Pitlochry Festival Theatre, 04/11/2026
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
Adapted by David Harrower from the novel by Muriel Spark
Vicky Featherstone, director, Gayle Rankin as Jean Brodie.
A major new adaptation of Muriel Spark’s The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, written by David Harrower, premiered at the Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh before touring Glasgow, Aberdeen and Pitlochry as part of the National Theatre of Scotland’s 2026 season
This performance was in the relatively intimate and supremely comfortable Pitlochry Festival Theatre which lent itself to this production.
The production features Gayle Rankin in the title role and is directed by Vicky Featherstone.
The sets by Chloe Lamford were as pared down and impressive as the performance itself while Lizzie Powell‘s stunning lighting was unusual and impactful. When combined with Lewis Van der Hoeg’s videos the scene setting was brought to a cohesive whole which could only compliment, not distract. Anna Orton’s costumes for Brodie were remarkable.
Gayle Rankin stars in of this major new adaptation of Muriel Sparks’ ‘The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie’. Set in a 1930’s Edinburgh private school for girls it follows the irrepressible, dangerous and manipulative Miss Brodie and her group of chosen girls. Rankin embraced the role of the charismatic, narcissistic Brodie fully and held this Pitlochry audience in the palm of her hand from start to finish. David Harrower’s script gave Rankin full scope for her wide range of ability. At times, the busy theatre was silent, so riveting was her performance. Forget Maggie Smith, as Rankin took Jean Brodie to a deeper and darker place. The occasional and obligatory use of Brodie’s famous phrases i.e. “creme de la crème” and “I am in my prime” did not dominate even though the audience loved them .
I have to confess to having a soft spot for Gordon Lowther and Brian Ferguson played him perfectly to my mind. Alternatively plaintive and amusing, suiting the 1930’s costume totally, he was a marvellous foil to Rankin’s Brodie. Teddy Lloyd is less to my taste. Harrower’s script did not sugar-coat his behaviour and it is a credit to Dyfan Dwyfor that he remained unlikeable.
The remarkable Maureen Beattie did not waver in her portrayal of Miss Mackay as the solid, upright [ what posture!], yet mercilessly mocked Headmistress and gained my sympathy from the start.
No review would be complete without mention of Miss Brodie’s girls.
Liberty Black excelled as the doomed Mary MacGregor and certainly succeeded in eliciting pity, forcing the audience to see the cruel and unpleasant side of the mercurial Brodie whilst confirming yet again her undue influence on her pupils.
Sophie Fortune was impressive, showing the development of her character, Joyce Emily, as the play progressed, while Tallulah Grieve and Shreya Khaund Marshal played their parts well as significant members of ‘The Set’, particularly when the total control that Brodie demands is waning. Praise is deserved for Bobby Rainsbury with an excellent portrayal of the sometime disenchanted Sandy who joins the utterly disillusioned Brodie in her final scene.
There is no doubt that Brodie’s influence leads to some dire consequences.
This was a wonderful production which reinforced for me how much a charismatic teacher can influence her pupils. If the tale has any moral, it is the undeniable truth that young minds can be shaped and moulded for good or bad, by an influential, manipulative and dangerous teacher. I quote “Give me a girl at an impressionable age and she is mine for life”.
It is Jean Brodie’s tragedy that her obvious ability to teach was overshadowed by her disdain for the accepted rules of her time. It is David Harrower’s skill with Muriel Sparks’ iconic novel that brought her to life.
