Launch 'ambush stunt' for Restless Natives - The Musical results in cash boost for our work

Rabbie’s donates to Keep Scotland Beautiful after their tour bus on way to the brand-new Scottish stage and musical production was 'ambushed'.

A Rabbie’s Tours bus full of influencers, media, and their guests had an unexpected encounter on their way to Perth Theatre from Edinburgh — as the cast of Restless Natives: The Musical staged a playful ‘hold-up’ in true rebellious spirit, celebrating the launch of the brand-new Scottish stage production.

Based on the beloved 1985 Scottish cult film two boys from a joke shop become "Highland highwaymen," cheekily holding up tour buses. As a playful nod to that, the cast of the musical staged their own "hold-up" of the Rabbie’s bus on arrival in Perth - complete with masks, costumes, and plenty of mischief.

Instead of passengers paying ransom, Rabbie’s Tours stepped in with a giant cheque - a £2,500 donation to us to help keep Scotland beautiful.

Barry Fisher, our CEO said, “While we don’t normally condone holding up tour buses and visitors to our beautiful country, we are absolutely thrilled to have been selected by Rabbie’s Tours to receive the ransom money from this Restless Natives stunt.  We desperately need a sustained injection of cash to inspire and celebrate the efforts of communities across Scotland who volunteer their time to make the places they care about cleaner and greener.  I guess we’re all restless natives, trying to make Scotland a more beautiful place – from our rural beauty spots to our towns and cities.

“The impact this £2,500 donation from Rabbie’s Tours will have is immeasurable. We’ll invest it in coordinating our Climate and Nature Friendly Communities Network – supporting and inspiring action on the ground and recognising achievements of 200+ groups across the country.”

The cheeky stunt marked the opening week of Restless Natives: The Musical, which runs at Perth Theatre from Thursday 24 April to Saturday 10 May before heading out on a Scottish tour, visiting venues including Leith Theatre (Edinburgh), Macrobert Arts Centre (Stirling), His Majesty’s Theatre (Aberdeen), Eden Court Empire Theatre (Inverness), and King’s Theatre (Glasgow).

Produced and directed by the same team behind the 1985 original film, and co-produced by Perth Theatre, Restless Natives: The Musical brings the story of Ronnie and Will -Highland highwaymen turned folk heroes - to a new generation. Featuring iconic music inspired by Big Country, and a book by original creators Ninian Dunnett, Michael Hoffman, and Andy Paterson alongside composer Tim Sutton, the musical celebrates Scotland’s rebellious, resourceful spirit.

Ninian Dunnett, Restless Natives writer and lyricist said, “I’m a big, big fan of Keep Scotland Beautiful. Our glorious landscape and community mean so much to the story of Restless Natives, and I’m thrilled that our musical caper can help support their invaluable work.”

Tour buses are at the heart of the Restless Natives story, and Rabbie’s share that same love for exploring Scotland’s hidden gems. Choosing Rabbie’s - Scotland’s leading small-group tour company - as a partner for this launch wasn’t just a fun idea; it was a perfect fit!  Their commitment to responsible travel, local storytelling, and showcasing Scotland’s character made them the ideal accomplice in bringing this iconic moment back to life - with a twist for today.

Hazel Rickett - CEO - Rabbie's Tours said, "We love working with Keep Scotland Beautiful, as their mission reflects one of our core values that sits at the heart of everything we do: care about there. At Rabbie’s, we believe travel should help make the world better - not just for today, but for future generations. That’s why we follow a leave no trace policy on our 16-seater tours - it’s up to all of us to play our part in preserving the integrity of our beautiful countryside."

The landscapes featured in Restless Natives are the same ones we proudly share with our passengers - wild, breathtaking, and deeply loved. By supporting Keep Scotland Beautiful, we’re helping to protect those places so they remain that way for years to come." 

This feel-good, full-hearted stunt captured the rebellious joy of Restless Natives - proves that a little bit of mischief can make a big difference.

 Tickets are on sale now for Restless Natives.