The Loch Ness Monster, the mythological tourist trap we all know and love, received an uplifting upgrade in the form of Nessie the Musical at The Studio. Backed by Capital Theatres and Pitlochry Festival Theatre, the child-oriented 90-minute musical is a joy to watch, with plenty of heart.
Nessie follows Mara (Caitlin Forbes), an aspiring biologist with a love of nature and trouble building friendships, as she instead befriends the legendary Loch Ness Monster , or, as she likes to be called, Nessa (Eden Barrie). While the local power plant risks closure and Nessa faces newfound infamy as the fearsome “Loch Ness Monster”, the two unlikely allies work together to protect the loch they know and love, forging some new friendships along the way.
One of the standout aspects of Nessie is the music, which aptly compliments the plot and incorporates elements of traditional folk sound that adds to the celebration of Scotland, making this piece so charmingly localised. Nessie is also visually stimulating, with the multi-use set transporting the audience to Nessa’s underwater home, Mara’s loch-side exploration grounds, and even a power plant. The design and use of puppetry is stunning, and certainly enthralled the younger audiences at The Studio.
Eden Barrie shines as Nessa, using humour, heart, and her beautiful singing voice to humanise the legendary creature. The ensemble is also strong, with Alyson Orr, Louis Newman and Keith Macpherson providing laughter and levity as the kooky animal friends of Nessa. The primarily Scottish cast and local themes are an inspiring sign of (hopefully) more homegrown artistic talent to be showcased and supported. Writer and composer Shonagh Murray and director Beth Morton are certainly ones to watch!
The heart of the piece lies in the show’s important message, which is presented expertly and non-patronisingly for the younger audience. Mara, the plucky 11 years old protagonist, stands up for both her friends and the natural habitats at risk around her, fighting unjust authorities and climate change. Nessie has a foundation in environmentalism with a big heart and plenty of child-friendly fun!
If you’re looking for an entertaining yet meaningful show to watch with the wee ones in your life, keep an eye out for “Nessie”— on next at Pitlochry Theatre from 9 to 16 August.
Image via Capital Theatres