The Burns Project

It’s 230 years since poet Robert Burns died and he is still topping the bill!

An amazing man of many contradictions, Burns is still much revered for his poetry, and a wonderful piece of theatre pays homage to just that.

The Burns Project is back in Scotland after a tour of the United States and the architecturally stunning Henry Irving Room in the Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh as the setting.

Set and costume designer Jenny Booth has created an “immaculately designed” dinner party table for the audience to sit around and listen and watch James Clements playing the part of the bard and accompanied musically by Ray Aggs.

A powerful man, Clements plays his role with intensity and gusto in the production he wrote and directed by Cora Bissett. He interacts delicately with the audience, bringing out the depth of emotion Burns ploughed into his work throughout his colourful life.

Using poetry, writings and the archive of Burns, the play, in collaboration with the National Trust for Scotland, is a delight, with the set and lighting (by Elle Taylor) cleverly used to act out parts of the Bard’s life, the highlight being when Clements pops his head out from beneath a domed plate as a result of a heavy night of drinking.

Although he only had a short life, Burns was well known for filling it with deep love and passion one minute and then coldness and abandonment the next and the play emphasises the differences well.

With modern day thoughts on Burns and what he means to Scotland, worked in from sound designer Garry Boyle to flash backs to how a simple farmer became a man filled with deep poetry.

Ray Aggs blends well with the performance with sweet renditions of Burns favourites, such as Ae Fond Kiss and the play has the audience leaving with more understanding of how this complex and flawed man is still loved hundreds of years later.

The Burns Project runs at the Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh nightly at 7:30pm until Sunday 5^th July, with extra performances at 12:30pm and 3:30pm on the 4^th and at 3:30pm on the 5^th July 2026. For ticket availability, please visit: www.lyceum.org.uk.

Author Bio:

Rebecca Hay is an experienced travel writer and member of The British Guild of Travel Writers. Follow her adventures with her family on Twitter and Instagram @emojiadventurer and on Facebook via EmojiAdventurers2.

Photograph courtesy of James Clements