‘The Tumbling Lassie’ premiered at The New Athenaeum Theatre at Glasgow’s Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in August 2025.

Theatre Alliance worked over a year to create ‘The Tumbling Lassie’. The show tells the remarkable true story of a landmark 1687 Scottish legal case involving a young exploited acrobat known as “The Tumbling Lassie," who was rescued after escaping a life of forced performance. 

When her showman, Mr. Reid, claimed ownership, the Court of Session in Edinburgh rejected the notion of slavery, declaring, “But we have no slaves in Scotland.” 

This forgotten but pivotal moment is explored in ‘The Tumbling Lassie’, a new musical that honours the girl as a symbol of resilience and a rallying point in the ongoing fight against human trafficking and modern slavery. 

The production also supports and celebrates the work of The Tumbling Lassie Committee, a Scottish organisation raising awareness and aid for contemporary victims of exploitation.

Written by Marlisa Ross with Original Music by Stuart Bird.  

Produced by Theatre Alliance.