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Female-led and female-produced, PALS is a Scottish adventure-comedy presented for two nights only at this year’s Dundee Fringe. Expect outrageous chaos, a sprinkling of Gaelic, and plenty of Scottish banter.
Written by Mirren Wilson, PALS tells the story of four crude, chaotic yet completely normal gal pals as they embark on a camping trek in the West of Scotland. In a bid to escape their lives, have a riotous time and avoid several mental breakdowns, these “Perfectly Average Lassies of Scotland” are completely out of their depths, in more ways than one.
PALS premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe 2024 before returning in 2025 and was long listed for the Binge Fringe Queer Performers Award and short-listed in the final three for Framework Theatre’s Production of the Year Award 2024. It has received multiple 4 & 5 star reviews and in 2025, it was a What’s On Stage Pick of the Fringe & won a Fringe Theatre Award. Deemed as “the sort of show we’ve been waiting for” (Corr Blimey), the play focuses on the power of female friendships, reconnecting to nature, and, of course – Scottish banter.
Now PALS returns, new and improved, with a stellar cast and creative team for two nights only at this years Dundee Fringe across the 13th and 14th September at 7.30pm in The Little Theatre.
Tell us about the creative team and the process involved?
PALS has been written by Mirren Wilson, a Scottish creative from Grangemouth, who has worked in Scottish Theatre for over 5 years as an actor and writer. Credits include: What Do We Do Now?, a poem produced by F-Bomb Theatre; Romp, Mirren’s first commissioned play for Strange Town Theatre; Feeling Like A Wall-e, a mental health monologue which formed part of NHS Lothian’s Thrive Conference.
Mirren wrote PALS due to a frustration at not seeing herself on stage, not recognising her friends and the real life versions of herself and the people she knew around her. As an actor, there was also growing concern over the lack of roles for women, so she has endeavored to right that wrong with PALS by creating four women, all friends, all real and all ‘perfectly average’.
Director Olivia Millar- Ross brings a new artistic vision to the production. As the current Jerwood Assistant Director, Olivia brings extensive experience to the show. Credits include: Jackals (Paisley Arts Centre, Summerhall); The Bench (Gala Durham, Live Theatre’s best-selling show in 8 years); Short Attention Span Theatre (Ayr Gaiety & 5 Scottish towns); Dancing Shoes (Shedinburgh/Young
Vic).
GALLUS Productions, an Edinburgh-based production company dedicated to creating high-quality, meaningful artwork that tells authentic Scottish stories & amplifies underrepresented voices. Gallus Productions is represented by its Artistic Producer Shelley Middler. Credits include: The Collie’s Shed (Edinburgh Fringe and Central Belt Tour) and Parasocial Activity (Edinburgh Fringe, Fringe First Winner 2026). The production features performances from Olivia Caw (Common Tongue, Trainspotting Live, Medusa), Amy Glass, (Butterflies and Benefits, Shoot, Get Treasure), Olivia McIntosh (Creditors, Girls Like That) and Katrina Allen (Lyceum at Home, Jumper Bumps, Treasure Island).
How does it feel to bring your piece to the Dundee Fringe?
This is the first time we’ve been to Dundee Fringe and in fact, the first time we’ve presented PALS outside of Edinburgh. Since our performances in 2024 and 2025 as part of the Edinburgh Fringe, we’ve had a huge call to arms about getting this show on tour so this is the first step towards that. We’ve developed the script, gotten a new creative team that are bringing new perspectives and we’re starting to really build the vision for the show going forward. This is the first opportunity for us to present the show under this new creative vision, so it’s a really exciting prospect to see what people think of it.
Dundee Fringe are doing something really great here. Bringing shows outside of Edinburgh and allowing people to either carry on from their success there or just try something new out with little pressure in a supportive environment. The buzz for Dundee is already electric, and we’re pleased to be a part of it.
With shows from all over coming to Dundee Fringe, what sets yours apart?
I won’t speak as to what sets us apart, as I think everyone will be bringing their own incredible talent and energy to their shows and it is that that makes theatre and the creative industries so special. Instead, I’ll tell you a bit about what makes this show special and I’ll let audiences decide on the rest.
PALS is the very best of Scottish theatre. It’s funny, crude, physical, energetic and it handles sensitive and dark moments and feelings with the utmost care. It reflects real people and real stories, so that when audiences sit and watch PALS, they see themselves or their friends or their neighbours or their weird cousins! It allows people to feel recognised and that doesn’t always happen in theatre or the arts. It lets people know that no one has a clue, we’re all winging it at this thing called life, but somehow we will make it through and we’ll do it with our pals by our side.
On that note, is there anything in the production/production teams backgrounds which influences the show?
PALS was born through a number of experiences that Mirren had (I’ll let you decide which ones are real when you see the show!) but it was also born out of the people around her, the world around her and the genuine passion for seeing herself and her friends reflected on stage.
In every reiteration of PALS, it has undoubtedly been affected and influenced by the people that have been involved. From the very first cast members, the directors, technicians, audiences- everyone has influenced the show in some way. Everyone that has been involved in the making of PALS has changed it for the better- whether through character choices or dramaturgy development or creative vision, we’ve all brought ourselves to the project and it has evolved into this fantastic production.
And I would argue that the production has done that for those involved too. We’ve formed a big family with all of those that have been involved from the very beginning. We’ve made genuine friendships together and it’s always been a joy to be part of the PALS rehearsal room to see how quickly everyone lights up and cares for one another. The Gals of Pals truly are the best!
Is there anything specific you’re hoping the audience will takeaway?
We want audiences to recognise that where they’re at in life, who they are- it is all perfectly
acceptable. Being ‘average’ is not something to be ashamed of, it should be celebrated. We want
audience members to go back to their own pals or their families and love them that little bit more,
knowing it’s okay to not be okay and that to open up and talk about what they’re feeling or what
they’re struggling with, is an incredibly powerful thing to do.
PALS will run at Main Hall, The Little Theatre as part of Dundee Fringe
Runs: 13th – 14th September at 19:30pm
Photo credit – Ray Kelly
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