Final part of Rona Munro’s The James Plays to premiere in 2027, directed by Rufus Norris

Rona Munro and Rufus Norris will unite for James VI: First and Last, the final instalment in The James Plays, which will tour Scotland in September and October 2027.

Produced by Raw Material and Capital Theatres in association with Aberdeen Performing Arts, the production will open at Edinburgh’s Festival Theatre on 24 September 2027 before visiting Glasgow, Stirling, Inverness and Aberdeen. Norris, who recently completed a decade as artistic director of the National Theatre, will make his Scottish directing debut with the production.

Written by Munro, James VI: First and Last follows the monarch as he navigates religious conflict and shifting loyalties in his attempt to unite the crowns of Scotland and England. The play also explores the women in James’s life and his relationships and sexuality.

The James Plays began as a trilogy in 2014, with Munro writing six plays across the series. Raw Material previously co-produced James IV: Queen of the Fight and James V: Katherine with Capital Theatres.

Munro said: “James VI: First and Last marks the end of a journey I began over ten years ago. I never really questioned my decision to commit a large chunk of my working life to this sprawling saga. Now looking back, I realise it could have been a very odd and foolhardy decision, given the scale of the stories and the precarious state of theatre over those ten years.

“That I’m excitedly and happily at the point where we’re planning production of the last in this series is possibly testament to my abiding enthusiasm for the history, but, probably more than that, to my luck in finding a series of brilliant collaborators, especially producers Raw Material who have been the main driving force keeping The James Plays going after the initial trilogy was produced.

“I’m aware that while we’ve retained loyal audiences over those ten years there will be others coming to these stories for the first time. I hope these new audiences will recognise and enjoy a self-contained drama which tells the story of one moment in history but also speaks to the moment in which we currently stand. If you have seen all The James Plays you will recognise and hopefully be satisfied by this conclusion of the story of Stewart monarchs in Scotland. If you are coming for the first time, no recap is necessary, no prior knowledge of the history is required. I hope you’ll be gripped by a vital and exciting story about a tortured king, a divided nation, and much more that made our Scotland, today.”

Norris added: “Firstly, I am delighted to be directing Rona’s wonderful play, and to have the opportunity to collaborate with such a terrific writer.

“I have been a huge fan of this extraordinary series which have, for me, redefined what a history play can feel like. Rona’s ability to frame the historical events of many centuries ago in a way that makes them feel immediate, contemporary and utterly resonant is masterful, and to be a part of this seminal opus is a gift. It is particularly so, for me, on James VI.

“The play is rich on many levels, bringing a psychological and dramatic insight into this complex, flawed leader in a way that feels deeply pertinent to the age we are living through. My own lifelong fascination with history has been naturally focused on England, and to breathe theatrical life into a story that touches both nations is a challenge I look forward to enormously. I have recently moved to Scotland, and to be a part of the theatre community here is a privilege I will relish.”

The production is supported by Creative Scotland Touring Fund and Chris Grace Harkness. The full cast will be announced in early 2027.

James VI: First and Last will run at the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh from 24 September to 2 October 2027, King’s Theatre in Glasgow from 5 to 9 October, Macrobert Arts Centre in Stirling from 14 to 16 October, Eden Court in Inverness from 21 to 23 October and His Majesty’s Theatre in Aberdeen from 27 to 30 October.

Friends’ booking opens on 27 October, with public booking opening on 3 November.