Theatre / Performance

Dystopia: The Rock Opera

Byres Road

Fri 2 Oct · 20:00 · £23

Theatre

About this event

Dystopia Presents DYSTOPIA 26: The Rock Opera The riotous two-act Dystopian InRockTrination returns to Oran Mor for its final show of the year. Just under a year since its last standing ovation at Glasgow’s Oran Mor, DYSTOPIA 26: THE ROCK OPERA returns for its final show of 2026 on Friday 2nd October. And what a year it’s been! Since its last visit, this popular gig theatre phenomenon has toured Scottish venues, performed two sold out shows at London’s West End Leicester Square Theatre and made a triumphant return to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe at the Bedlam Theatre, being hailed along the way by critics and audiences alike as a uniquely entertaining and thought-provoking piece of theatre. So it's fitting that Beldon Haigh brings the show home to the place where it kicked off what has been a fantastic 12 months! Audiences have participated enthusiastically to their visit to a Dystopian maximum-security reformatory prison, where disgraced spin doctor Beldon Haigh, aided and abetted by incendiary rebel Helen Raiser, narrates his story, lifting the curtain on the political shenanigans which elevated President Blame to power with his ‘Make Dystopia Great Again’ agenda and has helped him keep the country under his tyrannical rule. But in the second half of the show, there’s an opportunity overturn Blame and replace him with Magnanimous Moon and his Moon On A Stick Party. Which will you choose? And more importantly, which of the two can offer you something that will really make you happy? The story unfolds in gig theatre form with Beldon and Helen on lead vocals, backed by a tremendous band consisting of Trump Chicken on bass, Polonium Putin on drums and Kim Jong Elvis on lead guitar, and of course, interventions by multi-instrumental President Blame himself. Featuring instantly hummable tunes, excellent musicianship and captioned projections throughout, this immersive production will make you laugh, sing, cheer and leave you thinking deeply about the state of the world today. Don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate an amazing year with DYSTOPIA 26: THE ROCK OPERA before it disappears! Cast Beldon Haigh – Justin Skelton, Lead Vocal and Guitar Helen Raiser – Fiona Lynch, Vocals President Blame / Magnanimous Moon – Dru Baker, Keyboard, Flute and Sax Trump Chicken – Martin Barnaby, Bass Kim Jong Elvis – Willie Logan, Lead Guitar Polonium Putin – Anna Fettes, Drums ‘Political, angry, thought-provoking and always entertaining’ 5 stars – Must See Theatre ‘Incisive entertaining musical comedy fantasia’ 4 stars – The Herald ‘This is an awesome live band’ 4 stars – British Theatre Guide ‘Compelling gig theatre… extraordinary onstage band’ 4 stars – Musical Theatre Review ‘A rollicking rollercoaster of a show’ 5 stars – Louder Than War https://www.dystopiarockopera.com | Instagram: beldonhaighofficial | X/Twitter: @beldonhaigh | Watch the trailer here: https://youtu.be/NuZ_Q34gM_Q Door time: 7pm Start time: 7:30pm