Writer: D.C. Jackson
Director: Johnny McKnight
Can a strong cast save a story that keeps going round in circles? Johnny McKnight’s direction gives D.C. Jackson’s My Romantic History a lively start at the Tron Theatre, and with Julie Wilson Nimmo among the cast, there’s every reason to expect a smart, funny Scottish rom-com. For a while, it delivers exactly that. But the play eventually loses its momentum.
The story follows Tom and Amy as an office romance develops almost by accident, with the action shown from both of their perspectives. That structure works well at first, because it lets the audience see how badly both characters misunderstand their own situation. The early scenes are full of sharp jokes, awkward office politics and the painfully familiar awkwardness of hanging on to first love.
The problem is that the joke starts to wear thin. Once the back-and-forth perspective has been established, the play doesn’t seem to have much new to say. The pace drops, and the second half begins to feel repetitive. Instead of building towards something bigger, it keeps circling the same emotional ground.
The performances are what keep it afloat. Lewie Watson and Rebecca Wilkie give Tom and Amy real warmth and conviction, while Julie Wilson Nimmo is excellent in a series of quick, funny supporting roles. McKnight keeps the production moving with energy, and the staging has a strong, distinctly Glasgow feel.
Kenny Miller’s set and costume design also do a lot to lift the production visually. But even with a talented team in every department, the script eventually runs out of steam. It’s a well-acted show with plenty going for it, but one that finishes with more promise than payoff.
Runs until 13 June 2026 | Image: Mihaela Bodlovic
