RESTLESS NATIVES: THE MUSICAL hits the road in April 2025
Photo credit: StudioCanal
A new stage musical of the iconic Scottish film Restless Natives will run at Perth Theatre from 24 April-10 May 2025 before heading out on tour to selected Scottish venues including Macrobert Arts Centre, Stirling; His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen; Eden Court Empire Theatre, Inverness; King’s Theatre, Glasgow.
Produced and directed by the same team who made the original 1985 film alongside co-producers Perth Theatre, Restless Natives: The Musical sees iconic characters the Clown and the Wolfman ride again in a new full stage musical continuing the enduring legacy of one of the films that paved the way for a boom of Scottish cinema.
Intrepid underdogs Ronnie and Will become Highland Highwaymen, holding up buses and winning international renown, fleecing tourists with charm and panache. Tour guide Margot believes these Robin Hood heroes can restore national pride, but the police are closing in. Will this be the end of the story - or the beginning of a legend?
Writers Ninian Dunnett, Michael Hoffman and Andy Paterson, with composer Tim Sutton, deliver a not-to-be-missed production inspired by Big Country songs and themes, designed to delight devotees of the original - and capture the hearts of a new generation.
This major new musical was announced by Big Country at their Return to Steeltown 40th anniversary gig in Perth Concert Hall on 22 November with a specially created segment featuring Restless Natives cast member Kirsty MacLaren and an ensemble of voices from UHI Perth’s Musical Theatre course.
On 27 November, Ninian Dunnett joins Martin Compston and Gordon Smart on their Restless Natives podcast to formally announce details of next year's Scottish tour.
Perth Film Society will be showing a special screening of the original Restless Natives film in Perth Theatre’s Joan Knight Studio on 3 April.