Hit Scottish TV comedy returns as musical 30 years on

Yahoo

28-05-2025

A MUCH-LOVED 90s TV comedy which made stars of its original cast is back - and this time, it is a musical.
The High Life, by The Crown and EastEnders star Forbes Masson and Traitors US host Alan Cumming follows the most useless cabin crew ever to have graced the skies.
First commissioned and broadcast by the BBC, it attracted cult status for its sharp wit, farcical storytelling and joyous buffoonery.
This revival, a co-production between the National Theatre of Scotland and Dundee Rep, follows the Air Scotia crew as they find themselves growing older in an ever-changing world.
The cast in rehearsal (Image: NTS)
It will feature new and original music, and according to Forbes and Alan 'is stuffed full of camp silliness."
They added: 'Never say never. We are both beyond excited to be donning those nylon slacks and crimplene blazers and connecting with our inner trolly dollies after all these years.
'Returning to these characters alongside the genius that is Johnny McKnight has been a joyful experience and we can't wait to share what madness we've come up with around Scotland.'
Johnny McKnight (Image: NTS)
Celebrated panto writer and actor Johnny McKnight is joining the creative team.
He said: 'I am absolutely thrilled to join the Air Scotia cabin crew. I grew up watching The High Life, wishing that one day I could get to fly thirty thousand feet with Alan, Forbes, Siobhan and Patrick.
'I never believed that a reunion show would happen, let alone that I would get to be part of the team working on it.
'The bags are packed, the tena-man pants on, and I am ready for check in … '
Joining Forbes and Alan, who play inept trolly dollies Steve McCracken and Sebastian Flight, are the sitcom's other original cast members, Siobhan Redmond as Shona Spurtle and Patrick Ryecart as Captain Hilary Duff.
Alan and Forbes first worked together as 'Kelvinside men' Victor and Barry (Image: Tommy Ga-Ken Wan)
Forbes and Alan met at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in 1982 where they formed the original 'Kelvinside men' comedy double act Victor and Barry.
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They recently chronicled the early days of their careers in the book Victor and Barry's Kelvinside Compendium – A Meander Down Memory Close, a 40th anniversary celebration of their birth.
The High Life was first introduced to TV audiences in a pilot in 1994 and then in a series of six episodes which were broadcast in early 1995. The series is currently available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
The High Life will tour to Dundee Rep Theatre, His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen, Festival Theatre, Edinburgh and King's Theatre, Glasgow between March 28 and May 16.