The show opened with a chorus of voices singing to the tune of the Wellerman sea shanty, cheekily welcoming the audience to a 5-star worthy fringe show. They were not joking. Nine talented performers, all students from Acting Coach Scotland, brimmed with vitality and energy as they brought to life the stories of Anne Bonny... Continue Reading →
Most people have probably never heard of Isobel Gunn, the first Scottish woman to set foot in Canada. Singer, author and historian Melanie Gall intends to change that through her one-woman show. Blending historical research with lyrical folk music, she has created a musical biography of a woman born 246 years ago. Frustrated with the... Continue Reading →
Before the play had even begun, the cast was in distress; their script for the perfect fairytale play had gone missing! The resulting solution was a semi-improvised cabaret of musical theatre tunes. However, the songs were secondary to the weaving of an imaginative fantasy world, created through suggestions from the audience, all prompted by the... Continue Reading →
When I sat down at Summerhall this afternoon, I had no intention of writing this review. As a shadowing venue tech, I was there to observe experienced technicians, and learn more about technical staging. I had the pleasure of sitting in on some great shows, but by the end of this one, I knew I... Continue Reading →
The concept is really in the name here: it’s a musical, and it’s improvised. Showstopper! The Improvised Musical takes audience suggestions and turns them into a fully fledged musical on the spot. With co-creator and director Dylan Emery taking the stage as ‘The Writer’, he receives an urgent call from ‘the producers’ requesting a brand... Continue Reading →
The Edinburgh Fringe is well and truly underway, and as it heads into its final week, The Skarsgard Effect, playing at the Space @ Niddry Street, is fully embracing its time to shine. When triplet sisters Emelia, Linda and Natalie create a lie using chatGPT about being bastard Skarsgard children, suddenly lots of doors are... Continue Reading →
I love a show that gets meta, and this is certainly a show about a show. There is something enjoyable about watching theatre that acknowledges it’s own theatricality, and The Spy Network makes good use of this concept to tell the story of one of Scotland’s most famous historical figures. Written by Neil Edwards and... Continue Reading →
Giving the audience the power to decide how an entire murder mystery will unfold is a bold move, but it is exactly the format Murder, She Didn’t Write takes. Now in its 12th year at the Edinburgh Fringe, Degrees of Error’s show borrows a 1930s Agatha Christie-style mystery format and puts it into the hands... Continue Reading →
I haven't been as excited for a show in a long time. 2 Guys, 3 Drams: The Ultimate Live Blues and Whisky Experience sounded like it was made for me and boy was I correct. The Rhythm and Booze Project play some stomping blues music and serve you three superb Scotch whiskies. In a whirlwind... Continue Reading →
Having heard many good things about Game Called Chat's Smile, It Might Never Happen, I was incredibly excited to be sitting down in a packed crowd to watch 5 performers make up an entire musical in just under an hour. Smile, It Might Never Happen is the improvised musical comedy based entirely on the audience’s... Continue Reading →
I had literally no idea what to expect having been invited to a press event for the 27 Club, but what awaited was completely up my street and a blow-your-socks-off experience that is not to be missed. The 27 Club celebrates and brings to life the genius, world-affecting and momentous music of the enormously talented... Continue Reading →
If you're looking for a camp as tits night out at this year's Edinburgh Fringe, then look no further than Liberace and Liza - A Tribute, playing at Underbelly Bristo Square in the Ermintrude theatre until 30th August. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lndNuakVsE&t=11s Now, Liberace and Liza Minnelli never in fact performed together, but let your imagination run wild... Continue Reading →
Having heard lots of hype surrounding Fat Pooch's first Play Bloody Mary's I was incredibly excited to finally see the finished product. The excitement was justified and then some. Set in 1823, an Edinburgh riddled with greed and decay, Mary McKinnon is the queen of the night. Her brothel, Bloody Mary’s, is successful, her reputation... Continue Reading →
Vincent van Gogh is a man who is synonymous with the idea of a tortured genius. Thus, it can become difficult to separate the man from the mythology surrounding him. Vincent van Gogh: Between Worlds written and directed by Paola Veneto, attempts to do exactly that, presenting a more complicated portrait of an artist whose... Continue Reading →
What if science finally conquered death? Lifelong, the latest collaboration between playwright Lynda Radley and Pepperdine Scotland, takes this seemingly utopian premise and asks even darker questions: who gets to decide who lives, who benefits from scientific progress, and what happens when the pursuit of a longer life comes at the cost of living freely?... Continue Reading →
What does it mean to be a young woman in our world? And what if that young woman was, in fact, a monster? For the 25 year old at the centre of Succubus, getting older means discovering she is developing not only physically, but also a hunger that cannot be satiated. She must navigate her... Continue Reading →
The Karate Kid - The Musical has arrived at Edinburgh’s Festival Theatre as part of its UK premiere tour, running until Saturday 27 June before moving to the Theatre Royal in Glasgow from 30 June to 4 July. Based on the much loved 1984 film, this show follows teenager Daniel LaRusso as he moves from... Continue Reading →
The thrilling 2:22 – A Ghost Story has returned to Edinburgh, this time playing the large Edinburgh Playhouse until Saturday 30th May 2026. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuWyCDjpVA4 This chilling story follows new parents Jenny and Sam, as they face unexplained paranormal phenomena within their recently bought run-down house. When they invite Lauren and her new partner Ben to dinner, the four attempt to unpack the events... Continue Reading →
Waitress has set up shop at the Edinburgh Playhouse this week, delivering sweetness, comedy, heart and drama. Playing Scotland’s Broadway until Saturday 16th May. The story follows Jenna, a waitress at a pie diner in an American small town. Her specialism is making heavenly pies, which also acts as escapism to the world surrounding her.... Continue Reading →
Oh my God you guys! Did you hear?! Legally Blonde is strutting into the Kings Theatre this week to give us all the pep talk we need! Full of snaps, girl-power and a whole lot of pink – we follow Elle Woods as she chases her heart all the way to Harvard Law-only to discover... Continue Reading →
David Nicholls’ One Day is perhaps one of the most beautiful, yet equally devastating novels of the last twenty years. When it was announced that the Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh was producing a musical in collaboration with Melting Pot, a mix of anticipation and concern flooded the theatre industry as to whether they could... Continue Reading →
Here & Now has finally arrived in Scotland, with a book by Shaun Kitchener, direction from Rachel Kavanaugh and boot skootin’ music from pop band Steps. The musical plays the Edinburgh Playhouse until Sunday 1st March 2026. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhAmlr4e2f8 The story follows supermarket colleagues and friends Caz, Vel, Neeta and Robbie who promise to have the... Continue Reading →
Crashing into Glasgow on it’s second to last stop this tour, A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong is a treat for all the family. If theatre isn’t your thing, if plays are not your thing – give this a try and soon you will fall in love. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdTcd-tJyF4 What’s even more exciting about this visit from... Continue Reading →
The Woman in Black has been frightening theatre audiences since 1987, and now it continues its scare fest across the UK with it’s tour stopping off this week in Glasgow at the Theatre Royal, playing until Saturday 24th January 2026. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-M-Vm183OXo The Woman in Black is based on Susan Hill’s 1983 book of the same name and was adapted to stage by Stephen Mallatratt. An aging Arthur Kipps hires a... Continue Reading →
Blackout Productions return to the Church Hill Theatre this week with the breathtaking hit Broadway & West End musical - ‘Come From Away’. The award-winning musical is set in Gander, Newfoundland during the events of 9/11, with book, music and lyrics by Irene Sankoff and David Hein, highlighting acts of kindness from the people of... Continue Reading →
The Tartan Tabletop gang are back after their second sold-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe. Get ready for improvised comedy at the roll of a dice as four heroes blunder their way through an adventure like no other – aided by the weird and wonderful Noblin the Goblin, played by a different guest star comedian... Continue Reading →
Come From Away took the world by storm upon its opening on Broadway on 12th March 2017. Since then it has toured the world and musical theatre super fans have streamed the hell out of the soundtrack (myself included) so when Captivate announced they were doing a production of it at the Edinburgh Fringe 2025... Continue Reading →
Hal balances light and dark very well. As he says of himself, he can be quite “nasty” on stage, but it’s always with a twinkle in the eye and a tongue in cheek. Hal is back at the Edinburgh Fringe to delve into topics like middle-age dating, parenthood, divorce, insane modern politics and social media. With... Continue Reading →
A school reunion turns into a bit of a nightmare when two estranged friends from school wind up trapped in their old teacher’s classroom. With reflections, plenty of laughs and some surprising twists, the two realise the glory days may be behind them and that their old teacher might not have been so bad after... Continue Reading →
Settling into my familiar seat in the Pleasance Grand, 70 minutes of pure entertainment magic awaited as 750 excited viewers took their seats in anticipation. Having seen this show before many times, Showstoppers is one I make sure to catch each year at the fringe, as it is yet to disappoint. The story of this... Continue Reading →
Forth Children's Theatre's School of Rock is at Broughton High School until the 9th August with a matinee on Saturday 9th. Having recently seen their production of the Sound of Music in April, it’s hard to believe FCT brought together a mammoth rock musical in such short time, but they have and it’s raring for... Continue Reading →
‘The Book of Mormon’ (the nine-time Tony Award and four-time Olivier Award-winning Best Musical) is in town at the King’s Theatre in Glasgow, and what a delight it is. A provocative, powerful production which encourages the audience to look beyond its mocking nature and find true meaning in it’s commentary. Be warned, the musical will... Continue Reading →
You can’t help but be gobsmacked as you take your seat in the Edinburgh Playhouse - admiring the sheer eccentric beauty of the stage in this production of Moulin Rouge. I was personally going into this, having never seen the iconic 2001 Baz Luhrmann film, completely blind. And wow, am I glad I did. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vm2E-jaxLYg... Continue Reading →
This week is going to be a good week and here’s why….Dear Evan Hansen blows us away with roaring applause at His Majesty’s Theatre Aberdeen from 5th-8th March 2025! Let me introduce you to Evan Hansen: A shy high school kid who struggles with crippling anxiety and has just one wish- to fit in. The... Continue Reading →
Dear Evan Hansen hits the stage of Glasgow's King's Theatre to bring the house down with the renowned and popular musical, running until Saturday 1st March 2025. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W24yLM_jCtg The performance from the off was full of life and energy, the cast and band set a good bar from the opening few scenes for what to... Continue Reading →
Craig Revel Horwood and Pippa Evans’ new musical ‘Now That’s What I Call A Musical’ has blasted its way into Edinburgh this week, playing the Edinburgh Playhouse until Saturday 1st March. It's Birmingham, 1989. Gemma and April, two school friends, are busy planning their lives, with Gemma dreaming of being a Nurse and April longing... Continue Reading →
Good morning Glasgow! Are you a ‘Hairspray’ fanatic? Then get yourself to The King’s Theatre to see an all time fan favourite, running until the 1st of February 2025. Although the performance is lacking a bit of magic, it is still a great night out, filled with your favourite songs and evoking you to be... Continue Reading →
Chicago is back on the tour bus, and proving yet again that razzle-dazzle never goes out of style. With its sharp-edged satire, sizzling choreography, and a score that oozes glamour and grit, this iconic musical reminds us why it’s still the toast of the town nearly a century after its Jazz Age beginnings. As the... Continue Reading →
It's that time of year again! Panto season has come around and families and theatre lovers alike will be flocking to theatres all over Scotland to enjoy some hilarious shows throughout the festive period. 'Beauty and the Beastie' takes to the stage at the Pavillion Theatre, with their star studded cast looking to give the... Continue Reading →
Pitlochry is very much alive with ‘The Sound of Music’ this Christmas. Pitlochry Festival Theatre are staging a new production of the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein masterpiece until 22nd December 2024. Following Maria Rainer’s journey from nun to governess, set in the Austrian hills during the 1938 Anschluss, this is a profoundly moving and heartwarming... Continue Reading →
Au revoir! Mange tout, Mange tout as Del Boy would say. Yes, rolling into town to the Edinburgh Playhouse for one week only comes a treat for the fans of Only Fools and Horses – 'Only Fools and Horses The Musical'! Spend an evening re-living the best moments from the hit show with all your... Continue Reading →
'The SpongeBob Musical' is playing at the Churchill Theatre and the Allegro cast is ready to share a fun-fuelled two-hour extravaganza with Edinburgh. With songs written by titans of the music industry and the reputation and popularity of the show and movies creating a buzz already, Allegro is sure to make a bang this Bonfire... Continue Reading →
What better way to spend your Halloween week than seeing one of the most iconic horror spoofs of all time, ‘The Rocky Horror Show’, playing Glasgow’s Pavillion Theatre until Saturday 2nd November. 3. The story follows young lovers, Brad and Janet. Their car breaks down outside a rather spooky-looking castle where they come across a... Continue Reading →
Them Is Brothers Comedy presents ‘A Dame of Two Halves!‘, a rip-roaring two-act adventure following two sister dames in Panto Land. Presented at Capital Theatre’s The Studio, this show was written and performed by the Harrison and Leo MacNeill and consisted of two one act shows. The first act ‘On The Run: Dame Over!’ which... Continue Reading →
Giz Giz Youth Theatre are strutting into their 40th year in style and a whole lotta pink this week at the Tivoli Theatre, Aberdeen with a special anniversary reunion show. Giz Giz alumni, as well as present company members have come together to produce a high energy and all together fabulous production of Legally Blonde. ... Continue Reading →
J.M Barrie’s whimsical tale of the boy who never grows up in Neverland has been seen revived on stage many times in many different forms, however, in recent years there has only been one production that critics and audiences alike have been raving about. That is of course Mischief Theatre’s ‘Peter Pan Goes Wrong’. This... Continue Reading →
Theatre Scotland 