Locked in thought theatre company
An Edinburgh based theatre company with a powerhouse of talent focusing on new, innovative thought provoking theatre by emerging Scottish writers.
About us
Founded by James Cumming (pictured right), Locked In Thought is an emerging theatre company based in Edinburgh championing new and exciting writing, as well as exploring relevant established works.
We made our successful debut at the Edinburgh Fringe with our show ‘Intrusion’ which was written by James. We also recently performed ‘Reasons To Be Pretty’ by Neil LaBute at the Assembly Roxy. The company is now preparing for Fringe 2026 and putting on a completely original play by Ryan Lithgow called The Powerpop Girls: A New Diva Religion.
We are always on the lookout for new people to join! We work with new directors, writers, actors producers all the time. If you are interested in working with us or just want to reach out for whatever reason, please fill in the contact sheet below, we’d love to hear from you. We will be casting for our end of year show after Fringe, so keep your eyes peeled on our casting section. To keep up to date with everything please follow us on our socials too.
We hope to work with you soon!
Locked In Thought Team
who we are
Watch this video by Helios Media to give you an idea of what our company is all about and what we stand for.
Fringe show 2026 - The Powerpop girls: A New Diva religion
A camp, hilarious, silly, yet meaningful and poignant show about belonging and friendship through the worshipping of Pop Divas. Written by Ryan Lithgow and directed by Coco Shogler. Come along!
Casting opportunities
Check back here for any casting announcements. We will be posting our casting calls here after Fringe.Work with us
Want to work with us? Have a play you want put on? Or just want to reach out? Fill in the contact form below and we’ll get back to you when we can.
Our Past Shows
Intrusion
A happy couple on their anniversary. An unwelcome visitor. A bombshell that changes everything. An original play by James Cumming, Intrusion is all about the past catching up with us and dealing with the consequences.
“An impressive piece of theatre from this emerging company. Full of intrigue and suspense from the outset" — FringeReview
“With a puzzle of a plotline, well-defined characters and emotional tension performed in a speedy 50 minutes, it has all the ingredients of a prime-time TV crime drama’ — Edinburgh Guide
“The performances are superb and the production is of a very high quality. For a debut piece of theatre, Intrusion is an impressive feat.” — Binge Fringe
Edinburgh Fringe 2025
Reasons To be pretty
Follow four friends as they grapple with love, lust, and failing relationships, navigating a world where being "pretty" carries more weight than it should. The play serves as a raw dissection of vanity, insecurity, and the fragile mirrors we use to define our self-worth
“Reasons To Be Pretty brings fine acting to Neil LaBute’s complex interrogation of social expectations and interpersonal trust” —All Edinburgh Theatre
“This new company has tackled a complex piece and has done it justice as its effect was emotional and vastly relatable on multiple levels. I hope the company runs it again in the future as it should be seen and seen again.” — A Young(ish) Perspective
Assembly Roxy 2026
Why join?
Our team is constantly changing and evolving. We pride ourselves on being welcoming and inclusive to new people wanting to join. Everyone is welcome to be part of the company. Whether you want to act, direct, produce, do tech or submit a script, we welcome you all!
We create stories that matter and that resonate with people. Our aim is to spark conversations and create unapologetic theatre. If you want to be part this theatre then Locked In Thought is the company for you!
