A joke shop is a strange place to plot becoming modern day highwaymen.
But then cult Scottish favourite Restless Natives is a bit of an eccentric story which grows on you as the audience at The King’s Theatre in Glasgow discovered.
The original 1985 whimsical comedy film written by Ninian Dunnett is now a slick musical sticking to the storyline of two day dreaming friends who turn highway robbers disguised as a wolfman and a clown. Their targets are coachloads of rich American tourists touring The Highlands and are easy pickings.
Ronnie (Kyle Gardiner) and Will (Finlay McKillop) are two Edinburgh friends working in a shop selling cheap tricks, wishing they could step up on the world and make some money and for Will to make his dad (Harry Ward) think of him less as a loser and more on par with an old school friend who has made it big in Mexico.
It’s a working class story aimed at the Scottish enemy, Margaret Thatcher and how using wit and creativity, the boys refuse to be brought down by the actions of the former Prime Minister.
Intersprinkle the story with the majestic music of tartan heroes, Big Country, and the show has all the trappings of a great night out.
Ronnie and Will refuse to let lack of money and opportunity defeat them and using self-deprecating humour and with luck on their side, they manage to win over the hearts of the people they are stealing from as they give to the poor what they take from the rich.
On the way, Will falls in love with one of the bus tour guides, Margot (Kirsty MacLaren) who unfortunately for Ronnie and Will happens to be the daughter of Scottish police inspector Baird (Alan McHugh) and he joins forces with Bender (Sarah Galbraith), an American ranger on holiday and keen to discover the true identities of the robbers.
As Will starts to spend more time with Margot, Robbie gets frustrated and gets involved with master criminal Pyle (Caroline Deyga) takes on a more dangerous accomplice in Nigel (also played by Harry Ward).
The ensemble is made up of Robin Campbell, Ailsa Davidson, Stuart Edgar and Ava MacKinnon.
With a bright set and costumes and some real tub-thumping, bagpipe swirling music from Big Country, as well as some bright modern songs, it’s a great wee story which touches the heartstrings and simply encourages a huge smile!
Restless Natives runs at The King’s Theatre, Glasgow until Saturday 28th June 2025. For show times and ticket availability please visit: www.atgtickets.com and www.restlessnativesthemusical.com.
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.
Photographs by Mihaela Bodlovic
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