Think you know the story of Mary, Queen of Scots? Mary, Queen of Rock! reimagines Scotland’s most famous monarch not as a tragic ruler but as a rock rebel, wielding a guitar instead of a sceptre. The year is 1561, the Scottish Reformation has outlawed rock ’n’ roll, and only Mary Stuart, the undisputed Queen of Rock, can bring music back to the masses. What follows is part history lesson, part rock opera, and part feminist battle cry.
Imagine Six the Musical, but re-set in the Scottish court, wrapped in tartan and powered by guitar amps. Mary takes on John Knox in a gleefully absurd battle of the bands, while Elizabeth I schemes from the sidelines with biting wit. The result is a mix of tragedy, comedy, and anachronism, with a live band providing a set list that ranges across the rock spectrum, occasionally with a folk edge courtesy of violin.
Mhairi McCall, who also co-wrote the piece, is a commanding Mary. Her performance is magnetic, shifting effortlessly from satirical humour to heartfelt ballad. Rebecca Williamson as Elizabeth I is another standout, bringing sly wit and attitude alongside some impressive vocals. Together, the cast throw themselves into the material with a confidence that keeps the energy high and the audience on side.
The music itself is solid, with flashes of brilliance. Songs like ‘Loud Women’ are powerful, and the lyrics often hit a clever balance of comedy and commentary. Yet for all the ambition, the overall score doesn’t quite stick in the memory — many of the numbers are enjoyable in the moment but don’t lodge themselves in the ear afterwards. Part of the issue is technical: the sound lacks the punch and volume you’d expect from a rock gig, and the lighting often misses its mark, undercutting dramatic moments that should soar. With sharper tech and bolder sound design, this show could fully deliver on its promise.
Where it lands, though, is in its final message. Beneath the camp rock spectacle lies a serious attempt to interrogate how women in history are remembered: torn between victimhood and resistance, and rarely allowed to be both powerful and human. Mary, Queen of Rock! turns Mary Stuart into a feminist icon for the stage, asking us to rethink the way we frame her legacy. Energetic, original, and brimming with potential, this is a show that just needs a little more polish to truly bring the house down.
Image by Stuart Tweedie, provided by Underbelly, to The Student as press.