A new Scottish musical reimagines the story of one of the country’s most famous historical figures.
Wallace: A Musical combines rap, hip-hop, Scottish folk, pop and rock to explore the life and myths surrounding the 13th-century warrior.
The production has inevitably drawn comparisons with Hamilton, the Broadway phenomenon which transformed the story of American founding father Alexander Hamilton into a hip-hop musical.
Wallace asks how much we really know about William Wallace, and how much of the story passed down through generations is myth.
The musical has been written by award-winning Scottish playwright Rob Drummond, with music and lyrics by rapper Dave Hook, best known as a member of Scottish hip-hop group Stanley Odd and for his solo work as Solareye.
Directed by Orla O’Loughlin and produced by Glasgow-based Raw Material, the show first appeared in a shorter form at A Play, A Pie and A Pint at Òran Mór in Glasgow in September 2025.
That original hour-long production has now been developed into a full-scale musical for larger theatres.
The expanded Wallace opened at Beacon Arts Centre in Greenock on 23 September before performances at Glasgow’s Pavilion Theatre on 25 and 26 September.
It now heads to the newly refurbished King’s Theatre in Edinburgh, where it runs from Wednesday 30 September until Saturday 3 October, with further dates planned in Scottish theatres for 2027.
Wallace emerged as one of the leaders of Scottish resistance to Edward I of England and, alongside Andrew Moray, defeated an English army at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297.
He was eventually captured and taken to London, where he was executed for treason in 1305.
Much of the popular image of Wallace was created long after his death.
The 15th-century poem generally known as The Wallace, written by Blind Harry more than 150 years later, played a role in establishing his legend. The Wallace Monument was built on a hilltop overlooking Stirling during the Victorian era which saw a resurgence of Scottish national identity.
Mel Gibson’s 1995 Oscar-winning film Braveheart introduced another influential version of Wallace to a worldwide audience, while taking considerable liberties with the historical record.
For Wallace: A Musical, competing interpretations of Wallace and Scottish history collide through music, comedy and rap battles.
Drummond has said the story provides an opportunity to explore Scottish identity as much as Wallace himself.
He said: “I’m interested in what it means to be Scottish and whether national identity in any country does more harm than good.”
“We know what William Wallace means, we know the feeling of being proud to be Scottish.”
Hook believes hip-hop is particularly well suited to retelling stories from history: “Hip-hop is folk music with caps instead of cardigans.”
“Hip-hop is a black American art form but it is about local stories. It represents place, space and origins.”
Hook also appears in the six-strong cast as MC/Wallace alongside Kimberley Mandindo, Madeline Grieve, Ross Mann, Manasa Tagica and Patricia Panther.