First broadcast on 1st January 1951, on the then home service, before finding its home in the modern era on BBC Radio 4! The Archers is the world’s longest-running radio drama. Broadcasting six times a week to millions of listeners, the programme follows the everyday lives, loves, and dramas of the residents of the fictional village of Ambridge, deep in the heart of the English countryside. Over the course of more than 20,000 episodes, the show has chronicled significant social and cultural changes in Britain, dealing with complex contemporary issues alongside the traditional rhythms of rural life, earning its place as a cornerstone of the British cultural landscape. Today, it remains one of the BBC’s most popular programmes and is currently the top on-demand show for listeners of all ages – as well as regularly topping the list of most popular on-demand programmes for listeners under 35 – on BBC Sounds.
Set within a playful reimagining of the Ambridge Flower & Produce Show, The Archers: Live at 75 blends theatricality, nostalgia, comedy and behind-the-scenes insight. The evening will include on-stage interviews, insider stories and gossip, live performances with live foley sound effects of specially written scenes created exclusively for the tour, archive treasures spanning seven decades from the BBC vaults, fascinating demonstrations of the sound-effects artistry that brings the fields, kitchens and barns of Ambridge so vividly to life, audience questions, an interactive pub quiz straight out of The Bull and of course, a sing-along to the programme’s famous theme tune.
This is a theatrical, one-of-a-kind celebration of, and a unique insight into, the people, stories and distinctive production craft that have cemented The Archers as a beloved British institution for three generations.
The tour offers newcomers an accessible introduction to the drama’s world, while giving long-time listeners a rare look into how Ambridge is created – revealing the artistry behind the character work, development of storylines, and the unmistakable soundscape that define the series.
With the long hot summer now receding into memory and theatres around the country now seeing there autumn and winter programs taking to the stages, it’s that time where many theatre attentions turn to the annual festive extravaganza that is Pantomime.
One venue in particular, Edinburgh’s Grand Old Lady of Leven Street, The King’s will see pantomime return home after a four year long decampment to the larger Festival Theatre while the King’s underwent its multi-million-pound revamp.
With the Festival Theatre seeing productions of Cinderella, Snow White, The Further Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan and Jack and the Beanstalk how do the legendary Edinburgh Panto Team go home in style? The answer is simple! The King’s herself will become the star of the show! In a Panto that’s never graced its stage in the modern era plus a chance for our beloved favourites to take on new Characters!
Celebrating the reopening of the King’s Theatre, Edinburgh’s Cherished Panto trio return Allan Stewart once again dawns the frocks as May Geppetto, Grant Stott as the evil Stromboli and Jordan Young in the title role of Pinocchio.
The dazzling festive line-up is completed by Edinburgh panto favourites Clare Gray and Gail Watson and musical theatre star C.J. Borger as Jiminy Cricket, fresh from the hit West End show, Back to the Future, the Musical.
Returning for her eighth year, Clare Gray plays the mischievous Kitty the Cat, after enchanting audiences with her lovable Pat the Cow in Jack and the Beanstalk last year. Bonnyrigg, born and bred Gail Watson has just finished a successful Fringe run of Doris, Dolly and the Dressing Room Divas at the Gilded Balloon and will play Phyllis the Fox.
The hotly anticipated panto tells the tale of Pinocchio’s dreams of becoming a real boy. The story has been specially tailored to celebrate the return to the King’s Theatre, bringing the spirit, history and much-loved traditions of the King’s into this year’s panto.
The King’s Theatre is woven right into the heart of the adventure. In Toy Toon, May Geppetto and Pinocchio are desperately trying to raise enough money to reopen their beloved King’s, leading them to join the Great Stromboli’s travelling puppet show when he promises them a share of the takings. But when the money is stolen, Pinocchio must set off on an adventure to recover it, save the theatre and prove he has what it takes to become a real boy.
Produced by Crossroads Pantomimes, the world’s biggest pantomime producer, who also delivers the annual pantomime at the London Palladium, will see this spectacular adventure bursting with toe-tapping song and dance numbers, jaw-dropping special effects, fabulous costumes, laughter, magic and plenty of mayhem.
Capital Theatres and Crossroads Pantomimes Present, The Adventures of Pinocchio, The Kings Theatre Edinburgh, The Production will run from Saturday 28th November 2026 to Sunday 17th January 2027. For more information and tickets go to: The Adventures of Pinocchio – Capital Theatres
“Edinburgh’s People’s Theatre Reopens in Spectacular Style“
After a four year long closure, exacerbated by the covid pandemic and scary moments were it seemed the curtain may never rise again, and an injection of over £41 million pounds the Grand Old Lady of Leven Street has opened her doors once more and her curtain has risen following a spectacular revamp that sees one of Scotland’s most beloved theatres now able to meet the needs of modern audiences, theatrical community and its community whilst keeping its heart and history very much at the centre of this crown Jewel of a theatre.
Scotsgay Arts was honoured to be invited to the gala opening celebration on Friday 31st July to see for ourselves the King’s spectacular transformation and my word what a transformation it is. From arriving at the front door of the Historic King’s in its 120th year, the newly remodelled pavements makes the building accessible for all for the first time from Street to Auditorium to the fourth-floor community engagement space the King’s can now be accessed regardless of physical ability thanks to the two new lifts amongst the many sympathetic changes that brought the Grand lady into the modern era.
A new Box office, Café, Stalls Bar, a mini museum plus reinvented Dress and Upper Circle Bars now span the breath of the building in a breath taking and dazzling transformation that channels the buildings incredible history. The Colour Palettes used are taken from the stain glass original doors. Toilets have been increased from 32 to 48 and access needs are at the fore front. The venue now also hosts a fully accessible toilet and wet room with winch system on the top floor that’s hoped not by just audiences but by the wider Tollcross and Edinburgh community. The King’s has now mirrored its bigger sister, The Festival Theatre where New meets the old meets the New in buildings that put the theatres history at its heart.
Walking into the Kings it all feels so familiar, this is still the people’s theatre and everything we remember it being, but it also feels new, open and most importantly that life has returned to the King’s in a simply spectacular way.
The team at The King’s were determined to open the Old Lady in Style as champagne corks popped and bag pipers played, we made our way into the sparkling auditorium where John Bryne’s incredible dome shines down once more on the new 1125 capacity auditorium, which has never been more comfortable especially the Upper Circle with brand new high backed seats to enjoy, there isn’t a bad seat in the house.
The Revamped King’s Auditorium
The curtain rose with a spectacular Audio Visual show designed by Ross Blair (there was also a spectacular Projection show on the Front of the building too!) then stepping into the spotlight to deliver an extract from Chaconne from Partita No.2 in D Minor for Violin Solo is the great Nicola Benedetti representing the Edinburgh International Festival which will once again call the King’s one of its homes. A truly special and spine tingling moment beautifully lit by the shows lighting designer James Gow whose work across the night was a triumph and brought the entire auditorium to life.
Who better to host the evening than the “Panto Boys” Allan Stewart, Grant Stott and Jordan Young have come home at last and alongside promising a very special Pantomime at the end of the year with “Pinocchio” they delivered some blistering comedy as well as sharing their passion for the building they have called home for decades every Christmas, even Aunty May popped in to say hello!
What followed were performances from Scottish Ballet, Scottish Opera and the National Theatre of Scotland alongside speeches from invited guests including First Minister John Swinney and specially commissioned poetry that expressed the wish that the King’s can now host the entire spectrum of the arts thanks to its new flat stage and revamped backstage facilities including accessible dressing room.
How to bring the curtain down on such a special evening in the King’s History? It was the simple realisation that the King’s has always been about people, an ideal that was threaded throughout the evening thanks to the discovery of a hidden bottle behind the crown high above the proscenium arch during the renovations.
“Panto Pal’s” Allan Stewart, Grant Stott and Jordan Young
The King’s belongs to Edinburgh, and its people has it has for generations from Grandparents taking Grandkids to the panto, to festival goers enjoying culture from across the world, to the many Local Theatre Companies who take to the historic stage year after year. Therefore, it was emotional and fitting to see company members from Edinburgh Gang Show, Edinburgh University Savoy Opera Company, Bohemians Lyric Opera Company, Southern Light, Edinburgh Gilbert and Sullivan Society, Edinburgh Music Theatre and Showcase join together for heart touching performance of the Proclaimers “Streets of Edinburgh” to bring the curtain down on an epic Re-opening night for the Kings.
120 year since the doors first open the King’s is back and is welcoming the people of Edinburgh and beyond once more and the biggest thrill for all of us is seeing the stories that are to be written in the years ahead as new generations discover both theatre and to inescapable magic that is the Grand Old lady of Leven Street!
Long may her crown shine across the city! Welcome back To The King’s oh how we have missed you!
The King’s Theatre Opening Celebration, King’s Theatre Edinburgh. For more information on The King’s revamp and the Programme of shows for the season ahead and beyond head to :https://www.capitaltheatres.com/our-venues/kings-theatre/
Scotsgayarts.com is deeply saddened to learn of the death of the great Tony Challis at the age of 80 at his home in Nottingham. Tony was a long-term contributor to our predecessor Scotsgay Magazine and was a respected reviewer of nearly 20 years’ service to SGFringe.com writing close to 1000 reviews for the site and the hard copy magazine all of which explored LGBTQIA+ Themes.
Tony Challis 1946 – 2026
Scotsgay magazines former editor Taylor Hunter spoke to Scotsgay Arts saying, “Tony Challis was far more than a reviewer, to me he was a mentor, a champion of the arts and a passionate advocate for Scotland’s LGBT community.”
“When I took the reigns as Editor of Scotsgay magazine, Tony was already a respected and long serving writer renowned for his Edinburgh Fringe reviews of Gay focused performances. He welcomed me with generosity, offering advice, encouragement and the benefit of his experience at a time it was needed most.”
“Beyond Journalism, Tony Played an instrumental role in the development of the Scotsgay Awards, Tony highlighted excellence in the arts and several of the productions he gave awards too would develop into both West End transfer’s and National UK Tours. Tony’s legacy will live on through the artists whose work he championed and the wider community he helped strengthen in a plethora of ways, Rest in Peace Tony”
Tony Challis was also a lifelong humanist alongside being a former wedding celebrant, he was a passionate and dedicated gay rights pioneer and a published poet. A warm, passionate, and steadfast activist, Tony spent over half a century fighting for equality. He was a long-time supporter of Humanists UK and a co-founder of LGBT+ Humanists.
Tony’s journey in activism began in the early 1970s. After becoming involved with the Campaign for Homosexual Equality (CHE), he joined the Bath Gay Awareness Group in 1972. He was among the brave cohort who marched in London’s second-ever Pride march in 1973. Speaking on a recorded oral history interview for the Humanist Heritage project, Tony recalled:
“I went on the [Pride] march in ’73, which was only the second London one. And at that time, it was much smaller, and you had police all the way along both sides, and you did have people, both National Front types and religious extremists, sort of abusing you and shouting at you.”
For the last 36 years Tony called Nottingham his home having moved there in 1990. He would continue to make his annual pilgrimage to Edinburgh every August writing for Scotsgay Magazine, SGfringe.com and latterly Broadway Baby but Nottingham was always home where he founded Pink Ink, a gay writing group that nurtured local creative talent. He was a dedicated poet, which culminated in the publication of his debut chapbook, Rainbow Candles, by Five Leaves in 2025. His poetry reflected on his life as a gay man during eras of profound social change with a trademark wit, optimism and hope.
Tony Challis was a joy to know, to work with and leaves a legacy of love for both the written word and the arts. He is indeed one of the giant’s today’s LGBTQIA+ community stands on the shoulders of. We are all better for having known Tony and Scotsgayarts.com sends our love to his family and loved ones. May he rest in peace.
England, 1945. The lives of two strangers are changed forever by a chance meeting at a railway station. But this isn’t Brief Encounter…
We’re all extras in the lives of others, but the stars of our own. What happens when you pan the camera away from the leading players? Fresh from a sell-out run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025, Mark Kydd’s solo show turns the spotlight onto a supporting artist with his own surprising tale of first, forbidden love.
This Valentine’s Day, celebrate LGBT+ History Month with Our Martin in the Background: the queer love story Noël Coward didn’t write.
Speaking to Scotsgayarts.com Mark Says “Our Martin…” is the story (told in flashback) of a man who recalls working as an extra during location filming for “Brief Encounter” while simultaneously embarking on a queer love affair that echoes the relationship at the heart of the film. It’s an intimate confessional piece, reminiscent in style – inits humour and Lancashire voice – of an Alan Bennett Talking Head. I was inspired to write it by a theory that Coward may have intended “Brief Encounter” as a disguised queer love story; while I’m not fully convinced this was the case, it proved an intriguing jumping-off point for a companion piece. During such a perilous time for minority lives, I think it’s imperative that new queer writing is seen and talked about, and I really want to be part of that conversation. “
With further performances of the piece planned for venues across Scotland this is LGBT History month inspired chance to see one of the hits of the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe Festival one more time and given the intimate nature of the Story Telling Centre it’s sure to sell out! So, grab those tickets before its too late.
Our Martin in The Background, Scottish Story Telling Centre, Edinburgh, Performance on Saturday 14th February at 2pm for tickets and more information go to: Scottish Storytelling Centre
ScotsGay Arts 