It’s 1561, and Mary is a rock goddess. With an electric rock-pop soundtrack, endless quips and unending humour, Pretty Knickers Productions’ rock-pop-fuelled retelling of the story of a queen so integral to Scotland’s history is quite possibly a stroke of genius.

Entering the venue to female-led rock hits like ‘Call Me’ and ‘Edge of Seventeen’, we are pumped for an electric show celebrating girl power. When we meet Mary, co-writer and actress Mhairi McCall captures our attention and never releases it, portraying her free-spirited and full of fire. The ‘Queen of Rock’ is tricked and bound by a contract by Presbyterian Records which vows to ban rock throughout Scotland.

The electric and intoxicating energy of the cast means at moments we forget we aren’t at a rock concert. Queen Elizabeth becomes Lizzie, the rival Queen of Pop played by the sparkling and naturally funny Rebecca Williamson – through bubble-gum synth pop rivalling Mary’s electric anthems, the historic cold divide between sisters being somewhat trivialised through competition between rival genres. Cameron Banks skilfully switches between outgoing, loyal and fun-filled Rizzio and the odious, anti-rock John Knox. Sarah Dingwall succeeds in making us despise smarmy, pompous bad-boy Darnley, desperate to become the leading King of Rock.

The costume design fuels the rock concert atmosphere – gloriously grunge rocker outfits with fishnets and faux leather kilts channel this rebellious alt-rock music. Historical references are mixed with bright musical humour; Mary is cautioned, ‘you can be hung, drawn, and quartered even by looking at an electric guitar’. Witty wordplays fuse the musical and historical, such as when Mary prepares for a photoshoot with ‘Rolling Throne’. In a comical, pantomime-esque fashion, Rizzio is murdered via guitar.

A show that provides unending laughs becomes surprisingly tender and reflective; closing number ‘Loud Women’ amplifies all female voices in a moment of solidarity between Mary and the backing rock singers. McCall is at once hilarious and vulnerable in her portrayal of Mary, particularly during ballad ‘Trees’ when lamenting her forced exile and abandonment of her son. With obvious extensive research done into Mary’s life, the production does not make light of the queen’s tragedy and suffering.

The female-led production delivers a sincere message of solidarity – ‘for every woman ever silenced, there’s one speaking up.’ ‘Mary, Queen of Rock!’ is not only hysterically funny, but a touching and timely testament to protecting women’s voices and honouring the legacy of a queen silenced too soon.

‘Mary, Queen of Rock‘ is at Underbelly, Bristo Square – Cowbarn until Sun 24 Aug 2025 at 19:45