Hugh Simpson
The Archers: Live at 75
★★★★☆ Charming
The Archers: Live at 75, at the Playhouse for one night as part of an ongoing tour, is a fitting tribute to the ‘everyday story of country folk’. The BBC’s farming soap has run since 1 January 1951 (long before its current home of Radio 4 even existed) and clocked up over 20 000 episodes.
PPP: Whaur’s Yer Wullie Shakespeare Noo?
★★☆☆☆ Unsubtle
Whaur’s Yer Wullie Shakespeare Noo?, the latest Play, A Pie and A Pint offerings from Òran Mór’ at the Traverse, has plenty of pace and spirit, but ultimately is an unsatisfactory affair.
The Void
★★★☆☆ Atmospheric
The Void, at the Traverse for three performances, is an intriguing if not entirely successful production from Yorkshire-based Thunder Road in association with the Watford Palace Theatre.
Future Acts
★★★★☆ Pleasingly varied
Future Acts is an intriguing programme of future-facing short films commissioned by the National Theatre of Scotland, playing in a short run of one-off performances in cinemas across the country before airing on BBC digital platforms next year.
Wallace
★★★★☆ Still fresh
The expanded version of Rob Drummond and Dave Hook’s musical Wallace, at the King’s until Saturday, remains an intriguing and powerful piece of theatre despite some drawbacks.
PPP: The Whaler’s Wife
★★★☆☆ Atmospheric
The Whaler’s Wife, the first in the new season of Òran Mór’s Play, A Pie and A Pint offerings at the Traverse, is a compelling if uneven historical drama blending myth, music and more modern elements.
I’ll Be Seeing You
★★★☆☆ One-note
The Pitlochry premiere of I’ll Be Seeing You by Martin Sherman is sprinkled with stardust, but the glitter is applied unevenly to a production that infuriates as much as it satisfies.
Happy Days
★★★★★ Humane
Samuel Beckett’s Happy Days is one of the touchstones of 20th century drama. Its striking staging may be its most famous aspect but it also boasts an unflinching yet sympathetic depiction of the tyranny of time, and of the bizarre unquenchability of human optimism in the face of extinction.
Showcase 2026 – Dream as One
★★★★☆ Appealing
In 36 years Showcase has raised over £385 000 for Macmillan Cancer Care, and the annual production at the Church Hill continues to provide an upbeat and thoroughly entertaining selection of music.
Private Peaceful
★★★★☆ Heartfelt
Private Peaceful is only at the Lyceum for one weekend, but is certainly worth catching. The touring production, from The Production Garden in association with Exeter Northcott, is affecting and wonderfully acted.
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