Spotlight on the Scottish Opera/Alex Reid
Scottish Opera is Scotland’s national opera company and the largest performing arts organisation in Scotland. The Company was founded in 1962 by Sir Alexander Gibson ‘to lay the treasures of opera at the feet of the people of Scotland’.
The costumes we have on display from Scottish Opera have all been designed by the talented Alex Reid. A prominent costume designer for Scottish Opera and various theatrical productions throughout his career.
He studied at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design in Dundee and later at Dundee College of Education. He began his career as an apprentice theatrical costumier and property maker, which laid the foundation for his future work in costume design.
In the late 1960s Reid became the in-house costume designer for Scottish Opera working on productions such as Mary, Queen of Scots and La Traviata. Reid travelled to the USA to oversee the use of the costume at the American premier of Mary, Queen of Scots, in Norfolk, Virginia.
After a decade in Glasgow, Reid accepted a post as lecturer at Liverpool, which allowed him to work in Stratford at the National Theatre, English National Opera and The Royal Shakespeare Company.
Reid’s work at Stratford and The Barbican saw him nominated in 1985 for Broadway’s Tony Awards.
In 1992 after a period of ill health Reid retired to Scotland, yet continued to work for Pitlochry Festival Theatre, and came out of retirement to design the revival of La Traviata.
Alex Reid sadly passed away in 2002, but his legacy in costume design continues to be celebrated, particularly in the realm of opera and theatre. His work has left a lasting impact on the industry, influencing future generations of costume designers.
We are delighted to host several costumes designed by Alex Reid from Scottish Opera within our Curtain Call Exhibition.
- Mary Queen of Scots, Mary Queen of Scots – Composed by Thea Musgrave worn by Katherine Wilson (1977)
- Lord Ruthven, Mary Queen of Scots – Composed by Thea Musgrave worn by John Robertson (1977)
- Flora, La Traviata worn by Michelle Walton (1998)
“Alex Reid’s work represents an extraordinary chapter in Scotland’s theatrical history. His designs combine technical skill with deep storytelling, and we’re proud to celebrate his lasting legacy through the costumes on display in Curtain Call.”
- Gareth Jackson-Hunt
Museum Services Manager
Looking to find out more about Mary, Queen of Scots? There are two amazing exhibitions happening with the Fife & Perth Area that you are not going to want to miss.
Perth Museum –
St John’s Place, Perth
Perth Museum is a world-class cultural and heritage attraction that highlights the fascinating objects and stories that put Perth and Kinross at the centre of Scotland’s story.
Currently the ‘The Last Letter of Mary, Queen of Scots’ is on display at Perth Museum, having left the National Library of Scotland’s secure storage facilities for the first time in a generation. Written in the early hours of 8th February 1587, just moments before her execution at Fotheringhay Castle. This marks the longest period the letter has been on public view in more than 20 years, and for the first time it is displayed north of Edinburgh in modern history.
This precious piece of history remains at Perth Museum until 26th April 2026, admission FREE.
For more information on this FREE exhibition head over to the Perth Museum website today. - The Last Letter of Mary, Queen of Scots - Perth Museum
Wardlaw Museum
St Andrews, Fife
The Wardlaw Museum takes visitors inside the University of St Andrews, with four thematic galleries on the University’s groundbreaking research and global impact.
The museum showcases the university’s extraordinary art, history, science and natural history collections.
Currently they have their ‘War, Destruction and Reform: The Early Years of Mary, Queen of Scots’ exhibition on display, admission FREE, until the 20th September 2026.
This exhibition looks at the early years of Mary, Queen of Scots life and explores the hidden histories of the war and battles Scotland faced during this time.
If you would like to find out more about The Wardlaw Museums ‘War, Destruction and Reform: The Early Years of Mary, Queen of Scots’ FREE exhibition, head over to their website today! - War, Destruction and Reform – The Early Years of Mary Queen of Scots
