A SHOW from a Musselburgh-based producer and graduates of Queen Margaret University can be enjoyed in Edinburgh this festive season.

Mary: A Gig Theatre Show – a sell-out Fringe show from Rona Johnston and Katie Slater, of Knot Tied Theatre – is back for a limited three-night run as part of the Traverse Theatre’s winter season.

With a six-strong cast led by Rona, this one-act gig theatre show features folk-rock and spoken word from a “talented cast” of Scotland’s up and coming actor-musicians.

Mary: A Gig Theatre Show is Knot Tied Theatre’s debut production, following Rona and Katie’s graduation from Queen Margaret University last year.

The cast of Mary: A Gig Theatre Show, from left, Laura Coull, Alli Von Hirschberg, Rona Johnston, Jodie Kirkwood, Izzie Atkinson and Hester Irving. Photo: Carla Watson


 

With Musselburgh producer Emma Ruse and three nights on the Traverse stage ahead of them, the show is said to be making “big moves”.

It has already been included in The Guardian’s 20 of the UK’s Best Festive Theatre Shows as a “lively alternative Christmas show”; shortlisted for this year’s Creative Edinburgh Awards; and included in the Edinburgh Inquirer’s A to Z of Edinburgh’s “most exciting creative talent”.

Writer and actor Rona said: “Mary is a rallying cry to keep fighting in a world where the cards are stacked against you. We challenge the typical depictions of Mary Stuart and Elizabeth I, offering a long deserved chance at sisterhood, and invite the audience to question why this story still feels so shockingly relevant today.”

Katie, the director, added: “Mary had its small beginnings as a 15-minute piece at Queen Margaret University in 2022, and has since been supported by many brilliant theatremakers, organisations and audiences who are keeping new Scottish writing alive.”

Mary: A Gig Theatre Show runs at Traverse 2, December 19-21, at 7.30pm. Tickets, priced £15/£12 (concessions), are available via traverse.co.uk