Arts diary: The Playhouse show bringing back memories of my strangest school trip

Our parents merrily waved us off from the school car park, all of us dressed as Frank-N-Furter's sex slaves in suspenders and basques and clutching newspapers, pieces of unbuttered toast and confetti. Meanwhile, the teacher himself, along with a number of the boys, donned a white lab coat, fishnet tights and high heels. The bus broke down on the way to Sunderland and we were all forced to disembark at a service station to await a replacement vehicle, much to the bemusement of other drivers. Luckily, we made it in time to see the show.

I'd almost begun to think I'd dreamed it all - until I was invited to opening night at the Edinburgh Playhouse to see Jason Donovan in the role of the sex scientist who corrupts the innocent Brad and Janet - and the memories came flooding back.

I checked with my school friends and they confirmed the whole thing, from the history teacher's fishnets to the bus malfunction. Interesting. I suppose it was the 1990s, after all.

In Edinburgh, the uber fans - mainly sitting at the front of the stalls - seemed more muted than I remember from Sunderland, though there was still a decent bit of scripted heckling. Theatres now seem to have a ban on foodstuffs being thrown and I seemed to be the only one who'd brought my own copy of The Scotsman to protect myself from the rain. Spoilsports.

It's on until Saturday, Donovan is the perfect Frank-N-Furter. Go.

New year, new plans

It’s 2026 and there’s a bumper year of arts events planned for us in Scotland. Have a look at my round up here and start planning your calendar.

Behind the scenes

I'm off to the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh this afternoon for what is perhaps one of my most exciting behind the scenes experiences yet - keep a look out at scotsman.com to find out what I've been up to.