The curtain lifts and spotlights stencil a saltire in the air to pick out the two male leads of Dundee Rep Theatre’s Sunshine on Leith, featuring the music of The Proclaimers. And a hobbit. 
Sunshine on Leith details the return of two young soldiers to their families in Leith (NOT Edinburgh) and the troubles that face all of them, from an ancient affair to new love, and the fear of venturing into the unknown.
At times taking itself too seriously, the production is nonetheless extremely entertaining and had some audience members dancing by the curtain call. Or yelping when kilts went flying on stage.
With 8 studio albums to play with, the temptation to stuff the show full of Proclaimers songs must have been huge, however the musical numbers are perfectly-spaced and not overused, while still managing to flesh out a somewhat unoriginal story-line.
There are several astonishing vocal performances, most notably from Ann Louise Ross (Jean) and Billy Boyd (Davy). The Dundee Rep has created a wild and vibrant piece of theatre that had you grinning for the majority of the performance. It is also a rare pleasure to hear so many Scottish accents singing in one place.
While mostly light-hearted, the production has its more resonant moments. An old woman walking through the dancing memory of her wedding day, as her husband lies in a hospital bed. Parents singing A Letter From America over their departing  daughter. A couple standing on the prow of a hill overlooking the whole of Edinburgh, with stars above and city lights below them.
The non-musical aspect is packed with quick and punchy wit, characteristic of writer Stephen Greenhorn, caustic but honest and just so Scottish. Sunshine on Leith is actually a raucous celebration of real life in Scotland, not gritty but still true.
I was surprised to find the show left me reflective. Seeing the predicament of some of the younger characters in the piece, afraid to leave their homes and step into the world, I wondered: do so many of us do the same, stay in a job or marriage or home just because we fear what’s out there, even if there’s something better waiting?
Then again, when we live in the land that birthed The Proclaimers, and Billy Boyd, and Stephen Greenhorn, where would we want to go?