The Quinntessential Review Inclusive independent Arts News, Views, and News.

"She is a supporting character in someone else’s failure."

Karen Fishwick on reclaiming Flora MacDonald from the shortbread tin in Genesis Theatre Productions' new musical, 'Flora'.

Read our interview with the cast and director: wp.me/p91wLp-zErvq3c

#ScottishTheatre #NewMusical #WhatsonScotland

REVIEW: A Giant On The Bridge Fascinating, mad and impactful are just a few of the words one could use to describe A Giant On The Bridge. This concert-like experience mixed with spoken-word theatre blends the story of a father on his way home from prison to meet his family with that of a more traditional story of a giant and a prince.

REVIEW: 4 1/2 to A Giant On The Bridge @thebeaconarts

"Deeply emotional and slightly mad, this is a performance which stands out from the rest"

#theatrereview #whatsonscotland

Aisha Goodman and Alex Austin to star in Scottish premiere of Arlington Shotput announce cast for the Scottish premiere of Enda Walsh’s Arlington, touring to Cumbernauld, Tron and Traverse theatres this autumn.

News: Arlington by Enda Walsh, staged for the first time in Scotland by Shotput Theatre.

A fable of surveillance, control & connection, combining physical theatre, text & dance.

Opens 17 Oct in Cumbernauld, then Glasgow, & Edinburgh.

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#DanceTheatre #WhatsonScotland #Theatre

New Scottish musical Flora to premiere in Inverness and Glasgow New Scottish musical Flora premieres in Inverness and Glasgow in March 2026, telling Flora MacDonald’s full life story with music rooted in tradition and a modern edge.

“It was only when I looked into her life story that I realised how much more there was,” says writer Belle Jones. Her new #musical Flora, gives voice to Flora MacDonald beyond the legend.

Premieres March 2026 at Eden Court & The Pavilion.

wp.me/p91wLp-zErvp5U

#NewWriting #WhatsonScotland

Salt UK Tour 2025: Ritual Theatre Explores Faith, Folklore and the Sea in Scotland Salt, a folk tragedy by Contemporary Ritual Theatre, makes its Scotland debut this September with a tour of coastal communities inspired by the herring harvest.

“What I mean by ritual theatre is a form of theatre where performers and audience share a transformative experience.” — Beau Hopkins.

Salt tours Scotland this September.

wp.me/p91wLp-zErvp5k

#UKTheatre #ScottishArts #WhatsonScotland

McKillop & Gardiner on bringing Restless Natives to musical life “There was a real mix of excitement and weight, honestly.” That’s how Finlay McKillop, one half of the new Clown and Wolfman duo, describes stepping into the role of Will — one of Scotland’s most unlikely folk heroes. The stage musical of Restless Natives opens at Perth Theatre this spring, before setting off on a Scottish tour that includes Stirling, Aberdeen, Inverness, Edinburgh, and Glasgow.

"It’s not just about two lads in a van. It’s about hope, rebellion, friendship." -

Finlay McKillop & Kyle Gardiner on Restless Natives' musical stage reincarnation.

#restlessnativesthemusical #leiththeatre #musical #interview #kylegardiner #finlaymckillop #whatsonscotland

Review: Keli – A Brass-Band Fable Reimagined ★★★★ With a few brass-band gilded memories of Keli’s stripped-down, 2-man 2022 preview at the Lyceum, I wandered into this fully fleshed, National Theatre and Lepus-produced iteration with concerns. Would it escape its prior tendency to lecturing, monologue and caricature? The answer is, thankfully, a resounding yes. With an excellent cast to conjure her world, Keli, played by final year RCS actor Liberty Black, is free to be a teenage carer under intolerable pressure sans an excess of exposition.

"This compelling, weird, and utterly heartfelt adventure was worth the wait." - Martin Green's Keli returns in far finer fettle than when last seen in 2022.

#Keli #NTSOnline #WhatsonEdinburgh #WhatsonScotland #MartinGreen #NewWriting #BrassBands

KELI: Brass and Drama Hit Scotland in 2025 In a bold fusion of live brass music and gripping storytelling, the National Theatre of Scotland and Lepus Productions are set to premiere KELI, a debut play by acclaimed composer and musician Martin Green. Best known as the virtuoso accordionist of the visionary folk trio Lau and an Ivor Novello Award winner, Green steps into the role of playwright for the first time with this production.

Martin Green’s KELI features brass bands and drama to portray Scotland’s mining history. The play will be performed across Scotland between May and June 2025.

#KELI #Scotland2025 #NationalTheatreScotland #BrassMusic #MinersStrike #Theatre #WhatsonScotland

Bringing The Rainbow to the Stage: Nicola Werenowska on D.H. Lawrence, Migration, and Perth Theatre D.H. Lawrence’s The Rainbow has been a staple of English literature for over a century, dissected in classrooms, praised for its lyrical depth, and, at one point, banned for its daring explorations of sexuality and gender identity. Yet, for all its analysis, one theme has been overlooked: its migrant narrative. For playwright Nicola Werenowska, this omission was too significant to ignore.

"...to my surprise...the migrant issue at the heart of the novel had been completely overlooked.”

Nicola Werenowska on adapting The Rainbow for Perth Theatre.

#NicolaWerenowska #perththeatreandconcerthall #dhlawrence #therainbow #interview #whatsonscotland #theatre

Dropped off artwork yesterday to the Electric Brae Gallery for their affordable art event in aid of pulmonary fibrosis, lots of brilliant work from local artists.

#southayrshire #visitayrshire #visitayrshiregalleries #shopscotland #whatsonayrshire #whatsonscotland #visitscotland #visitayrshire