Picture: Andrew Perry
Nessie continues at Pitlochry Festival Theatre until 16 August 2025.
Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩
Prepare to be charmed – this is an absolute delight.
The skillset of many regular performers at Pitlochry is always a marvel when instruments are played so well as part of the onstage ensemble in musical pieces. Now add in puppetry!
Alyson Orr manages the lovely Heather the Heron – as elegant a puppet as you can imagine; also portraying a thoroughly decent woman as Emma and plays the flute beautifully. Matching her, Keith Macpherson is cheeky puppetmaster for Oggie the Otter (who fancies being a beaver too), the blustering Murdo and playing violin to boot.
The title role (almost) goes to Eden Barrie, moving the very expressive Nessa, assisted by Louis Newman for tail action. Nessa, Heather and Oggie become friends with Mara (Caitlin Forbes). Mara is fascinated by the natural world and meeting Nessa escalates her interest. The only fly in the ointment for Mara is her personal school bully, Ally (also Newman).
Ally’s father, Murdo takes a strong objection to the local hydro power station – the same place Emma works in as an engineer. Cue town meetings and the chance for Barrie to rattle off some great comedy one-liners as she chairs the meeting.
In this modern Scottish fable, the lessons of clean energy from hydro power and keeping the country clear from littering are woven throughout Shonagh Murray’s musical play. Having written all three elements (book, music and lyrics), Murray, a former Musical Theatre Review award winner, continues to excel and entertain her audience.
The staging is deceptively simple and used to great effect. Throw in an ultraviolet sequence and a fair shower of bubbles and you have an enthralled room.
A terrific family show – a perfect summer treat.
Fiona Orr
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