A stirring depiction of Mary Queen of Scots’ story, told through bold, new gig theatre.
Blending haunting original music and rich spoken word, six female and gender queer actor-musicians bring Mary: A Gig Theatre Show to theSpaceUK this Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The production, made by early-career Scottish theatre makers, questions the treatment and portrayal of women historically and today. Rona Johnston gives the audience a glimpse into the Scottish Queen’s inner world through her detailed and accomplished lyricism. She provides an emotional response to the hardships Mary faced at the hands of men.
Gig theatre is growing in popularity but often escapes a set definition. For Knot Tied Theatre it is a live band telling a story. Mary can be performed in gig or theatre spaces, the songs on their own or as part of the show, and always in a relaxed, buzzy atmosphere. The folk-rock band made up of guitars, bass, vocals, drums, fiddle, and harmonica, skilfully underscore the whole show and portray key figures in Mary’s story.
Knot Tied Theatre is the home to collaborations between Katie Slater (Director and Co-Producer) and Rona Johnston (Writer and Mary), 2023 QMU graduates interested in feminist theatre with music at the heart of the storytelling. Alongside designer Phoebe Wiseman, they are becoming established in the Scottish theatre and music scene. They have featured on the creative and technical teams at the Royal Lyceum Theatre, the Traverse, A Play, A Pie and a Pint and Strangetown, and performed music on the iconic musical stages of King Tut’s, Sneaky Pete’s and The Caves. Mary was first created and performed by Katie and Rona as part of a gig theatre research project in 2022. Since then, the scratch presentations and one-night-only festival performances of the work have always been met with standing ovations and an overwhelming demand for more. Following a sold out show in February, Knot Tied Theatre are now presenting the Fringe debut of Mary: A Gig Theatre Show.
Mary: A Gig Theatre Show | Theatre | Edinburgh Festival Fringe (edfringe.com)