Musicals hitting Scottish stages in 2026
There’s nothing like a musical to set the heart a-soarin’. And Scottish stages are filled with them across 2026. Why don’t you gravitate to this little lot?
You’ve read the book and watched the telly series. So why wouldn’t you be heading to see the musical version of Dexter and Emma’s story in One Day (Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh, Friday 27 February–Sunday 19 April)? Only plausible reason could be that it’s selling out quicker than you can say ‘no spoilers’ (if that’s even possible now with David Nicholls’ original novel). Sharon Rose and Jamie Muscato take on the roles of the star-crossed pair who we meet on every 15 July since the graduation night of 1988 when they first walked into each other’s lives.
Abba, Rod Stewart and Queen all had them, so why can’t the Bay City Rollers get the jukebox musical treatment? Fear not as lovers of the tartan-clad 70s outfit have their wish come true with a full tour of Rollers Forever (Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow, Wednesday 14–Saturday 17 October; His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen, Wednesday 21–Saturday 24 October; King’s Theatre, Edinburgh, Tuesday 27–Saturday 31 October). It might be difficult to explain to anyone born this century about the impact these Scottish tunesmiths had, especially on the screaming youths of the day, but they had a truly phenomenal hit-laden period in the 1970s.
Told through the eyes of their son, The Ballad Of Johnny & June (Festival Theatre, Edinburgh, Tuesday 28 April–Saturday 2 May; Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow, Thursday 13–Saturday 22 August) tracks the love story of Johnny Cash and June Carter. It’s a story of big highs and terrible lows filled with a rollicking 30 songs that helped cement this pair as icons for a generation. Christopher Ryan Grant and Christina Bianco take on the lead roles.
Iconic for very different reasons are Elle Woods and her chihuahua Bruiser. Legally Blonde (King’s Theatre, Glasgow, Tuesday 7–Saturday 11 April; His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen, Monday 22–Saturday 27 June; Edinburgh Playhouse, Tuesday 29 September–Saturday 3 October) follows the tale of an It Girl’s unlikely transformation into a legal ace. Strictly and Pretty Woman (the musical) star Amber Davies is in the lead role for the majority of its UK tour.
Forever associated with smuggling Bonnie Prince Charlie ‘over the sea to Skye’, Flora MacDonald’s story is, typically, little known beyond that. Flora (Eden Court, Inverness, Friday 20 & Saturday 21 March; Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow, Thursday 26–Saturday 28 March) shows a different side to this reluctant heroine while AJ Robertson and John Kielty deliver the songs that will have us whistling all the way home thanks to their earworm blend of traditional and contemporary.
Picture: Matt Crockett.