⭐⭐⭐⭐
Scottish Opera
Festival Theatre
Sun 9 – Wed 12 Aug
Approx. 2 hours 15 mins (one interval)
Content Guidance: strobe/flashing lights, haze, stylised violence, themes of addiction & medical malpractice
A haunting, visually arresting opera that digs deep into addiction, hope, and the cost of escape.
The Galloping Cure is a bold new work from Scottish Opera — unsettling, atmospheric, and unafraid to show the darker corners of human desperation.
At its heart is local doctor Theresa Hart, a woman who has spent years quietly holding her fading community together. But when the magnetic Lucky Mack arrives with his mysterious travelling carousel, everything shifts.
His promise of relief — the first ride always free — pulls her daughter Noy in instantly, and soon the entire town is swept up in euphoric abandon. With every turn, stepping off becomes harder, and the price of staying on grows devastatingly clear.
🎭 A Visually Stunning Descent Into Temptation
What makes this production truly stand out is its set design. It begins stark and minimal, reflecting the cold, harsh reality of a town riddled with pain. But as the carousel’s influence spreads, the stage transforms — bright, electric, and intoxicating. Clever lighting, shifting set pieces, and bursts of acrobatics create a world that feels both magical and dangerous. You see exactly why the townspeople fall under its spell.
When the story hits rock bottom, the design strips back again, leaving the audience with the chilling emptiness that follows the high. It’s smart, symbolic staging that supports the narrative beautifully.
🎶 Vocals That Cut Straight Through You
Vocally, this opera is haunting and powerful.
Daniela Mack delivers a gripping, emotionally raw performance as Theresa — her voice carrying grief, fear, and fierce love in every phrase.
Justin Austin as Lucky Mack is magnetic: sexy, sinister, and increasingly uncomfortable to watch in the best possible way. His character arc is crafted with precision, shifting from charming showman to something far darker.
⚖️ Where It Falters
For such a heavy, emotionally charged piece, the moments of comedy don’t always land. Some feel awkwardly placed, almost too silly for the weight of the themes — particularly the gruesome scenes and the use of dogs as narrators. These choices break the tension in ways that don’t always serve the story.
💭 A Story That Stays With You
Despite its flaws, The Galloping Cure succeeds in what matters most: it lingers. Long after the curtain falls, you’re still thinking about its deeper meanings — addiction, escape, community, and the dangerous allure of a quick fix. It’s a show that asks difficult questions and refuses to offer easy answers.
Written by Suzzi Hirst
@suzzisspotlight
*press tickets
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