Reviews
A Highland Song (Videogame), 2023
The Edge Awards 2023:
Best Performer Runner Up
MJ Deans for Moira in A Highland Song
"It’s a good thing that I was never upset to be stuck with Moira, who is a delightful character brought to life with some exceptional writing and voice acting."
- escapistmagazine.com, Brad Lang
"But as young Moira McKinnon, MJ Deans is delightful company across her rambling journey through the Scottish Highlands. Pivoting from wise-beyond-her-years observations to adolescent sulks that remind you she's still only a child, Deans make each and every mood swing, however sharp, feel wholly authentic."
- Edge Magazine, Issue 393
"...It's hard not to share Moira's satisfaction as she celebrates with a gleeful 'yaass!'... ...your heart aches for Moira when she worries aloud that she's going to die out here..."
- Edge Magazine, Issue 392
"Moira is a delight to listen to. Getting to hear her anecdotes about herself and her family are great, and even her outcries as she’d drop and hurt herself because of my mistakes really illustrated her personality.
— siliconera.com, Jenni Lada
"Moira speaks occasionally throughout the journey in a conversational, trusting tone, the way a young adolescent might write in a journal or confide in a school friend. She’s funny and insightful... The experience is made all the better thanks to great voice acting."
— punishedbacklog.com, Amanda Tien
Stornoway Quebec (Stage), 2023
The National, 9th of April, Mark Brown
“It boasts fine performances from the young duo of MJ Deans..."
The Scotsman, 12th of April, Joyce McMillan
“Uillemina, the inn-keeper's wife, powerfully played by MJ Deans..."
There are strong performances from the five-strong cast too... ...While Sam James Smith and MJ Deans impress respectively as..."
- The Stage, 5th April, Fergus Morgan
"Deans carries key moments of this production with potency..."
- Theatre Scotland, 7th April, Hannah Cook
“Uillemina, possibly the most complex character in the play is brought to life by MJ Deans... ..sound design maintains the theme with Gaelic Song (beautifully delivered by MJ Deans)"
- AllEdinburghTheatre, 10th April, Allan Wilson
Rocket Post (Stage), 2022 & 2017
"The cast (David Rankine, MJ Deans and Ailie Cohen) have a magnetism that draws you in and keeps you enthralled. Utterly, utterly charming..."
- Glasgow Theatre Blog, 26th of October 2022
"Performed by David Rankine, MJ Deans and designer Ailie Cohen, Rocket Post has a stellar trio leading the performance from conception to finale."
- Corr Blimey, 31st of October 2022, Dominic Corr
“The story’s young heroine, Bellag, beautifully played by MJ Deans..."
- The Scotsman, 25th of September 2017, Joyce McMillan
