Brigadoon at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

Brigadoon at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre | Theatre review

12^th August 2025

12 August 2025

The looming trees of Regent’s Park watch over the mossy, heather-strewn stage of Brigadoon, the boundaries between performance space and public park difficult to discern, feeling expansive and mysterious. After a 36-year hiatus from the stages of London, Brigadoon returns with a renewed sense of joyfulness and whimsy. With a plotline that is nonsensical enough to be escapist, yet touching enough to truly resonate, the show is a celebration of love, friendship and the unembellished beauty of the Scottish countryside.

It would be hard to find a more pastoral theatrical setting in central London than the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. As actors emerge at the top of the set or from inconspicuous bushes, it is easy to feel immersed in the Scottish Highlands. The drizzle of rain and cool evening light that lit the opening performers’ faces as they entered with their drums and bagpipes were the final ingredients in fully transporting the audience to Brigadoon, a village so remote it cannot be found on a map. The Lerner and Loewe musical, newly adapted by Scottish playwright Rona Munro, follows two American soldiers, Tommy and Jeff, who have crash-landed in the remote West Highlands. They find themselves in a village in the midst of wedding preparations, and soon become intertwined with residents and the magic that surrounds their beloved Brigadoon. The magic is palpable throughout the show, from the small waterfall, which separates the band from the stage, to the dreamy harmonies that at times feel like a paean; each element of the production is breathtaking.

Drew McOnie’s direction and choreography are an utter joy. The ensemble is incredibly playful and buoyant in their movement, and the energy is infectious. Each dance break is jubilant, and the homage to Agnes de Mille’s original choreography is consistently clear. McOnie’s love for Cyd Charisse and Gene Kelly is evident; the show maintains a honeyed sweetness that takes you back to the golden age of Hollywood. Both Fiona (Danielle Fiamanya) and Tommy (Louis Gaunt) are warm and inviting characters that are easy to love, the performers each embodying an endearing old-timey sensibility. The comedic timings of Jeff (Cavan Clarke) and Meg (Nic Myers) are also particularly entertaining, the constant laughter of the audience an absolute testament to their abilities.

Brigadoon is everything that a 1940s revival should be: joyous, energetic and sentimental – two hours of unadulterated pleasure.

★★★★★

Emilia Gould
Photos: Mark Senior

Brigadoon is at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre from 2^nd August until 20^th September 2025. For further information or to book, visit the theatre’s website here.