‘Once’

Pitlochry Festival Theatre, 28/05/2026

‘Once’, director John Tiffany

Music and Lyrics by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova

Based on the motion picture written and directed by John Carney, book by Enda Walsh

Having seen the London production at the Phoenix Theatre in 2013 I was looking forward to engaging with this show again. This was one of the ‘meaningful musicals’ breaking away from the glitz, glamour with full orchestras and glittery costumes of the traditional musical genre. Set in a pub with a small cast of actor musicians, no change of scenery other than chairs, tables being moved and a piano rolled on, this genre was a revelation to west end theatre goers. I loved it and looked forward this opening production for the 75th anniversary for this beautiful theatre in the hills. This is the inaugural production under the stewardship of Alan Cumming, the incoming Artistic Director. A good choice as it won eight Tony awards and an Academy Award for best song and is a chance for both tourists and highland folk to enjoy. The audience certainly did, giving an enthusiastic standing ovation to this matinee performance. Taking on the lead role of Guy is Dylan Wood, with Lydia White as Girl. She appears through the audience as she comes to a Dublin bar and hears Guy singing. Then the chemistry and the music start to evolve. Guy personifies the character of a music maker who is trying to find his voice; Girl, who is Czech, helps him find it and along the way they make an album, he goes to New York, and they fall for each other. Dylan Wood looks the part. Although not the best singer, he is a good guitarist and personifies that generation well. Lydia White, impressive with her Czech accent, gives her character a bold, direct performance as well as playing good piano.  Impressive. The rest of the cast and musicians cope with the on-stage bar, where the audience are invited to have a drink, playing multi-instruments, singing, dance and moving the furniture. They are on-stage most of the time. I particularly enjoyed Alison Harding as Barushka,  recognising my Polish friend's ' mother.  Bravo to them all. The set, designed by Bob Crowley, is representative of a bar we all know and love but somehow that is not enough. Perhaps it was a hot matinee performance, but the dynamics of the show did not take off. The energy, although the cast tried hard, was lacking and the story-telling was at one level. You yearned for the highs and lows of the piece. It felt a little dated. However, the chance to see this award-winning musical in Scotland for the first time should not be missed. It runs until 27 June in the main house.