Written by David for Theatre and Tonic

As the dark nights roll in and damp, ‘dreich’ Scottish weather begins to take hold, nothing seems more fitting than a trip to the theatre. While theatre in Scotland may seem to slip under the radar post-Fringe and pre-panto season, this autumn boasts a variety of timeless plays, masterpiece operas, and blockbuster musicals that cannot be missed.

Small Acts of Love at Citizens Theatre, Glasgow

9 September–4 October

This production by celebrated playwright Frances Poet opens the newly refurbished Citizens Theatre in Glasgow, following its seven-year restoration project. The remarkable true story is set in the wake of the Pan Am 103 Disaster in December 1988 when the Lockerbie community came together in solidarity to support victims of those who died on board. This life-affirming piece is infused with original music by Deacon Blue frontman Ricky Ross in a celebration of love, solidarity, and community.

Black Hole Sign at Tron Theatre, Glasgow and Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh

23 September–18 October

A hole appears in an understaffed A&E Ward stretched to its limits; patients, porters, and nurses do what they can to make it through the night. Written by practising critical care nurse Uma Nada-Rajah and directed by Traverse Artistic Director Gareth Nichols, this new play examines shifting attitudes of a once lauded institution and importantly, its uncertain future.

Mary Queen of Scots at Eden Court, Inverness, His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen, Festival Theatre, Edinburgh

26 September–18 October

Queens. Enemies. Cousins. Scottish Ballet’s latest production, which intricately explores the feud between Mary, Queen of Scots and Queen Elizabeth I, premiered at the Edinburgh International Festival this year to rave reviews. A dying Elizabeth I is haunted by — real and imagined — memories of her late cousin Mary Stuart. This bold, contemporary production intertwines striking choreography and set design to create a powerful, modern ballet.

The Glass Menagerie at Dundee Rep, Citizens Theatre, Glasgow, and Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh

27 September–8 November

Dundee Rep Artistic Director Andrew Panton directs Tennesse Williams’ masterpiece which ruminates the fragile tension between individual desire and familial ties. Struggling protagonist Tom is burdened with a mundane job, neurotic and overbearing mother Amanda, and reclusive sister Laura while attempting to secure a life outside of his familial confinement. When he invites his co-worker Jim to dinner, Amanda tries to secure a future for her daughter — a desire that further exposes the cracks in the family, culminating in a heartbreaking finale.

War Horse at Festival Theatre, Edinburgh

2 October–11 October

The National Theatre’s acclaimed adaptation of Michael Murpurgo’s celebrated novel returns to Edinburgh on its UK & Ireland tour. Following the journey of horse Joey from the fields of Devon to the battlegrounds of France upon the outbreak of the First World War, this trailblazing production combines innovative drama, music, and jaw-dropping puppetry in a story that continues to enchant audiences across the UK and the world.

The Seagull at Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh

9 October–1 November

Adapted by Mike Poulton, Chekhov’s timeless drama is directed by James Brining in his inaugural production as Artistic Director of the Lyceum. Star of stage and screen Caroline Quentin takes on the role of Arkadina, a fading actress at the centre of a romantic and artistic conflict with her son Konstantin, lover Trigorin, and aspiring actress Nina. Brining’s reimagined production promises a dramatic kaleidoscope of vanity, power, and artistic ambition.

La Bohème at Theatre Royal, Glasgow, His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen, Eden Court, Inverness, Festival Theatre, Edinburgh

11 October–22 November

Scottish Opera is set to revive Barbe and Doucet’s vibrant 2017 production of Puccini's masterpiece this autumn. Set in 1920’s Paris, four bohemians’ lives are changed by the unexpected entrance of a seamstress named Mimì, who falls in love with Rodolfo. The seemingly idyllic romance, however, crumbles when it becomes clear that Mimì is severely ill and her lover cannot provide for her in his poverty. With Puccini’s enchanting score and a stunning set design, this production offers a five-star revival of the timeless tragedy.

To Kill a Mockingbird at Festival Theatre, Edinburgh

21–25 October

Aaron Sorkin’s adaptation of Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel embarks on a UK & Ireland Tour, following a critically acclaimed run at the Gielgud Theatre in 2022. Directed by Bartlett Sher, the play stars Richard Coyle as lawyer Atticus Finch who defends Tom Robinson, a black man falsely accused of rape in 1930’s Alabama. Sorkin’s razor-sharp adaptation draws out the moral instabilities of Atticus Finch whilst remaining true to a novel which depicts a corrupt judicial system in a Jim Crow-era South.

Miss Saigon at Edinburgh Playhouse, Edinburgh

28 October–1 November

Boubil and Schönberg’s legendary musical returns to Scotland this autumn in a brand new production. In the final days of the Vietnam War, seventeen-year-old Kim is forced to work in a notorious Saigon bar run by the infamous Engineer. It is there she meets and falls in love with Chris, an American GI who subsequently fathers her son, beginning a three-year journey of survival to find her way back to him. With an epic score containing ‘The Movie in my Mind’ and ‘The Last Night of the World’, the blockbuster hit will no doubt wow Scottish audiences once again.

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