Review: Prophets by Jack MacGregor at Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026 - not an easy watch, but worth it
- Lisa in the theatre
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Jack MacGregor's new work Prophets plays at Assembly Roxy at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe through Monday 31st August 2026. Read my review here.
Prophets by Jack MacGregor ★★★★☆
Review: 13 August 2026 | Edinburgh Fringe, Assembly Roxy (Boxy)
One of the most highly anticipated Scottish theatre premieres at this year's Edinburgh Fringe is Prophets by award-winning playwright Jack MacGregor. Already the winner of the 2026 ART Award from Assembly Festival - which is awarded annually to support new Scottish writing and creativity at the Edinburgh Fringe - Prophets has sold out for its entire run at the festival.
Kerris (Rebecca Wilkie) is a Scottish researcher who we meet just after she arrives at a remote British Overseas Territory, Saint John, to study the coral reefs. But as she gets to know one of the locals (Xander Cowan), Kerris uncovers something potentially more deadly. For the 48 inhabitants of the rocky outpost seem to be under the power of a religious cult and its mysterious leader.
MacGregor's writing is wonderful. He has such skill for storytelling, and here, in the claustrophobic Boxy venue of Assembly Roxy, he quickly builds a tense atmosphere out of nowhere. We know something sinister is going on almost immediately.
Both actors in Prophets deliver MacGregor's super-tight script and organic dialogue masterfully. Rebecca Willkie's earnest, intelligent protagonist Kerris makes for an intriguing guide for the audience to uncover the secrets of Saint John with. While Xander Cowan is impressive in multiple roles.
He transitions from a friendly, albeit cagey islander, to Kerris's boyfriend - whom she speaks with remotely - and finally to the intimidating, terrifying cult leader himself. Cowan is outstanding at every turn, and comparisons with Brando in Heart of Darkness will be inevitable (and deserved).
Emma Moran's set design is constrained by the minuscule floor space, yet she manages to invoke a sense of multiple locations with just a dust sheet, some plastic garden chairs and a humble pile of gravel. Fraser Scott masterfully directs the two actors; his creative use of hand-held torches smart and effective in further adding to the tense atmosphere. His attention to detail with the placement of the characters in every scene is exquisite.
I criticised a two-hander play last week for lack of theatre. Watching Prophets, I wanted to shout out "this!" "This is exactly what can be achieved by a savvy director. There are so many variations in lighting and tone, so much movement and drama and yes, theatre! No wonder Fraser Scott has also won awards for his work. This is a director to follow.
Jack MacGregor's Prophets is a heavier story than I expected; some of the themes are traumatic, and it definitely falls over into horror territory. (Never a bad thing for me.) However, there is room for expansion with this play. The rich characters and remote location are so fascinating that a deeper dive into their backstories would be welcome.
But as it is, in its 1-hour fringe format, Prophets is a fast-paced, explosive new play that's not an easy watch - but one which thoroughly entertains and showcases blistering young Scottish talent. ★★★★☆
Prophets is at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, at Assembly Roxy (Boxy) until Monday 31st August 2026
Read the Prophets announcement for Edinburgh Fringe here
Find all my Edinburgh Fringe coverage here: https://www.lisainthetheatre.com/edinburgh-fringe
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