The High Life Musical

The High Life, now reimagined as a musical, draws on the beloved BBC sitcom from the mid-1990s - a short-lived but much-loved comedy about the misadventures of a bumbling cabin crew at the fictional airline Air Scotia. The original TV series was created by and starred Alan Cumming and Forbes Masson, alongside Siobhan Redmond and Patrick Ryecart. In the 2026 stage version the four of them return to their roles, as their characters - older but still disorganised - try to keep their airline afloat. The musical’s book, script and lyrics are by Cumming, Masson and Johnny McKnight; music is by Masson with additional compositions by Cumming, and the production is directed by Andrew Panton.

The plot kicks off when Air Scotia is sold, and the crew must scramble to prove they are still “fit for purpose” or risk the airline being scrapped, prompting a comedic race to save their jobs, their friendships and their dignity.