Interview with Lydia White, Once at Pitlochry Festival Theatre

This Spring, Pitlochry Festival Theatre welcomes the Scottish premiere of Once. The award-winning musical tells the story of a heartbroken Irish street musician and an optimistic Czech immigrant whose unexpected connection begins through their shared love of music. As their friendship deepens, the pair discover how music can offer hope, healing, and the courage to dream again. To celebrate the return of this musical to the stage, we caught up with Lydia White, who stars as Girl in the show, to find out more.

1. Once is a musical which is intimate and driven by its music - what drew each of you to this new production in Scotland?
I’ve always loved the show, and as soon as I saw Pitlochry announced it as part of the season, I emailed our wonderful casting director, Stuart Burt. I also believe the Scottish premiere is so poignant; the trad music session culture here in Scotland, and specifically Pitlochry, really creates the perfect backdrop for the show. I also trained at RCS in Glasgow and have always wanted to come back to Scotland!

2. Had you watched the film or seen any of the previous stagings of this show before?
I saw the West End version of Once when I was 16 (!) and absolutely loved it. I believe I’ve been waiting for a while to be the right stage in my life and career to play the role and I feel so lucky that the time has come.

3. It is a Tony Award-winning musical and was very popular when it came to the West End so what can people expect from this Scottish take on the story?
It is the same production with the same script, set and creative team, but I think it will be very resonant with a Scottish audience. As I said previously, having the traditional culture surrounding us in Pitlochry feels very relevant to the story and lore of Once. There are also quite a few Scottish cast members!

4. How have you built your characters and the chemistry they have with one another as they are at the centre of this storyline?
John Tiffany, our brilliant director, always encouraged us in the rehearsal room to really delve and inquire about our individual characters. Through hearing Dylan’s perception of ‘Guy’ and then witnessing the translation through the script, influenced in building our characters’ relationship. I believe openness, play and interrogation will continue to allow the chemistry and connection to evolve!

5. Do you relate to your character in any way?
Absolutely – my character ‘Girl’ is Czech, and my Grandma was Czech. I recently went to Brno and Prague before this show came about, to connect back to my ancestry and to see where my Grandma was born (Brno). There was a huge amount of synchronicity surrounding this as I got back from that trip and then got the audition through for Once. I’ve also played piano from a young age, so understanding Girl’s musicianship has been a lovely journey of discovery and has connected me back to my playing. I also think moments of her temperament and moral compass feels similar to mine!

6. Do you have a favourite song to perform in Once and why?
I love ‘When Your Mind’s Made Up’ – because we all play together. It is a moment of unity and a turning point in the show because we come together to record this brilliant song. It’s also just so joyful to feel like you are part of a band!

7. Are there themes in this musical that you feel will resonate with
audiences?
The power of music to connect and express love feels at the forefront to me. I also think the witnessing of the process is always exciting to watch – seeing the shape our characters are in when they first come together to record a song, and then seeing where they end up. And how music can influence life and circumstance.

8. What do you hope audiences will take away from witnessing this musical?
I hope audiences will feel moved by the show – I certainly do and still can’t get through a run of the show without crying! Especially in the world and political climate we are living in at the moment, I believe a show like Once is wholly necessary to alleviate the darkness and bring a huge amount of hope, vitality and human connection into the ether.

9. If you could describe your character’s journey through Once in three words, what would they be?
Unexpected, poignant and joyful.

10. Finally, why should people come and see this musical?
People should come and see Once for so many reasons. I think the show conjures a huge amount of joy and warmth and I challenge anyone to not feel moved by the story. The show stayed with me for over 10 years since I first saw it, so I think that means the team have created something pretty special.

ONCE plays at Pitlochry Festival Theatre from 23 May - 27 June 2026.