Rollers Forever at Pavilion Theatre Glasgow Review

DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW

Reviewed by Deb Mackenzie

No matter your age, or where you grew up, I guarantee that you have been a popstar fan. The Beatles were the start of a new era, leading the way for screaming fans worldwide to follow their chosen group both on stage and off.

Rollers Forever the new stage show follows two lifelong fans of the Bay City Rollers as they reminisce about their teen years in the 1970s. These roles are played by Dani Heron as Jenny and Chiara Sparkes as Susan; both these ladies are charismatic, full of energy and draw you into the play as if you are in their shoes. The obsession of the Bay City Rollers seeps out of them as they make a plan to go see their idols; how boys get in the way and how they make their clothing to fit the rollers fashion. Their singing is remarkable and is how we all wished we sounded singing our favourite pop idols songs.

The production Rollers Forever opened at Glasgow’s Pavilion Theatre on the 19th August 2025. This also marked the 50th anniversary of the Bay City Rollers first number one and the UK’s biggest selling single of 1975, Bye Bye Baby.

Written by Danny McCahon, who is also known for his work in Emmerdale, River City and Taggart. He was delighted to have been asked to write this stage production featuring the music of the Bay City Rollers and turned it around to see it from the Rollers point of view and who actually bring success to bands and musicians – the fans.

It is exciting that Bay City Roller Stuart ‘Woody’ Wood is the artistic consultant on the musical. Wood is said to be excited to see all the fans rockin’ the tartan and singing along to all the hits. He was not disappointed as the audience had their tartan scarves waving high as they swayed in their seats, singing along to all their childhood hits.

I loved that Scotland’s top set designer Karen Tennent brought back the nostalgic phone box, mail order catalogues and of course the transistor radio. It was a time where fans would gather around the radio listening to top of the pops eager waiting to see if their favourite band hit number one. Saturday nights was the time to watch it on telly, learn any new dance steps and sing at the top of our lungs.

This was definitely a huge hit for me, I love the Bay City Rollers music and they covered so many of their most popular songs, many bringing back memories of my younger years trying to catch up to my brothers who are both older than me. These included Bye, Bye Baby, Keep on Dancing (and prancing), Shang a-Lang and Summer Love Sensation. The musicians are awesome; but the drummer shone the most for me.

A little fact I found interesting was how they chose their name; they agreed upon the ‘Rollers’ but wanted something more catchy and ‘global’. Apparently they took a map of the USA and pinned it up and threw a dart at it. The first dart landed in Arkansas and they were not impressed, they decided to have another go and the dart landed near Bay City, Michigan. So, they had their name ‘BAY CITY ROLLERS’. But they are more commonly known for their tartan dress, platform shoes and cut off trousers!

Rating:  4/5

Tickets range from £25 – £39.50 and are available now from trafalgartickets.com/pavilion-theatre-glasgow

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