching Gledhill on stage. If you want a performance that will make you laugh so much you leave with tears in your eyes and the stomach of someone who just done a YouTube workout (a la Lockdown 1) then Amy Gledhill is the one for you.”
Review By Lauren Shaw
‘Salamander’ (Pretty Knickers Productions) | August 2022
“‘Salamander’ is a funny, emotional and very creative insight into the lives of Edinburgh’s sex workers. The stories of these woman resonate strongly with audiences thanks to the incredible performances from this stellar cast, the stunning writing from McCall and Ferguson, plus the pacey fun direction from Pennycook.”
Review By Lewis C. Baird
‘The Importance of Being…Earnest?’ (The Pleasance) | August 2022
“‘The Importance of Being…Earnest?’ Is a brilliant fun fuelled performance full of audience participation. Using the audience to participate in painting, improvisation, script reading, piano playing, the lot. No two shows will ever be the same thanks to the audience members. Splendidly silly and a must see of this year’s fringe. Say It Again, Sorry? Are a fun collective who are ones to keep an eye out for – you can currently participate in their project Not Our Play which allows you to anonymously participate in script writing which will be performed.”
Review By Rebecca Donati
‘Divas: From Stage to Screen’ (Captivate Theatre) | August 2022
“‘Divas: From Stage to Screen’ is a musical delight and a showcase of utterly stunning vocal skill.”
Review By Katie McNulty
‘The End of Eddy’ (Church Hill Theatre) | August 2022
“‘The End of Eddy’ is a sad but hopeful tale, brought to life by talented performers, excellent direction and interesting design. The whole cast and crew are a perfect representation of the International Festival and the talent and culture we in Edinburgh are so lucky to host.”
Review By Stacey Brown
‘Bad Teacher’ (Underbelly) | August 2022
“Although the show is called ‘Bad Teacher’ they are anything but, teachers like the one in this production represent the type of teachers that make the most positive mark on pupils’ lives. Bad teacher is a fantastic addition to the Fringe this year, don’t deprive yourself of its hilarity, go see it!”
Review By Marcus Lundie
‘Bianca Del Rio: Unsanitized’ (The Pleasance) | August 2022
“Bianca Del Rio is hilarious in her return to the Fringe. She is as funny and fabulous as you would expect and it’s clear how much she loves to connect with her fans.”
Review By Stacey Brown
‘Coming Out of My Cage (And I’ve Been Doing Just Fine)’ (Underbelly) | August 2022
“Shepard Tone’s ‘Coming out of my cage (And I’ve been doing just fine)’ is entertainment at its very best. A show you would, and will, happily see over and over again as the atmosphere will never get old. I mean, who doesn’t love a bit of Mr Brightside?”
Review By Keiran McLean
‘Hungry’ (Summerhall) | August 2022
“‘Hungry’ is a show that will give the audience every single emotion they want. It is an incredible story with an incredible team behind it. Paines Plough are definitely a company to keep an eye out for.”
Review By Keiran McLean
‘Bits N Pieces’ (Saltire Sky Theatre) | August 2022
“They improvised conversation, broke tensions and even got everyone on their feet raving themselves. The show was completely unique in the fact that the audience had fun and danced as the characters did, we were made to feel as one homogenous group of people enjoying a fantastic night.”
Review By Marcus Lundie
‘The Kaye Hole’ (Assembly) | August 2022
“‘The Kaye Hole’ is a must-see at this year’s Fringe. Reuben Kaye proves once again that he is one of the biggest and best acts in Edinburgh this August, adding some of the biggest and boldest acts of the Fringe into the mix makes it simply sublime. ‘The Kaye Hole’ is undoubtedly a contender for the best show I’ve seen at this year’s Fringe.”
Review By Lewis C. Baird
‘Medea’ (Edinburgh International Festival & National Theatre of Scotland) | August 2022
“‘Medea’ is a thrilling, haunting and challenging production with a stellar cast and production team. This is an absolute must see for theatre and drama lovers, an immersive experience not to be missed.”
Review By Erin Munro
‘ROOM’ (Edinburgh International Festival) | August 2022
“‘ROOM’ was a wondrously unique piece of theatre that captivated its audience from beginning to end. It was whimsical and surprising and left me simply awestruck by how one space can hold so many possibilities.”
Review By Katie McNulty
‘Blood Harmony’ (Traverse Theatre) | August 2022
‘”Blood Harmony’ is a beautiful, moving, and heartwarming journey that features a talented cast, wonderful script, and gorgeous music.”
Review By Lewis C. Baird
‘War of the Worlds (On a Budget)’ (TheSpaceUK) | August 2022
“‘War of the Worlds (On a Budget)’ is quintessential Fringe; DIY everything, hilarious and musical numbers galore. If anyone is thinking of doing a show but has no money, War of the Worlds (On a Budget) proves all you need is a bit of super glue and a great imagination to create a five-star show. Lamphouse have created a fantastic show and I can’t wait to see what other classics they’ll cover next.”
Review By Stacey Brown
‘Windows Of Displacement’ (The Studio) | August 2022
“‘Windows of Displacement’ by Akeim Toussaint Buck is absolutely stunning. The way he weaves dance and spoken word so flawlessly is more than impressive. Akeim is definitely a creator I will be looking out for in future productions! He is a brilliant talent and activist that many creatives should be looking up to.”
Review By Stacey Brown
‘Born Under A Bad Sign’ (TheSpaceUK) | August 2022
“The play asks should we let football be the centerpiece of the conversation, it can act as a nice distraction from everyday life, or is it better to open up and talk to your boys? Should football be all-consuming, or should we be more honest with each other and maybe get to know your fellow supporters? Is football the only thing you have in common? Probably not. It’s very encouraging to see a piece with young men talking about men’s mental health and using a sport that is so popular as the drawing point for more and more young men to receive the plays message and to be asked these important questions.”
Review By Sam Eastop
‘Crossing The Void’ (TheSpaceUK) | August 2022
“It’s easy to get used to a certain standard when attending many different fringe plays, and when one sits above the rest its incredibly exciting. Crossing The Void has a very talented cast, an incredible script and is full of people passionate about telling this story. With themes of mental health and secrets that can tear apart friendships, this is mature and effective theatre just waiting to be taken in by the public.
Review By Sam Eastop
‘Trainspotting Live’ (The Pleasance) | August 2022
“Choose Life. Choose ‘Trainspotting Live’. It’s back and better than ever. This cast are incredible. If you love ‘Trainspotting’ then this is the best way to experience it.”
Review By Lewis C. Baird
‘Mischief Movie Night’ (The Pleasance) | August 2022
“‘Mischief Movie Night’ is a fantastic production that takes the Mischief ensemble back to their roots of stripped-back comedy. The performers featured do an amazing job of making this such a hilarious evening for everyone, the performers included.”
Review By Lewis C. Baird
‘Burn’ (National Theatre of Scotland) | August 2022
“I believe Cumming and Hoggett’s exhilarating journey into the life of the deeply troubled Robert Burns is an ode to the beautiful complexity of the poet and the legacy he still contributes to Scottish culture today.”
Review By Matthew Attwood
‘She Wolf’ (Assembly) | August 2022
“‘She Wolf’ is definitely one of the best-written and most thought-provoking shows I have seen in a long time. I left the theatre feeling empowered, inspired, but most importantly I felt understood.”
Review By Rachel Clinton
‘Big Band Does Broadway’ (Rose Theatre) | August 2022
“Big Band Does Broadway’ is a must-see at this year’s Fringe for any musical lover. This is a stunning late-night production that takes audiences to the Big Apple and down an avenue of spellbinding music. The performers featured are undoubtedly future stars of our stage, so make sure to catch this intimate event with this talented ensemble before they themselves hit Broadway or the West End.”
Review By Lewis C. Baird
‘My Son’s A Queer (But What Can You Do?)’ (Underbelly) | August 2022
“Rob Madge’s ‘My Son’s A Queer (but what can you do?)’ is a stunning piece of theatre radiating comedy, and emotion that will melt the hardest of hearts. There was barely a dry eye in the house. Rob’s story is one that many can relate to, and we can only hope that this story is told for many years to come.”
Review By Lewis C. Baird
‘The Lion King’ (Edinburgh Playhouse) | June 2022
“‘The Lion King’ is a magnificent masterpiece which brings a much-loved animation to life which such creative beauty. Even after 25 years and a sold out run only two years ago, audiences still can’t get enough of this stupendous hit.”
Review By Lewis C. Baird
‘Anything Goes’ (Festival Theatre) | May 2022
“‘Anything Goes’ is the musical production of the year with a tremendous cast, stunning set, glorious costume and jaw dropping choreography, it hits all the marks. ‘Anything Goes’ will have you tap dancing out of the theatre begging for more.”
Review By Lewis C. Baird
‘Waitress’ (Edinburgh Playhouse) | April 2022
“‘Waitress’ is a charming story that leaves you feeling cosy and warm inside- like a slice of apple pie. It has cemented itself as a modern musical classic and the cast touring the UK are doing it justice and then some!”
Review By Stacey Brown
‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time’ (Glasgow King’s Theatre) | April 2022
“‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time’ is one of the best theatre productions in the world, and this UK Touring production celebrating the play’s 10th anniversary is it’s best incarnation. The cast within this production are so incredibly talented, they portray the story with such understanding, energy, emotion and focus.”
Review By Lewis C. Baird
‘Dreamgirls’ (Edinburgh Playhouse) | April 2022
“As a hardcore Dreamgirls fan, my expectations were sky high for this production, and they were reached and smashed. I urge anyone considering getting tickets for this tour to absolutely do it, you will not be disappointed. All I can say at this point, is a wholehearted congratulations to everyone involved in the production last night, you all should be massively proud of what you have achieved, and thank you for taking us on this journey with you.”
Review By Rhona Williams
‘Beautiful’ (Edinburgh Festival Theatre) | April 2022
“‘Beautiful’ is the epitome of what contemporary musical theatre should be with Nikolai Foster’s stunning direction and a cast of incredibly talented performers. This is most likely the best production of this musical you’ll ever see.”
Review By Lewis C. Baird
‘Allan Stewart’s Big Big Variety Show’ (Edinburgh King’s Theatre) | March 2022
“Allan Stewart’s Big Big Variety Show is a must-see hit on its final run at Edinburgh King’s Theatre. It is a fantastic show that puts to the forefront some unbelievably talented performers who all bring something different to the table and together build a show to be extremely proud of.”
Review By Keiran McLean
‘Everybody’s Talking About Jamie’ (Edinburgh Festival Theatre) | March 2022
“‘Everybody’s Talking About Jamie’ is a fabulous theatrical event which uplifts audiences of all ages. This UK Touring production has a stellar cast, crew and creative team who dazzle audiences with humour, stunning vocals and an important story of fighting to be who you want to be.”
Review By Lewis C. Baird
‘Six’ (Edinburgh Festival Theatre) | March 2022
“‘Six’ is explosive! It’s such an exciting experience, where a 2010s pop concert is mixed with history and it’s all been popped into a theatre. Six is so enjoyable and fun- it surpasses the acclaim it has and then some. It is a feel-good way to learn about history, feminism and some dance moves.”
Review By Stacey Brown
‘One Man, Two Guvnors’ (Captivate Theatre) | March 2022
“‘One Man, Two Guvnors’ is a hysterically funny play which the audience lap up, thanks to the supremely talented actors featured and a new vision from Sally Lyall which offers the play more room for comedy.”
Review By Lewis C. Baird
‘The Rocky Horror Show’ (Edinburgh King’s Theatre) | February 2022
“This production was spectacular. Probably one of the best nights in a Theatre I’ve ever had. No other show can evoke a reaction or response from audiences or feel like such an event for die hard fans than Rocky Horror. But when it’s done this well? Well, some other shows may be more emotionally poignant or mature, but by God you’ll have more fun seeing Rocky Horror. It may be the only show in which a main cast member can break character entirely to burst out laughing and the whole audience will think the show better for it.”
Review By Sam Eastop
‘Be More Chill’ (Aberdeen Arts Centre) | February 2022
“This Scottish premier of ‘Be More Chill’ was a must-see. It had such a refreshing feel and left you leaving the theatre filled with adrenaline. The cast and creative team have done a brilliant job of putting on such a high standard of show. Keep an eye out for upcoming productions from TTB.”
Review By Rebecca Donati
‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’ (Edinburgh King’s Theatre) | February 2022
“‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’ is a whimsical experience for all the family. Just as Lucy is transported through the wardrobe, through all the enchanting elements we too are taken to the beautiful version of Narnia this team have crafted.”
Review By Stacey Brown
‘School Of Rock’ (Edinburgh Playhouse) | January 2022
“‘School of Rock’ is a sublime musical with rocking hits and an insane cast which bring the motion picture brilliantly to life on stage.”
Review By Lewis C. Baird
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