Through the Shortbread Tin
Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026
(6-31 Aug: 4:45pm)
Returning to venues across Scotland following a critically-acclaimed tour in 2025, National Theatre of Scotland’s Through the Shortbread Tin is a poetic, poignant and playful show which explores the story of the greatest literary hoax of all time.
1760: Scottish poet James Macpherson sets the world ablaze with stories of the third-century Scottish bard, Ossian - but is it built on deceit?
2026: Martin O’Connor questions his own relationship with Scottish culture. Sporrans, stags, and shortbread; do these gift-shop images hold us back or bring us forward?
Performed in Scots with Gaelic songs, Through the Shortbread Tin returns to explore the myths we tell each other and the stories we tell ourselves.
A National Theatre of Scotland production. Part of the Made In Scotland
Showcase 2026.
Written by Martin O'Connor
Remount directed
by Joanna Bowman
Original production directed by Lu Kemp
'Witty and provocative' ★★★★ (Guardian)
'A
tartan-wrapped gift of a show' ★★★★ (Herald)
'Fierce,
funny and challenging' ★★★★ (Scotsman)
If you are a Scottish Storytelling Centre Supporter, please add a full price ticket to the basket and your discount will apply automatically at checkout.
-
Theatre
-
£10.00 - £18.00 -
6-31 August 2026 -
75 minutes -
Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe -
Netherbow Theatre -
12+ -
Strong language/swearing
