The Bay City Rollers were a 1970s phenomenon hailing from Edinburgh. They had huge popularity with their catchy tunes, and the band travelled the globe selling an estimated 120 million records world-wide.
Rollers Forever, written by Danny McCahon, is a light-hearted trip down memory lane. The story pivots around two women, Susan (Chiara Sparkles) and Jenny (Fiona Wood) who relive their teenage dreams of meeting and marrying Woody and Alan and upgrading their lives. Their dream never materialises but their happy fiction and their efforts to nab the boys before they get too famous and every girl on the planet wants them is recognisable to anyone who’s been a teenage fan or known one.
It is a charming, witty, bright and lively musical. The leads are strong and the whole cast can sing and dance with youthful exuberance. The innocent enthusiasm of the majority is balanced nicely by the older cast member, Andy Clark, who plays the Teacher, Parkie, Railway Guard and Tribute Singer with a gleeful twinkle in his eye.
Karen Tennent’s set and Ross Nurney’s lighting deserve a special mention. Together they create a sense of hopeful abundance.
Tyler Collins’ awkward kissing skills are to be applauded while Bailey Easton’s debut professional performance is a winner.
The live music was central to this show with Lauren Macdonald thrashing it on the drum kit, Tyler Collins on guitar and Gregor John-Owen on bass.
The fans in the audience finished on their feet, singing along, tartan scarves waving above their heads. It was a joyful escape from John Healey’s autumn budget announcement.
The refreshed band, with just one original member, Stuart “Woody” Wood, is gearing up for a Scottish tour with nine dates in the diary.
Rollers Forever runs until 31st October in Edinburgh.
Reviewer: Kathleen Mansfield
Reviewed: 28th October 2026
North West End UK Rating: