From the deerstalker to the séance. Arthur Conan Doyle’s last novel was intended to convert readers to spiritualism and help avert the apocalypse, but has bewildered publishers and readers ever since. I spoke to Prof Christine Ferguson to find out more: www.thenational.scot/culture/2656...

From séances to print: The strange journey of a lost Conan Doyle chapter

YOU’VE surely heard of Sherlock Holmes, but what of The Land Of Mist? Over a century after his creation, Arthur Conan Doyle’s deerstalker-clad…

thenational.scot

Somehow we sold out the entire run of Prophets. Unbelievable. Totally blown away by the response.

This was an all timer interview. Absolute pleasure speaking to The Skinny about Prophets... we open tonight!!!

The Skinny@theskinnymag.bsky.social · 2mo ago

"People are seeking alternative models of belief to anchor their worldview. This is what cult offers – certainty" Scottish playwright Jack MacGregor brings new play PROPHETS to #EdFringe – read our interview www.theskinny.co.uk/festivals/ed... @jmacr.bsky.social

Prophets opens tomorrow 👁🌊🔪🪸 So grateful for this team. I have loved working alongside them. PROPHETS @assemblyroxy @assemblyfest 17:45 August 5 - 31st

Just some grass

We have sold 75% of the tickets for our run of PROPHETS at the Edinburgh Fringe. I'm so blown away by the support we've had. We open this week. I'm so nervous about it. Really struggle with this part, the first few shows, but I'm so grateful for everyone who made it possible. Can't thank folk enough

So blown away to say this but we have now sold more than 50% of the whole run for PROPHETS! We've got plenty sold out shows and still a week before we open. Get your tickets below!

Okay, so with seemingly no prospect of a job anytime soon whatever I do or say, I am once again asking: For freelance RA work suitable for a contemporary historian, for research and writing, for journalism… which I already do on a regular basis as a newspaper columnist…

"Oh but you used to be able just inherit a seat from your dad and we got rid of that so its fair now, and modern" what are you talking about it, look at it. Look

Grateful to @scotnational.bsky.social for this personal profile where I somehow get to mention Bioshock, Frightened Rabbit, and my doomed pipe dream of an independent Highlands & Islands. www.thenational.scot/news/2625365...

Writer Jack MacGregor on the 10 things that changed his life

Writer Jack MacGregor speaks to Nan Spowart about the 10 things that changed his life ...

thenational.scot

Prophets lightwork 👁

"What happens when you put that kind of power, that kind of certainty, on a tiny island of 48 people?" Check out our interview with Jack MacGregor & Fraser Scott ahead of 'Prophets' at #EdFringe ➡️ www.bingefringe.com/2026/06/22/i...

Really loved the chance to talk with @bingefringemag.bsky.social about Prophets. A killer headline too. Very on-brand. I actually love writing plays so much lmao www.bingefringe.com/2026/06/22/i...

TravFest26 is growing! We're delighted to expand our August activities with an award-winning new play, along with a series of artist events that deepen our celebration of new writing. Find out more about these additions to the programme by heading to the Traverse website!

Join us on Monday 24 Aug, 16:00-17:30 for a reading of FOIL, the new play by this year’s IASH-Traverse Creative Fellow Jack MacGregor @jmacr.bsky.social 🤺 www.traverse.co.uk/whats-on/eve... We’ll advertise for the 2027 Fellowship later this summer!

Traverse Theatre@traversetheatre.bsky.social · 3mo ago

TravFest26 is growing! We're delighted to expand our August activities with an award-winning new play, along with a series of artist events that deepen our celebration of new writing. Find out more about these additions to the programme by heading to the Traverse website!

Total Scottish culture spending fell by 33% between 2013 and 2025, from 1.12% of all local and national expenditure to 0.75%, according to campaign group Culture Counts’ new long view dataset on the country’s public investment in the arts.

Exclusive: Extent of cuts to Scottish arts spending laid bare by new tracker - Arts Professional

Total Scottish culture spending fell by 33% between 2013 and 2025, from 1.12% of all local and national expenditure to 0.75%, according to campaign group

artsprofessional.co.uk

Totally thrilled to see PROPHETS as one of The Herald's picks of the Fringe, brilliant company to be in on this fantastic list of new shows coming this August. Thanks @brianjaffa.bsky.social for the support!!! www.heraldscotland.com/news/2615160...

12 of the most intriguing Scottish shows to seek out at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Audiences will have more than 3600 shows to choose from when the world's biggest arts festival returns in August.

heraldscotland.com

Join Dr Helen Shutt and playwright Jack MacGregor (@jmacr.bsky.social) to celebrate the release of "Playwriting and the Craft of Audience Participation" (@universitypress.cambridge.org) on Thurs 18 June at 5pm. 📖🎭 helenshuttbooklaunch.eventbrite.co.uk

Book Launch: "Playwriting and the Craft of Audience Participation"

Join us for this book launch featuring author Dr Helen Shutt in conversation with playwright Jack MacGregor.

helenshuttbooklaunch.eventbrite.co.uk

Poster reveal for my new play PROPHETS, winner of the 2026 ART Award ASSEMBLY ROXY, 5-31 AUG (17:45) When a researcher travels to an isolated British Overseas Territory in the South Pacific, she finds the island and its inhabitants under the control of a secretive cult.

a lovely weekend in the far north, a roadtrip across deep scotland and up to Dunnet to catch the book launch (and 70th birthday) of George Gunn, poet, playwright, Caithness Ossian, hosted by Lyth Arts centre. Accompanied by @iashedinburgh.bsky.social colleagues Anna and Elsie. Many laughs were had.

The changing of the seasons is marked by ancient rituals: I’m searching for freelance/consultancy/ research work. I’m a social historian by profession, a very experienced researcher and oral history interviewer. I’m also a published writer and a public history journalist. Surely, I am employable…

At the start of April, we announced new Standard Play Contract Rates for playwrights in Scotland, negotiated with our friends at the Federation of Scottish Theatre. These went into effect immediately, and more info can be found through the link in our bio. #playwright #scottishplaywrights #fst #ssp

A glimpse of my new play 'FIREWORK' was performed the other week in Glasgow, which for a play about an arsonist felt pretty appropriate. My fantastic actor Briony Martha was burning down the house and the extract was a big hit with the audience. Photos taken by Jack Young / Type 40 Photography 📷👁️🔥

Jack MacGregor@jmacr.bsky.social · 6mo ago

"I think it doesn’t matter what people say after a thing has happened. It’s the nature of transformation - one state to another. Irreversible." Will be presenting an extract of my new Glasgow-set solo play "Firework" on April 8th. Link to tickets below: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ill-scratc...

"I think it doesn’t matter what people say after a thing has happened. It’s the nature of transformation - one state to another. Irreversible." Will be presenting an extract of my new Glasgow-set solo play "Firework" on April 8th. Link to tickets below: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ill-scratc...

I'll Scratch Yours 4

I’ll Scratch Yours is back for a fourth helping of new writing, made fresh in Glasgow’s theatre oven!

eventbrite.co.uk

Thrilled to announce that my new play Prophets will be at Assembly Roxy this year and has been given the 2026 ART Award, platforming Scottish new writing at the Edinburgh Fringe. Tickets on-sale soon. Would love to see you in August 👁

Some recent photos showing off the weight loss. 42 lbs / 19kg down in 4 and a half months. Got a wee bit more to go but it's been really nice to feel better in my own body for a change.

Huge honour to be on a panel talking about theatre in Scotland and Japan, specifically site specific work, thanks to @scottishopera.bsky.social UoE and the Japanese Consulate. Brilliant keynote lecture from scenographer Junpei Kiz about his production of The Mahabharata at Avignon Festival 2014

I should also say that we are partnered with @creativescots.bsky.social Crowdmatch! Meaning that every donation will be matched by them! For example - if you give us £20 it will become £40 so even small amounts will add up. Thanks a million to everyone who has shared and donated so far!

Jack MacGregor@jmacr.bsky.social · 8mo ago

PROPHETS is about Kerris, a researcher from Scotland who travels to a remote British Overseas Territory in the South Pacific Ocean. Upon arrival, she finds the colonial outpost in the thrall of a growing religious cult. It's an intimate pychological drama about faith and the limits of justice.

Jack is the real deal, a great writer and lovely person. Do consider supporting if you can.

Jack MacGregor@jmacr.bsky.social · 8mo ago

Thrilled to announce my next play PROPHETS which we plan to debut at the Edinburgh Fringe 2026. Sadly it's really expensive to do the Fringe and we are a group of independent artists so we're launching a Crowdfunder to help get us there. Please share widely if you can support please do.

Jack is a writer of real political scope and ambition, who sees the human within big geopolitical narratives - a global outlook that is a shot in the arm to the at times parochial tendencies of our theatre, a vital part of the future (and present moment!) of Scottish new writing. Please support!

Jack MacGregor@jmacr.bsky.social · 8mo ago

Thrilled to announce my next play PROPHETS which we plan to debut at the Edinburgh Fringe 2026. Sadly it's really expensive to do the Fringe and we are a group of independent artists so we're launching a Crowdfunder to help get us there. Please share widely if you can support please do.