The cast of Ceilidh. Photography: Luke Dyson.
Arriving in London after a run at the Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Ceilidh (pronounced Kay-Lee) is a new musical, performed by a company of actor-musicians and promises a “foot-stomping, joyful and heartwarming party”. As the nights draw in, the temperature drops and the summer heatwave feels like a distant memory, it sounds like the perfect way to head off those Winter blues.
Written by award-winning Scottish duo Scott Gilmour and Claire McKenzie, it’s directed by Sam Pinkleton, who won a Tony Award for his direction of Oh, Mary.
The cavernous Assembly Room at Shoreditch Town Hall is the perfect setting for this party – there are bright lights strung across the room, the stage is set up for a band, the bar’s open (and will stay open throughout the show), and the audience is seated around the hall, not that they will stay seated for long. There’s a large space in the centre in which the company will perform and everybody will be invited to get up and join in.
There’s a party atmosphere from the start, it’s all very informal and welcoming. Cast members mingle with us and banter with each other as the hall fills up ready for the show to begin. Show time and we are welcomed by Ramsay, played by writer Scott Gilmour with a lot of charm and charisma. He sets the tone by letting us know what to expect – everybody’s welcome to join in but there’s absolutely no pressure.
He’s going to tell us the story of his family, the Maclaveneys, and their long tradition of taking on the role of “Caller” at ceilidh dances. The Caller is a sort of MC who will keep the evening running smoothly(ish!) and guide everybody through the dance steps. The family’s story is really a sub-plot with the chaotic fun of the dancing the main event, but it’s still a tale filled with plenty of humour, a little bit of history and some moments that will tug on the heart-strings.
The show includes a mix of original songs and traditional Scottish tunes – blending perfectly together. A comic highlight was a song telling us the family’s historic involvement with ceilidh, the company of ancestors showing how their calls have evolved over the years, with Pinkleton’s choreography demonstrating his flair for physical comedy.
Throughout the performance, the actors are fully committed with an infectious energy. If they’re not centre stage they’ll be standing in the aisles, singing along and playing to accompany the band, with an eye on the audience to make sure everybody’s having a great time. It’s a true ensemble piece with everybody getting their moment in the spotlight, but it’s worth mentioning the absolutely stunning vocals from Kirsty Findlay, who plays Ramsay’s English mum Euna and David Rankine, playing dad Leo. In a story covering generations of family, there’s great comic timing from Annie Grace as Older Euna and a poignant performance from George Drennan as Older Man, an emotional contrast with the organised chaos of the party atmosphere.
The sound balance isn’t always perfect and it’s hard to catch every word, but this is not a major issue as the story is made perfectly clear through the physical performances. The invitation to join in is so popular that the dance floor gets very busy and those who choose to remain seated won’t be able to clearly follow the steps or pick the actors out in the crowd. But again, it’s all part of the fun and the group dances are all fairly short.
Ceilidh is a hugely entertaining way to spend an evening. It’s as immersive as you want it to be – whether you want to throw yourself into the dancing, accept a shot of whisky from a cast member, help yourself to the free haggis brought out during the interval, or just sit back and enjoy the talented performers telling this family story with great energy and charm. A great night out to enjoy with friends, family and total strangers!
Ceilidh is at Shoreditch Town Hall until 13th November before heading off on tour across the UK.
★ ★★ ★
Written by Penny for Theatre and Tonic, October 2026.