Press Release – Capital Theatres and Pitlochry Festival Theatre announce cast for Nessie world premiere
PRESS RELEASE
5 March 2025
- Caitlin Forbes plays the lead role of Mara in Nessie, alongside Eden Barrie, Alyson Orr, Louis Newman, and Keith Macpherson.
- This new Scottish musical premieres in Edinburgh in March before heading to Pitlochry Festival Theatre in July.
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.
Tickets to see Nessie in Pitlochry Festival Theatre Studio are available at www.pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com or by calling 01796 484 626.
ENDS
For further information and interview requests, please contact:
Neil McLeod, Marketing and Communications Officer on neil.mcleod@capitaltheatres.com
Production Info
A Capital Theatres and Pitlochry Festival Theatre Production
Nessie
Cast
Caitlin Forbes – Mara
Eden Barrie – Nessa
Louis Newman – Various roles including Ally
Keith Macpherson – Various roles including Oggie
Alyson Orr – Various roles including Heather
Creative team
Book, Music & Lyrics: Shonagh Murray
Director: Beth Morton
Composer and Musical Director: Shonagh Murray
Puppet Designer and Maker: Ella Mackay
Puppetry Coach: Ross MacKay
Set and Costume Designer: Natalie Fern
Lighting Designer: Peter Fennell
Sound Designer: Pippa Murphy
Movement Director: Sasha Harrington
NOTES TO EDITORS:
2025 DATES
Fri 28 to Sat 5 Apr 2025
The Studio, Edinburgh
Press Night: Wed 2 Apr 7:00pm
Nessie (capitaltheatres.com)
Wed 9 Jul to Sat 16 Aug 2025
Pitlochry Festival Theatre Studio, Pitlochry
Press Night: Thu 17 Jul 2.30pm
Nessie (pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com)
Capital Theatres
Capital Theatres’ mission is to build a sense of belonging across its three theatres in Edinburgh, enriching lives through the strength of its creative programmes and partnerships, sharing extraordinary experiences with everyone, again and again. The charity manages two of Scotland’s largest, oldest, and most respected theatres: Festival Theatre (1,915 seats), King’s Theatre (1,122 seats, currently closed for a major redevelopment) and The Studio (155 seats). Together they host over 700 performances each year with a broad and inclusive programme featuring the very best in drama, dance, musical theatre, family shows, live music, comedy, and pantomime.
Capital Theatres is a receiving house which works with producers across the UK to programme their work. The organisation also commissions and co-produces a select number of productions of its own each year. Much of the programme is exclusive in Scotland, providing the only opportunity for audiences to see the biggest shows touring north of the border, the best in international contemporary dance and the latest productions from leading local and national companies. Capital Theatres is also the home of Edinburgh’s largest community companies, providing them with a platform each year to share their work.
As Scotland’s largest theatre charity, Capital Theatres supports access to the arts for everyone and has an extensive Creative Engagement programme of talks, workshops and events to introduce and develop participation and interest in the heritage of its buildings and all areas of live performance. Its artist development programme, Open@TheStudio, supports the sector more widely and the charity won the UK Theatre 2023 Award for Excellence in Inclusivity for its work with people living with dementia.
Pitlochry Festival Theatre. A Theatre for Everyone. A Theatre for a Lifetime.
Since 1951, Pitlochry Festival Theatre has been the artistic heart and soul of Highland Perthshire. Attracting over 100,000 visitors every year, we’re more than simply a place to come and see a show – we’re Scotland’s leading producer of musical theatre, a champion of ensemble practice and the country’s only rurally-located, major arts organisation. Our purpose is to improve lives by sharing Pitlochry with the world and the world with Pitlochry. Our aim is to create life-enhancing experiences in our Theatre and its glorious eleven-acre campus that encompasses the magical Explorers Garden. In everything we do, we are committed to nurturing an exciting creative and cultural future for Scotland.
Pitlochry Festival Theatre is a charity supported by funding from Creative Scotland and Perth & Kinross Council. It is also grateful to the many individual donors, and trusts and foundations who support us; without their generosity we could not continue to produce exceptional theatre.
Pitlochry Festival Theatre
Address: Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Port Na Craig, Pitlochry, Perthshire PH16 5DR
Box Office and group bookings: boxoffice@pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com
Website: pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com
Pitlochry Festival Theatre is a registered Scottish Charity. No SC013055
Pitlochry Festival Theatre gratefully acknowledges support from:
