Gayle Rankin will play the title role in a new Scottish production of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie — more than two decades after she appeared as one of the schoolgirls in the Royal Lyceum's 2003 staging of the same story (WhatsOnStage).

The production is adapted by David Harrower from Muriel Spark's 1961 novel and directed by Vicky Featherstone. It is presented by the National Theatre of Scotland in partnership with the Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh and in association with Pitlochry Festival Theatre (WhatsOnStage).

Previews begin at the Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh on 2 October, with an official opening night on 9 October. The show then tours to the Citizens Theatre in Glasgow, His Majesty's Theatre in Aberdeen and Pitlochry Festival Theatre, with performances running until 7 November (WhatsOnStage).

Harrower's adaptation was first staged at the Donmar Warehouse in London in 2018. It has been revised for this new production, which marks the first time the play has been performed in Scotland — the country where Spark's novel is set. The story follows Jean Brodie, a teacher at the Marcia Blaine School for Girls in Edinburgh who selects a group of pupils she intends to shape through her own philosophy and ideals (WhatsOnStage).

The production also marks 60 years since the premiere of the original stage adaptation of Spark's novel, and forms part of "NTS At 20," a programme marking the National Theatre of Scotland's 20th anniversary (National Theatre of Scotland).

The full cast has been announced. Maureen Beattie plays Miss MacKay, Liberty Black is Mary Macgregor, Dyfan Dwyfor plays Teddy Lloyd, Brian Ferguson is Gordon Lowther, Sophie Fortune plays Joyce Emily, Tallulah Greive is Monica Douglas, Shreya Khaund Marshall plays Jenny Gray and Bobby Rainsbury is Sandy Stranger (WhatsOnStage).

The creative team includes set designer Chloe Lamford, costume designer Anna Orton, lighting designer Lizzie Powell, video designer Lewis den Hertog, sound designer and music composer Pippa Murphy, movement director Charlotte McLean, music by Anna Meredith and associate director Sally Reid. Casting is by Stuart Burt, with National Theatre of Scotland casting by Robyn Ferguson (WhatsOnStage).

For Rankin, the role brings her career full circle. The Royal Lyceum's own website lists her involvement in the production, confirming the casting on its performer profile page (Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh). Pitlochry Festival Theatre also hosts an official production page describing the adaptation and confirming Rankin in the lead (Pitlochry Festival Theatre).