Cringe
It’s Reid Aitken’s first day of high school and he just wants to vanish. For Gordon McGhee, it’s just another day of dodging bullies and praying to Zeus for a lightning strike. Together, these two outsiders strike up a friendship that makes the rest of the world feel a little less scary.
But high school is a labyrinth with monsters lurking in every corridor. When an embarrassing incident spirals into a legend known only as “The Creeping Snake,” Reid finds himself at the centre of the cruellest joke in school. Suddenly, the question isn’t how to disappear — it’s how to survive, and who will stand beside you when everything feels impossible.
Fast-paced, funny, and painfully true, CRINGE is a story about surviving the minefield of growing up, standing up to bullies, and finding the friend who makes you braver than you ever thought you could be.
CRINGE is written by award-winning theatre-maker Ross MacKay, directed by Joe Douglas, one of Scotland’s most acclaimed directors.
Produced by Scottish Theatre Producers, in association with Imaginate, supported by One Ren. Funded by Creative Scotland’s Open Fund.
For information on the CRINGE schools performance on Tuesday 9 th June, click here.
SHOW | DRAMA
Suitable for ages 10-15 years (P6-S2).
70 mins
Scottish Theatre Producers was founded in 2016 to support the work of a range of freelance artists and companies, in particular those who make work for children and young people. STP produces the work of Cade & MacAskill, Greg Sinclair, Tenterhooks and Bear Hug (previously The Polar Bears). Recent and upcoming work includes Snowy (Capital Theatres, Aberdeen Performing Arts and Eden Court, Christmas 2025 – 2027), a tour of Greg Sinclair’s Tongue Twister, and Now Not Now (Cade & MacAskill, which will premiere at Tramway in Octobr 2026).
Joe Douglas is a director, writer, and dramaturg and is the Chair of Theatre Directors Scotland. For the National Theatre of Scotland, he has directed or co-directed: ‘Dear Billy’, ‘The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil’, ‘Dear Scotland’, ‘The Last Polar Bears’, ‘Our Teacher’s A Troll’, ‘Allotment’. Joe was also Associate Director on three international tours of ‘Black Watch’. He was Associate Artistic Director of Dundee Rep (2016-17) and Artistic Director of the Live Theatre in Newcastle upon Tyne (2018-20).
Writer Ross MacKay‘s plays have been performed across Scotland and his adaptation of Treasure Island was published by Methuen Drama in Autumn 2024. He is currently under commission with the National Theatre of Scotland on a major new Scottish play about the video games industry. He is also currently under commissions for a new family show with Pitlochry Festival Theatre and a commercial musical with Scottish Theatre Producers and John Stalker Productions. As a screenwriter, he has written for TV shows on CBBC and Cbeebies.
Light the Blue is our multi-artform festival for and by young people returning on 2 – 14 June 2026 with a programme of theatre, music, dance, visual arts and more taking place across Aberdeen city.
With over 24 events across 13 days, this year’s festival asks our artists and audiences What’s your story?
Whether it’s ‘our story so far’ or ‘our hopes and dreams for the future’ – our stories and imaginations can shape who we are, who we want to become and even the world around us.
Join us for Light the Blue 2026, where over 1,000 young and professional artists, school pupils and early career creatives from across Scotland will come together to celebrate new and emerging talent, creating opportunities and connection.
GO TO LIGHT THE BLUE 2026
But high school is a labyrinth with monsters lurking in every corridor. When an embarrassing incident spirals into a legend known only as “The Creeping Snake,” Reid finds himself at the centre of the cruellest joke in school. Suddenly, the question isn’t how to disappear — it’s how to survive, and who will stand beside you when everything feels impossible.
Fast-paced, funny, and painfully true, CRINGE is a story about surviving the minefield of growing up, standing up to bullies, and finding the friend who makes you braver than you ever thought you could be.
CRINGE is written by award-winning theatre-maker Ross MacKay, directed by Joe Douglas, one of Scotland’s most acclaimed directors.
Produced by Scottish Theatre Producers, in association with Imaginate, supported by One Ren. Funded by Creative Scotland’s Open Fund.
For information on the CRINGE schools performance on Tuesday 9 th June, click here.
SHOW | DRAMA
Suitable for ages 10-15 years (P6-S2).
70 mins
Scottish Theatre Producers was founded in 2016 to support the work of a range of freelance artists and companies, in particular those who make work for children and young people. STP produces the work of Cade & MacAskill, Greg Sinclair, Tenterhooks and Bear Hug (previously The Polar Bears). Recent and upcoming work includes Snowy (Capital Theatres, Aberdeen Performing Arts and Eden Court, Christmas 2025 – 2027), a tour of Greg Sinclair’s Tongue Twister, and Now Not Now (Cade & MacAskill, which will premiere at Tramway in Octobr 2026).
Joe Douglas is a director, writer, and dramaturg and is the Chair of Theatre Directors Scotland. For the National Theatre of Scotland, he has directed or co-directed: ‘Dear Billy’, ‘The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil’, ‘Dear Scotland’, ‘The Last Polar Bears’, ‘Our Teacher’s A Troll’, ‘Allotment’. Joe was also Associate Director on three international tours of ‘Black Watch’. He was Associate Artistic Director of Dundee Rep (2016-17) and Artistic Director of the Live Theatre in Newcastle upon Tyne (2018-20).
Writer Ross MacKay‘s plays have been performed across Scotland and his adaptation of Treasure Island was published by Methuen Drama in Autumn 2024. He is currently under commission with the National Theatre of Scotland on a major new Scottish play about the video games industry. He is also currently under commissions for a new family show with Pitlochry Festival Theatre and a commercial musical with Scottish Theatre Producers and John Stalker Productions. As a screenwriter, he has written for TV shows on CBBC and Cbeebies.
Light the Blue is our multi-artform festival for and by young people returning on 2 – 14 June 2026 with a programme of theatre, music, dance, visual arts and more taking place across Aberdeen city.
With over 24 events across 13 days, this year’s festival asks our artists and audiences What’s your story?
Whether it’s ‘our story so far’ or ‘our hopes and dreams for the future’ – our stories and imaginations can shape who we are, who we want to become and even the world around us.
Join us for Light the Blue 2026, where over 1,000 young and professional artists, school pupils and early career creatives from across Scotland will come together to celebrate new and emerging talent, creating opportunities and connection.
GO TO LIGHT THE BLUE 2026
Where & when
No performances found.
Event data provided by DataThistle