Wednesday October 21st 2026
Local Midlothian writer Kari Hall (photo by Lisa Emily Petersen)
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Liam Eunson
Bonnyrigg writer Kari Hall has been nominated for the 2027 Scottish Theatre Awards following their debut Fringe performance centred around working life in Midlothian.
Kari Hall brought their first ever Fringe show, ‘Hame. Teeth. CLUB’, to this year’s 2026 festival writing a dark comedy that blends sharp humour and emotional honesty to explore the lasting impact of sexual assault against the backdrop of Dalkeith Miners Club.
Now, over two months since the festival ended, Kari has been nominated for the Best Play category at the prestigious awards. The awards celebrate performers, volunteers, directors, writers, technicians, and community champions who keep theatre thriving across the country. The awards aim to recognise not only outstanding productions and performances, but also the spirit of collaboration, inclusivity, and imagination that defines grassroots theatre in Scotland.
Hosted at the Double Tree by Hilton in Glasgow, Kari and their team are hoping to follow on the success after a stacked run at the Fringe.
Kari explained to the Midlothian View that the nomination was particularly meaningful because the play brought a story rooted in the local community to a wider audience.
“We’re super proud to have received the nomination for Best New Play from the Scottish Theatre Awards – especially at the Fringe festival, which is becoming less and less Scottish,” the team said.
“To also put such a specific story from the area of Dalkeith/Bonnyrigg on stage and bring it to an international audience has been so well received.”
The play explores themes of consent and accountability, with the team highlighting the importance of continuing these conversations through theatre.
“In a time where conversations around consent and accountability are still somewhat ‘debated’, it feels so important that this play is recognised and adds to that conversation, particularly at a community level,” they said.
For Kari, one of the most rewarding aspects of the Fringe was seeing local people connect with the story and recognise elements of their own lives on stage.
“My favourite part about Fringe was having people from the area who weren’t particularly interested in theatre, but seeing their lives and community represented on stage was honestly my highlight of the festival,” Kari said.
Hame. Teeth. CLUB at this years Edinburgh Festival Fringe
“It was a coming of age story that’s impact has spanned generations.”
The local connections even led to some unexpected encounters during the show’s run.
“Two women who I happened to stumble upon whilst flyering came along on a whim, then after the show realised they went to Dalkeith Miners Club with my parents back in the day,” Kari said.
“That was definitely a funny coincidence.”
The nomination marks a significant milestone for Kari and the team following their first Fringe production, with the recognition highlighting the role of community-led theatre in bringing local stories to wider audiences.
Hame. Teeth. CLUB is a one actor performance, centering around a girl named Morgan who is a hedonistic party girl who lives for her weekend s at Dalkeith Miner’s Club but after experiencing a sexual assault, she is forced to confront her lack of ambition; her personal chaos; and the emptiness that reans when you are believed but noone stands by your side.
Performed by Rhiannon Lucy Bird, her acting alongside Kari’s writing creates an interesting jumpy script that allows for the character to discuss something traumatic then jump straight into a joke with the plot often containing flashbacks.
Despite this, the plot still remains straightforward and easy to track with flashbacks only adding more depth to the story rather than taking away from the serious topics discussed.
The comedy arises from the characters and their relationships rather than the assault itself, allowing the production to tackle a difficult subject with warmth and authenticity.
Growing up in Bonnyrigg, Kari got into the arts late into her childhood around 15 years old, performing in theatre alongside writing. Craving a creative outlet when growing up, it was after a conversation with their teacher when they took the leap into the arts, completing an HND at college then making the move to London.
The Scottish Theatre Awards ceremony will take place at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Glasgow, where the team will find out whether Hame. Teeth. CLUB takes home the award for Best New Play.
Nominations close on 31 October, still giving you a chance to vote for Kari’s homegrown play.
You can nominate Hame. Teeth. CLUB here.
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