World première of Wild Rose musical to debut in 2025

The world première of the brand-new musical Wild Rose is set to take Scotland by storm.

Written by Nicole Taylor, (One Day, Three Girls, The C Word, and The Nest) and directed by John Tiffany (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child), the new production will open at The Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh in 2025.

Wild Rose, based on Taylor’s critically acclaimed award-winning film, begins previews on 6 March and officially opens on 14 March, running until 5 April.

The production promises a stellar creative team alongside Tiffany: Steven Hoggett and Vicki Manderson will choreograph, continuing their long-term collaboration with Tiffany.

Chloe Lamford is set to design the set, Katrina Lindsay will handle costumes, Jessica Hung Han Yun will design the lighting, and Tony Gayle will be in charge of sound design. Sarah Travis and Davey Anderson will supervise music, orchestrations, and arrangements. Casting is by Charlotte Sutton CDG.

Wild Rose tells the story of Rose-Lynn, a free-spirited country music lover with dreams of making it big in Nashville.

Fresh out of jail and struggling with her past mistakes, Rose-Lynn’s raw talent, charisma, and cheek set her on a path to stardom.

But her mother Marion wants her to settle down and focus on raising her two young children.

Rose-Lynn reluctantly takes a cleaning job, finding an unlikely champion in her new boss Susannah, who helps her get closer to her dream.

This world premiere production will feature songs from country music legends including Dolly Parton, Carrie Underwood, Wynonna Judd, Chris Stapleton, Caitlyn Smith, The Chicks, and Patty Griffin, alongside the film’s award-winning original song Glasgow (No Place Like Home).

Nicole Taylor said: “I don’t think there will ever be a character who means as much to me as Rose-Lynn Harlan. Bringing her to the stage, and starting that journey in Scotland, is the fulfilment of a dream I’ve had from the very beginning. From the moment this girl roared into my head, I always imagined that one day I’d get to tell her story in the theatre.

“Growing up in a West of Scotland where people didn’t talk much or at all about their feelings, I became obsessed with country music and its ability to express the entire range of human emotion. The titans of the genre were women – Wynonna, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Reba, Patty Loveless, Trisha Yearwood etc. – and they seemed to give voice to things that could scarcely even be spoken.

“But back then, being into country back was a lonely road! So it’s thrilling and quite unexpected that it’s now the hottest genre around. For me though, it still is what it always was: music that cracks you open and as Rose-Lynn says, gets whatever’s in there out.

“I’m so thrilled to be opening Wild Rose in Scotland under the direction of the great John Tiffany – it really does feel like bringing it home.”