Capital Theatres and Pitlochry Festival Theatre announce cast for Nessie world premiere
Capital Theatres and Pitlochry Festival Theatre today announce the cast for the world premiere of Nessie, a brand-new Scottish musical for children.
Article Source: Capital Theatres
Last Updated: 5 March 2025 13:15
5 March, Edinburgh: Capital Theatres and Pitlochry Festival Theatre today announce the cast for the world premiere of Nessie.
In this brand-new Scottish musical for children, a chance encounter between 11-year-old aspiring marine biologist Mara and the fabled ‘Nessa’ leads to a story of friendship, bravery and monster mania. Created by composer and musical director Shonagh Murray, Nessie premieres at The Studio in Edinburgh (28 March – 5 April), before heading to Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s Studio (9 July – 16 August).
Leading the cast as Mara is Caitlin Forbes, whose recent credits include The Stamping Ground at Eden Court Theatre and A Christmas Carol at Dundee Rep. The role of Nessa is played by Eden Barrie, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland graduate who has appeared in Sweet Charity and Urinetown. The cast also includes Alyson Orr, Louis Newman and Keith Macpherson across various roles.
Nessa and the other aquatic inhabitants of the loch are brought to life as colourful, intricate puppets, operated by the cast and designed and made by Ella Mackay. Nessie’s creative team also features director Beth Morton, designer Natalie Fern, lighting designer Peter Fennell, Sound Designer Pippa Murphy and Movement Director Sasha Harrington.
Nessie is the first fully fledged production to emerge from the Musicals Commissioning Hub, a partnership between Capital Theatres and Pitlochry Festival Theatre designed to nurture Scottish musicians and writers, support the future ecology of musical theatre and create new musicals for audiences to enjoy.
Fiona Gibson, Chief Executive of Capital Theatres, said: <“It has been such an exciting process to support Shonagh Murray’s creative journey with Nessie from an initial idea to a scratch performance as part of our inaugural Musical Commissioning Hub partnership with Pitlochry Festival Theatre during lockdown in 2021; and now commissioning it to a fully developed Studio scale production. Our objective was always to help Scottish talent kick start their creative producing opportunities, following a very difficult period for the arts. We are so proud that this truly Scottish story, both on stage with our magnificent cast and beautiful puppet beasties, and off stage with our brilliant creative team, is getting its chance to shine. We can’t wait to share Shonagh’s beautiful show with audiences of all ages when Nessie swims into The Studio later this month.”
Alan Cumming, Artistic Director of Pitlochry Festival Theatre, said: “One of the things I want to do as Artistic Director of Pitlochry Festival Theatre is to celebrate and elevate great Scottish women, and who is more Scottish and iconic than Nessie? I look forward to finding out more about her life and loves, and especially to hearing her sing!”
Tickets for the world premiere of Nessie in Edinburgh are on sale now at www.capitaltheatres.com or by calling 0131 529 6000.
Sponsored Links
Latest Edinburgh News
Capital Theatres and Pitlochry Festival Theatre announce cast for Nessie world premiere
Capital Theatres and Pitlochry Festival Theatre today announce the cast for the world premiere of Nessie, a brand-new Scottish musical for children.
READ MORE
Edinburgh children paint special pebbles for penguins
Children being supported by Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity (ECHC) have painted special pebbles to celebrate the beginning of penguin breeding season at Edinburgh Zoo.
READ MORE
Full Casting Announced for Restless Natives: The Musical
Kirsty MacLaren, Kyle Gardiner and Finlay McKillop lead a multi-talented ensemble as the Clown and the Wolfman take to the road once again!
READ MORE
Introducing the charity gourmet burger that tastes good and does good!
Full-on flavour and a force for good as Luxford Burgers mark International Women’s Day by donating 50p from the sale of every Lady Bird burger in March to Strut Safe!
READ MORE
Dobbies launches spring with special shopping weekend
Dobbies Garden Centres is inviting the nation to get excited for the busiest season in the gardener's calendar with its Spring Launch Weekend, taking place 6-10 March!
READ MORE
Summerhall Arts announce first exhibitions of 2025
Summerhall Arts are proud to announce their first exhibitions of 2025 this March, with a major retrospective exhibition dedicated to the sculptural practice of Edinburgh based Gareth Fisher.
READ MORE
Capital Theatres unveils new partnerships and world premieres with Rambert and Barrowland Ballet
Capital Theatres reveals new partnerships with leading dance companies Rambert and Barrowland Ballet, designed to bring world premieres to Edinburgh.
READ MORE
Priscilla Queen of the Desert embarks on major UK Tour
Priscilla Queen of the Desert, based on the 1994 Oscar-winning film, is set to hit the road, bursting onto stages across the UK and Ireland and visits Edinburgh Playhouse in April 2026.
READ MORE
Underground Streets in Edinburgh Unlocked
For one evening only on Thursday, 13th March, The Real Mary King’s Close is inviting guests to a truly unique event that will cast The Close in an entirely new light.
READ MORE
The UK Pantomime Association announces major sponsorship partnership with Trafalgar Entertainment and ATG Entertainment
The UK Pantomime Association is delighted to announce a significant new sponsorship partnership with Trafalgar Entertainment and ATG Entertainment (ATGE).
READ MORE
Arriving near you! Adventure Cinema returns for special Summer screenings under the stars
The UK's largest outdoor cinema, Adventure Cinema announces its most spectacular season to date with incredible films at new magical locations!
READ MORE
Free gardening workshops at Dobbies this March
Dobbies Garden Centres is hosting two free workshops this March for gardeners of all ages; Prepare to Propagate and Beyond the Secret Garden.
READ MORE
Snap up free tickets to The Scottish Homebuilding & Renovating Show in Glasgow or Edinburgh
The Scottish Homebuilding & Renovating Show, Scotland's only dedicated consumer exhibition for self-builders, home renovators and improvers, is back and we have free tickets up for grabs!
READ MORE
Exclusive pre loved shopping event at SH Jewellery this weekend
The entire range of pre-loved jewellery will be on display in store at SH Jewellery in Morningside from Thursday, 27th February through to and including Saturday, 1st March.
READ MORE
Pints on Us for Rugby Fans in Scotland
Britain’s biggest independent brewer, BrewDog is giving away free pints of its stout, Black Heart, to help keep the home nations’ hopes high!
READ MORE
Celebrate Brazilian Carnaval at SUSHISAMBA
W Edinburgh, the capital’s latest 5-star luxury hotel, is set to host an unmissable Carnaval weekend celebration at SUSHISAMBA Edinburgh this weekend.
READ MORE
Roblox hits the big screen at Vue Cinemas
British kids will go head-to-head on Roblox to be crowned the Gaming Challenge UK champion.
READ MORE
Aldi Scotland Announces CHAS as the Official Charity Partner for its 2025 Supermarket Sweep
Aldi Scotland has proudly announced Children's Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) as the official charity partner of its long running and hugely popular Supermarket Sweep initiative for 2025.
READ MORE
119 year old time capsule opened at Edinburgh Kings Theatre
The contents of a 119-year-old message in a bottle, discovered at the King’s Theatre during the ongoing redevelopment project, have finally been revealed.
READ MORE
Full Cast Announced for Nikita Kuzmin, Midnight Dancer
International champion and Strictly Come Dancing star Nikita Kuzmin has announced the full cast for Midnight Dancer, coming to Edinburgh Playhouse on 26th March!
READ MORE
Programme Announced for Pomegranates Festival
The Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland is delighted to announce full details of its fourth Pomegranates Festival which will run from 25th to 30th April 2025 at various venues across Edinburgh.
READ MORE
The Seafood Ristorante in St Andrews Celebrates 20 Years with Launch of Icons Menu
The Seafood Ristorante, one of Scotland's most beloved dining destinations, marks its 20th anniversary this month with the launch of an exclusive new 'Icons' menu.
READ MORE
Hop along to Dobbies this Easter
Dobbies Garden Centres is welcoming families and four-legged friends to hop along and get set for spring at its brand-new Easter-themed events, taking place across the UK.
READ MORE
MPB revitalises Edinburgh Stills School with quality used photography gear
MPB is sponsoring Edinburgh’s Stills Centre for Photography by replacing their photographic equipment with high-quality gear to fully equip their Stills School.
READ MORE
Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) and ape2o crushing plastic bottle consumption together
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland has partnered with anti-plastic water company ape2o to reduce plastic consumption by installing a 'Big Ape' high quality water refill machine at Edinburgh Zoo.
READ MORE
Edinburgh Playhouse inspires the next generation of theatre goers with Project Any Dream
Edinburgh Playhouse Creative Learning initiative ‘Project Any Dream 2024’ is shortlisted in the category of Inspiring Partnerships at forthcoming Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce Business Awards.
READ MORE
Edinburgh STYLE is back bigger than ever for 2025
St James Quarter will play host to an enviable line-up of style talks, fashion shows, beauty masterclasses and more from 28th to 30th March!
READ MORE
Flight Club Edinburgh launches NEW Margarita Menu ahead of National Margarita Day
The Edinburgh cocktail bar and Social Darts experience is paying homage to the tequila-based cocktail for an entire month with its new limited-edition menu.
READ MORE
Edinburgh Charity awarded grant to help support its Dementia Care and Community Services
The Eric Liddell Community has received a generous £150,000 grant from The Garfield Weston Foundation to help sustain its vital work in combating loneliness and isolation in Edinburgh.
READ MORE
The Famous Spiegeltent Returns
105 years young! The Famous Spiegeltent celebrates her ‘centenary plus’ this summer by returning to St Andrew Square, Edinburgh.
READ MORESponsored Links
Sponsored Links