Put those doors to manual and cross-check, because after a lengthy delay in departures (30 years!) cult TV comedy series The High Life is back – this time as a stage musical spectacular!
All four of the original TV cast, Alan Cumming, Forbes Masson, Siobhan Redmond and Patrick Ryecart, are returning for the show, playing their original characters of Sebastian Flight, Steve McCracken, Shona Spurtle and Captain Hilary Duff.
The High Life – The Musical is set to tour Scotland in Spring 2026 as part of the National Theatre of Scotland’s 20th anniversary programme in 2026.
The HighLife tour will start at the Dundee Rep Theatre on 28 March 2026, and then His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen; Festival Theatre, Edinburgh; and King’s Theatre, Glasgow.
There’s no current news about a tour to other British regions, or a West End run.
The High Life is a creative collaboration between multi-award-winning actor and creator Alan Cumming (US Traitors, X2 and Avengers: Doomsday, Cabaret on Broadway) and his long-time writing and performing partner, stage and screen actor and writer Forbes Masson (Jamie Lloyd’s production of The Tempest, Farm Hall, Only Child, The Crown, EastEnders).
The show’s story, script and lyrics are by Alan Cumming, Forbes Masson and Johnny McKnight (Wendy Hoose, Radiant Vermin, River City), with original music by Forbes Masson, and additional music by Alan Cumming.
The director is award-winning Artistic Director of Dundee Rep, Andrew Panton (August: Osage County, No Love Songs, A History of Paper). Andrew Panton is also directing James Graham’s new play Make It Happen this summer starring Brian Cox.
Joining Andrew Panton in the creative team are set and costume designer Colin Richmond, choreographer Emily Jane Boyle, musical supervisor Sarah Travis, and lighting designer Grant Anderson.
Taking place in the fictional Air Scotia airline, The High Life centres on air stewards Steve, Sebastian and Shona – the most useless cabin crew ever to push a drinks trolley while asking ‘U Fur Coffee?”.
In the new The High Life musical, Air Scotia has been sold, and unless our intrepid cabin crew can prove they’re still fit for purpose it looks like the future destination for Air Scotia is the scrap heap. In this flight for their lives, our cut-price cabin crew must get themselves (and their passengers) to their destination safely, testing their mettle and putting decades old friendships and rivalries finally to rest.
The High Life was first commissioned and broadcast by the BBC in 1994, created by and featuring Alan Cumming and Forbes Masson. The TV series is available on BBC iPlayer.
More about tickets for The High Life – The Musical
What They Said
Creators and stars Alan Cumming and Forbes Masson said in a joint statement: “Never say never! We are both beyond excited to be donning those nylon slacks and crimpelene 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!”
“The bags are packed, the tena-man pants on, and I am ready for check in”
Writer Johnny McKnight 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. Fasten your seatbelts and get ready for the flight of a lifetime.”
Director Andrew Panton said: “Having been a High Life fan right from take-off in 1994, it’s been a total joy to work with this amazing team of pure talent. Our development time together has been a riot of creative energy, hilarity and brilliant music and songs and I feel sure our new stage musical will appeal to both fans of the TV show and folks new to The High Life! I’m thrilled that we’re creating the show at Dundee Rep Theatre before it jets off to entertain audiences across Scotland.”
More about the cast
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