Anna Burnside reviews ‘a masterclass in adapting a classic for a new audience’.
The interwar years were a tough time. So many men lost, so few opportunities for the lonely women left behind. One of them, Jean Brodie, poured all her frustrations - at Calvinism, at the death of her fiancé, at the petty restrictions of the one of the few jobs open to her - into the girls she taught.
Muriel Spark’s most famous creation, reinterpreted by David Harrower and directed by Vicky Featherstone, is a cultured monster. Her chosen group of acolytes are drilled in everything from the superiority of Giotto to the achievements of Mussolini. Gayle Rankin excels as this force of nature, manipulative and imperious in equal measure.
In this impressive National Theatre of Scotland co-production, other characters move in and out of her orbit. Spark loved a micro-beef, and the intrigues and personality clashes of the Marcia Blaine School for Girls are never less than compelling.
Maureen Beattie is the anti-Brodie, stodgy and tweedy in her serviceable suit, while Brian Ferguson’s Gordon Lowther is heartbreakingly out of his depth as her devoted suitor.
Brodie’s girls move from the cusp of adolescence to becoming young women. As well as powerful character acting, Anna Orton’s brilliant costumes help with this transition. As juniors, their uniform dresses are made of solid black fabric. For the seniors this is transparent.
No one’s wardrobe, however, works as hard as Miss Brodie’s. From a shimmering green blouse that echoes the shape of an academic gown to an extraordinary Thierry Mugler-influenced suit, every look develops part of her character.
Everything about this production contributes to its success. Lewis den Hertog’s video projections of Italian art and political rallies add context and texture while Chloe Lamford’s stepped set is used to great effect. Lizzie Powell’s lighting includes a menacing multi-pronged chandelier that rises and falls from a giant art deco shade.
Featherstone orchestrates it all with a light touch, allowing Spark’s unforgettable characters and zinging dialogue to sing through. It’s a masterclass in adapting a classic for a new audience.
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie is at the Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh until 18 October 2026. It then performs at Citizens Theatre Glasgow (21-24 October), His Majesty’s Theatre Aberdeen (29-31 October) and Pitlochry Festival Theatre (4-7 November). For further information, go to the company’s website.
Photo by Mihaela Bodlovic.
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