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A little bit of Scottish theatre history begins tonight
With the first preview of the new drama Small Acts of Love, a little bit of Scottish theatre history will be made.
– Mark Brown, The National
Tonight marks a powerful moment at the Citz, as previews begin for our reopening production, Small Acts of Love – the much-anticipated new play, written by Frances Poet with music and lyrics by Ricky Ross. The production receives its world premiere this Friday, 12 September – but already, it’s causing a stir across the Scottish arts scene and beyond.
The excitement is palpable.
- The Guardian has named it one of the Best Theatre, Comedy and Dance Picks of Autumn 2025
- Scotland on Sunday listed it among the top theatre picks of the week,
- The Herald’s Neil Cooper placed it in his Top 10 theatre shows to see in Scotland.
- The Skinny called it a clear theatre highlight.
“It should be something that prompts a guttural response”, Dominic Hill, The National
At the heart of Small Acts of Love is a story that’s as deeply human as it is historically significant. Inspired by the extraordinary relationships formed in the wake of the Pan Am 103 atrocity, the play turns its gaze not to the event itself, but to what came after – the kindness, resilience, and healing forged in the aftermath.
“We don’t go near the crime itself; the business of our piece is to look at the best of humanity, not the worst,” says Ricky Ross. “We’re telling the story of the healing that’s happened since, and of the many extraordinary tales that have grown out of those bonds of love and friendship.”
“You want audiences and critics to love it, but it feels irrelevant until the families come to see it and hopefully say we did it right and served their story,” adds Frances Poet.
Speaking to the Sunday Mail, actor Blythe Duff highlights the unseen connections that inspired the play:
“Incredible relationships have been formed between Lockerbie and families in America – and most of that has gone on silently.”
This silence, until now, is part of what makes the production feel so vital. The play doesn’t shy away from emotion – it leans into it, offering a platform for voices often left unheard, and giving space to love, community, and enduring human connection.
“The aim is to stage a thoughtful, moving, provocative piece of storytelling that will be an experience,” says Dominic Hill in The National.
With journalists already praising its scale and ambition, Small Acts of Love is shaping up to be one of the theatrical events of the year, as the Citizens Theatre continues to reaffirm its place as a home for bold, relevant storytelling.
Don’t miss this landmark production.
Previews start tonight, 9 September and the production runs until 4 October.
Small Acts of Love is a Citizens Theatre production in association with the National Theatre of Scotland.
Supported by The Hunter Foundation.
Developed with the support of the National Theatre’s Generate programme.