Once – Pitlochry Festival Theatre

Marking Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s 75th anniversary and the inaugural season of new Artistic Director, Alan Cumming, Once, the hit West End and Broadway musical, has its Scottish premiere. Bringing back the original team, including designer, Bow Crowley, and director, John Tiffany, this production is very exciting to have opening the theatre programme and start a new chapter for Pitlochry Festival Theatre.

Once follows Guy, a Dublin-based musician used to playing in bars who dreams of success but is ready to abandon his hope and give up. He meets Girl, a Czech immigrant, who attempts to bring back his hope and inspires him to keep going. The pair meet a group of quirky individuals, coming together to create an album filled with Guy’s original music.

From the outset of this production, the audience are drawn into the world of the show with an on-stage bar open during the pre-show entertainment featuring the ensemble in a traditional music session of Irish classics. Patrons are able to stand on stage with a drink and sing along – if they know the words – while the actor-musicians play. Already, we see the sheer talent of the cast as, throughout the entire piece, and in-keeping with Pitlochry fashion, the cast serve as both the actors and the band, accompanying themselves throughout. This is certainly no mean feat and done to perfection by all.

Dylan Wood, as Guy, is a master of performance, bringing showmanship, musicianship and believability to the character. We root for him during the entire show, really seeing his hopes and dreams shine through. He is incredibly watchable and it genuinely feels like the audience are sat in a pub in Dublin listening to an undiscovered, soon-to-be big hit, singer-songwriter play a gig. Wood’s performance is complimented beautifully by Lydia White in the role of Girl.

White brings such sincerity to Girl, passing smoothly between inspiring Guy and showcasing Girl’s own troubles at home. White is a skilled pianist and her voice feels angelic, especially when paired in a duet with Wood. The chemistry the pair create is simply stunning as we endure a ‘will they, won’t they?’ story.

Tiffany’s direction is exciting and thorough, and it is great to have the prolific and dedicated artist back on Scottish soil. His passion really shines through in this production, and it would be safe to assume he was excited and grateful to have his hit show finally come to Scotland. The same can be said for movement director, Steven Hoggett. Hoggett and Tiffany have clearly worked closely together to ensure the performance is smooth. This is especially clear in the scene transitions which, in musicals, can often be dull and clunky but, in Once, transitions are slick, creative and don’t take the audience out of the action.

Once is a musical that can appeal to masses. A story of hope, a love story, an Irish-infused score and an overall slick production, how fantastic it is to finally have it here in Scotland!

Once runs until the 27th of June and tickets can be purchased here https://www.pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com/whats-on/once/#book

Reviewer: Dylan Mooney

Reviewed: 28th May 2026

North West End UK Rating: