Photo credit: Frederic Aranda
Following an intensive three-month recruitment and selection process, Pitlochry Festival Theatre has announced the appointment of actor, singer, writer, producer and director Alan Cumming as its new Artistic Director.
Forty years ago, Alan Cumming made his professional听theatre debut at the Tron Theatre in Glasgow. Thirty years ago, his听Hamlet听stormed the West End, and he was hailed as 鈥榓n actor knocking at the door of greatness鈥�. A quarter of a century ago, he was a sensation as听Cabaret鈥檚 Master of Ceremonies in a production that forever changed the Broadway landscape. A听decade ago, his visceral, virtually one-man听Macbeth听was a stunning, transatlantic coup de theatre.听His screen work ranges from art house to blockbuster, cult to mainstream.听Find out more at听.
Speaking of his appointment,听Alan Cumming听蝉补颈诲:
鈥淔or me, all roads lead to the theatre and all roads lead to Scotland. I am a theatre animal at heart and, like Robert Burns, my heart is in the Highlands. To become Pitlochry Festival Theatre鈥檚 Artistic Director is a homecoming I embrace with all my experience, all my passion and, yes, all my heart.
This Theatre is a hidden gem with the most amazing facilities and boundless possibilities, and I will invite the world鈥檚 best theatre artists here and showcase the best of Scotland鈥檚 thrilling theatrical legacy. I want Pitlochry Festival Theatre to be a home for everyone and to remain at the heart of the community. And, to quote Burns again, 鈥業 will dare to be honest and fear no labour鈥�. Above all, I cannot wait to share Pitlochry with the world, and the world with Pitlochry.鈥�
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Kris Bryce, Executive Director commented:
鈥淎t Pitlochry Festival Theatre, we believe in the transformative power of our work.听Since the moment we met, I have been completely won over by Alan鈥檚 passion 鈥� for theatre and for Scotland 鈥� by his energy and vision, and by his whole-hearted desire to join us as a steward of this very special place. Under his artistic leadership, I am confident we will continue to grow in our role as the nation鈥檚 most impactful producing theatre, delivering bold, innovative work that resonates with audiences here and right across the world. Through the power of storytelling, I know Alan will continue to gather people together to explore shared human concerns and to create experiences that inspire, engage and empower our communities. I am hugely excited to be working in partnership with him.鈥�
Crawford Gillies, Chair of Pitlochry Festival Theatre, added:
鈥淚 am delighted to welcome Alan as Pitlochry Festival Theatre鈥檚 new Artistic Director. Throughout the selection process, I was deeply impressed by his passion, vision and commitment to theatre and to the people of Scotland. His vast experience and strong leadership skills give me great confidence that, alongside Kris Bryce, he will take the Theatre to new heights, building on our legacy and continuing to grow our reputation locally and internationally. I would also like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Elizabeth Newman, whose six-year tenure as Artistic Director has been instrumental in positioning the Theatre where it is today. With Alan鈥檚 appointment, we continue to look forward to the brightest of futures.鈥�
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Elizabeth Newman, current Artistic Director said:
鈥淨uite simply, I cannot think of a better person to join Kris Bryce at the helm and write the next chapter of Pitlochry Festival Theatre鈥檚 story. Alan is an exceptional artist and an inspiring leader who will catapult the Theatre into new and exciting dialogues with artists and audiences here and around the world. I can鈥檛 wait to return to the Theatre in the future, as a member of the audience this time, to experience the impact of Alan鈥檚 artistic direction and the work of the world-class artists he will bring to Pitlochry.鈥�
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Alan Cumming will join Pitlochry Festival Theatre as Artistic Director from January 2025, with his programmed season beginning in 2026. As previously announced our Summer Season 2025 will include productions of听The Great Gatsby,听Grease,听The 39 Steps听and four new plays staged in the Theatre鈥檚 Studio. Elizabeth Newman鈥檚 last production as Artistic Director at Pitlochry Festival Theatre will be听The Sound of Music which runs from 15 November 鈥� 22 December 2024.