Scotland Theater Reviews: Best Shows & Critic Recommendations

Review: CHRISTMAS BY CANDLELIGHT, 18 Candleriggs
by Natalie O'Donoghue - December 19, 2024

Christmas by Candlelight is a two night festive extravaganza staged by JM Theatricals at 18 Candleriggs. Led by John McGlone, a cast of professional singers and an ensemble choir perform Christmas classics in the cosy setting of 18 Candleriggs. ...

Review: TROUBLE IN SPIRITLAND, Traverse Theatre
by Mary Baillie - December 19, 2024

Author Paul Tinto performed his original work 'Trouble in Spiritland' as a work-in-progress show at the Traverse this week. Adapted from the mythic epic poem of the same name, Tinto's theatrical spoken-word presentation delves into difficult themes including the wealth divide, capitalist corruption,...

Review: THE NUTCRACKER, Theatre Royal
by Natalie O'Donoghue - December 19, 2024

Scottish Ballet’s The Nutcracker brings light and joy to winter for audiences of all ages. Enjoy a visual feast as we take you and your family on a fantastical adventure. With live music played by the Scottish Ballet Orchestra, this ever-popular ballet is the perfect festive treat....

Review: PINOCCHIO, Lanternhouse
by Natalie O'Donoghue - December 14, 2024

All Pinocchio has ever wanted is to be a real boy. But hold on…if he wants things, surely that means he has thoughts and feelings. And if he has thoughts and feelings, then doesn’t that mean he has a brain and a heart? And if he has all that, doesn’t that make him a real boy already?...

Review: BEAUTY AND THE BEASTIE, Pavilion Theatre
by Natalie O'Donoghue - December 14, 2024

Life in Cludgie on the Cobbles is quiet and peaceful. Belle passes her days helping her mother, Professor Porridge and their neighbours Dame Dolly Drumchapel and her son, Hector....

Review: JACK AND THE BEANSTALK, Beacon Arts Centre
by Natalie O'Donoghue - December 13, 2024

p his castle in the clouds, Giant Greedyguts plans to destroy the pantomime kingdom of Inverstrone if Dame Trot doesn’t give him her precious cow, Moomoo, for his lunch. This is just the adventure that Dame Trot’s daredevil daughter, Jack, has been waiting for....

Review: RUMPELSTILTSKIN, Platform
by Natalie O'Donoghue - December 10, 2024

Rumpelstiltskin has never fitted in. Is he a Troll? A Goblin? A Stinky Bog Monster? No one really knows! But he’s excited to head out into the world and start making friends....

Review: THE SOUND OF MUSIC, Pitlochry Festival Theatre
by Natalie O'Donoghue - December 09, 2024

The Sound of Music is the Pitlochry Festival Theatre's winter show and the final show to be directed by Elizabeth Newman in her role as artistic director of the theatre. ...

Review: SLEEPING BEAUTY, Adam Smith Theatre
by Natalie O'Donoghue - December 07, 2024

The wait is over, Sleeping Beauty is now on! Bring your family and friends to experience the magic, laughter and heart-warming charm of this year’s must-see panto. With Christmas just around the corner, there’s no better way to get into the festive spirit!...

Review: SHE LOVES ME, New Athenaeum Theatre
by Mary Baillie - December 09, 2024

The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland's musical theatre students showed off their talent in 1930s musical She Loves Me last week. Set in a Budapest perfumery, the piece follows feuding coworkers Georg (Nathan Muwowo) and Amelia (Ailsa Graham) who are unknowingly anonymous penpals, falling in love thro...

Review: A CHRISTMAS CAROL, Chandler Studio Theatre
by Mary Baillie - December 09, 2024

The Royal Conservatoire’s ‘Performance in British Sign Language (BSL) and English' students presented a beautiful silent adaptation of Dickens classic 'A Christmas Carol' last week. Combining both BSL and English, this performance ensured accessibility and enjoyment for both hearing and hearing-impa...

Review: MOTHER GOOSE, Ayr Gaiety
by Natalie O'Donoghue - December 07, 2024

With an original script written by Fraser Boyle and Ken Alexander, Ayr Gaiety pantomime isn't one of the flashy 'copy and paste' pantomimes that are staged up and down the country. The Gaiety is also working with the support of Solar Bear and is the first hearing-led Scottish panto to feature D/deaf...

Review: JACK AND THE BEANSTALK, Eastwood Park Theatre
by Natalie O'Donoghue - December 05, 2024

Get ready to roar with laughter and cheer our hero Jack on his magical journey to Cloudland as he battles to save his best friend Daisy the Cow! As always there’ll be spectacular scenery, dazzling costumes, amazing special effects and lots of audience participation....

Review: THE GRAPES OF WRATH, National Theatre at Home
by Amber-Rae Stobbs - December 04, 2024

The National Theatre's Summer 2024 hit is now available on its streaming platform, National Theatre at Home...

Review: SNOW WHITE, Macrobert Arts Centre
by Natalie O'Donoghue - December 02, 2024

Oh dear. Things aren’t going too well down in Stirling Stella. The Baroness Fantasia De’Wharff needs a nanny to control her seven unruly step-children particularly, the rather wild Snow White. Step forward Nanny Maria Shut-Yon-Trapp who wants to fill the pantosphere with her own Sound Of Music....

Review: ALADDIN, Paisley Arts Centre
by Natalie O'Donoghue - December 01, 2024

This Christmas, PACE Theatre Company is delighted to announce its annual pantomime will be a new version of Aladdin; a re-imagining of the classic tale with a distinctly Scottish flavour. A seasonal treat for adults and children alike, Aladdin will run from Wednesday 27 November 24 – Sunday 5 Januar...

Review: WEANS IN THE WOOD(LANDS), Oran Mor
by Natalie O'Donoghue - November 30, 2024

Join us again at Oran Mor for another hysterical, subversive Christmas panto full of laughs, boos and, of course, a pie! The Oran Mor winter panto takes the timeslot of A Play, A Pie and A Pint from late November through to January. ...

Review: TREASURE ISLAND, Royal Lyceum Theatre
by Natalie O'Donoghue - November 30, 2024

It’s Christmas Eve and young Jim Hawkins works at North Edinburgh’s finest accommodation for reformed pirates and past-it privateers. Talk of cutlasses, ships and gold can be dangerous in such company. It’s not long before the story of their greatest voyage takes over… Jim, Ben Gunn and Lean Jean Si...

Review: CINDERELLA, Festival Theatre
by Natalie O'Donoghue - November 29, 2024

Packed with all of the traditional pantomime ingredients Edinburgh audiences expect, Cinderella features laugh-out-loud comedy, stunning scenery, beautiful costumes and plenty of boos and hisses....

Critics' Choice: Cheryl Markosky's Best Shows of 2024
by Cheryl Markosky - December 12, 2024

Grand dame Sian Phillips stealing the show, Adam Cooper giving an unexpected twirl and smaller theatre spaces punching above their weight. These are some of BroadwayWorld reviewer Cheryl Markosky's favourite theatre moments of 2024....

Review: PRESENT LAUGHTER, National Theatre At Home
by Amber-Rae Stobbs - November 29, 2024

A festive treat lands just in time for Christmas...

Review: PETER PAN, King's Theatre
by Natalie O'Donoghue - November 29, 2024

Celebrate 60 years of panto at The King's with amazing special effects, stunning sets, beautiful costumes and barrel-loads of laughter, Peter Pan will take your whole family on a magical trip to Neverland like never before!...

Review: PETER PANTO AND THE INCREDIBLE STINKERBELL, Tron Theatre
by Natalie O'Donoghue - November 27, 2024

With a blast of magic from the mighty Stinkerbell, Peter Pan whisks West End Wendy away from the safety of her Byres Road residence to a place full of treachery, deceit and chippies that never close. Welcome to the rambunctious and radgey Riverland!...

Review: MIRACLE ON DEANSTON DRIVE, Oran Mor
by Natalie O'Donoghue - November 16, 2024

Christmas time in Glasgow is not so magical when you’re a cab driver dealing with drunken passengers, potholes and never-ending rain....

Review: 101 DALMATIANS, King's Theatre
by Natalie O'Donoghue - November 13, 2024

When fashionista Cruella de Vil plots to swipe all the Dalmatian puppies in town to create her fabulous new fur coat, there’s trouble ahead for Pongo and Perdi and their litter of adorable, tail-wagging young pups....