Nessie – The Studio, Edinburgh

Produced by Capital Theatres & Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Nessie, is a family-orientated tale of friendship, set to music with nods towards global warming, climate change and clean energy production that plays out a bit like a tick-box exercise for the 21^st Century. However, from the reactions, the ooos and awwws, of the younger audience members and their quiet attention for 80 minutes it certainly seems to hit its target. And that, as we all know, is no easy feat!

The life-sized puppets of Otter, ‘Oggie’ played by Keith Macpherson and Grey Heron ‘Heather’, operated by Alison Orr play a big role and are certainly cute and cuddly. And star of the show Nessa operated by Eden Barrie has a gurgling prehensile presence and a clever operation which allows her to be handled and operated rather beautifully by one person. The ‘three musketeers’ are available for meet and greet and photos after the show, which has all the feeling (and giggling excitement!) of a petting zoo.

The music also works well, and a clever Book, Music and lyrics by Shonagh Murray ensures that the whole cast have plenty to do. The audience particularly liked the catchy tune ‘It’s a monster’ sung by the villain of the piece, local politician Murdo (Keith Macpherson), who is trying to close the local hydroelectric plant and blames it’s operation for the recent spate of sightings of ‘the monster’.

At the centre of the piece Caitlin Forbes is excellent as Mara, an 11-years-old schoolgirl who dreams of being a marine biologist one day and who strikes up an unlikely friendship with the amphibian that she cannot find in any of her schoolbooks.

The meeting between the two sparks an existential question in the monster with hints of Hunchback or Phantom as Nessa wonders ‘what am I?’. In truth however this musical never takes itself seriously enough to Easter egg other musicals, which is a pity because a bit of tongue-in-cheek humour would be welcomed by the adult chaperones. Sadly, it is just not that sort of show, it is not here to make waves.

Nessa’s introspection does lead us to one of the best scenes in the show though as she dives to her underwater lair and we are treated to a fluorescent light show, of glowing seaweed, markings on Nessa’s body glowing and two bubble machines and the front row holding up fish on wires, all cast within a blue subaquatic light. A bit cheesy but actually very effective and great fun.

For all the good things here, this does fall in to the safe zone, and although it thankfully never drops towards cringe, you do wonder what could have been. With these great puppets and fine musical accompaniment, and a cast of accomplished actor/musicians it really could have been something more special. If this could only have been a bit braver, with a hero’s journey storyline, real jeopardy and a protagonist that you really cared about it could have been a rip roaring adventure about Nessie that had the whole audience on the edge of their seats.

Reviewer: Greg Holstead

Reviewed: 2nd April 2025

North West End UK Rating: