Arts diary: What 'the Scots' actually don't say in One Day and Penny Lancaster's return to Dumfries House

On at the Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh, the show is a triumph, not just for its innovative staging in the round, which allows a few audience members to buy tickets actually sitting at pub tables on the stage - as well as a whole bank of seats facing the main auditorium. The on-stage pub was also open to the audience to buy drinks in the interval, really pushing the concept of immersive theatre.

However, despite rave reviews, the production has already incurred the wrath of Scottish theatre critics - including our very own Joyce McMillan - who were angry that London critics had not been invited to review the press launch.

A co-production between the Lyceum and a London company, the show was billed with much fanfare to be premiering in Edinburgh, where the story is largely set, featuring locations including The Pear Tree pub and the unassuming Rankeillor Street.

Yet the critics found the decision to delay any London reviews until it transfers its run to the UK capital offensive - and fair point. They penned an open letter to the Lyceum, warning that the decision made Scottish theatre appear second class - and a practice run for the main event.

Joyce tells me: “We felt that we just had to register a protest, and resist a process where major productions in Scotland are treated as nothing more than try-outs for a London run. Back to the 1930’s, when theatre was either ‘London’ or ‘the provinces’? We profoundly hope not.”

Watching One Day last Wednesday, I was also a bit worried that the musical might play on the cheesier side of its Scottish setting too much amid a repeated claim throughout the show that “the Scots” say that everyone should climb Arthur’s Seat once in their lives so that they know what heaven looks like before they get there.

Boke. But the clever script - written by Edinburgh-born David Greig - pulled it back.

“Actually, the Scots don’t say that - I made it up,” says Scottish character Callum, perfectly puncturing any over-sentimentality in the final poignant scenes atop Edinburgh’s iconic volcano. Thank God for that.

Penny’s return to Dumfries House

Boswell Book Festival, Scotland’s only book festival dedicated to memoir and biography has a stellar line up this year.

Talks will include much-loved children’s author Michael Morpurgo on his reflections drawn from a lifetime of writing, as well as star of Coronation Street and Carry On Cleo, Amanda Barrie, talking about her career – and revealing aged 90 - her private love story.

The festival, named in honour of Ayrshire writer, James Boswell, the inventor of modern biography, is held at the Adam-designed (and King Charles-owned) Dumfries House set in 2,000 acres in Ayrshire.

Penny Lancaster is to make her first ever appearance at a Scottish book festival, telling the story of her life peopled by royalty, rock legends and renegades as told in her emotional memoir, Someone Like Me. It isn’t, however, Ms Lancaster’s first visit to the stately home.

She and husband Sir Rod Stewart have previously been invited as guests of King Charles, as they are both Ambassadors for the King's Foundation. Fancy.