After a rigorous three-month selection process, Pitlochry Festival Theatre has secured one of Scotland’s most versatile and celebrated talents, Alan Cumming, as its new Artistic Director. With a career spanning over four decades, the erstwhile US-based Cumming’s appointment is a bold stroke for the theatre and quite the surprise move.
Cumming’s pedigree is not in question, however. From his West End Hamlet which impressed critics, to the visceral, near-solo Macbeth that thrilled transatlantic audiences, Cumming has long been an actor who commands attention—and not just because of his towering performances.
His turn as the Emcee in Cabaret was a Broadway revolution, both artistically and socially, bringing fresh depth to an iconic role.
“For 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’s 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’s best theatre artists here and showcase the best of Scotland’s 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, ‘I will dare to be honest and fear no labour’. Above all, I cannot wait to share Pitlochry with the world, and the world with Pitlochry.“
Alan Cumming
Scottish audiences, however, may best remember Alan as Sebastian Flight in his and Forbe Masson’s delicious 1995 BBC Two Sitcom ‘The High Life’. Those with longer memories will remember the pair as beloved comedy double act ‘Victor and Barry’ born on Glasgow stages in the early 1980s. Cumming has been a creator as long as he’s been an actor.
His appointment isn’t, therefore, just a high-profile win for the theatre but a clear statement of intent. Pitlochry, often praised for its scenic location and strong programming, is stepping into a new era with Cumming at the helm. If his past work is any indication, we can expect daring choices, creative risk-taking, and productions that will likely challenge the boundaries of conventional theatre.
Cumming officially takes the reins in January 2025. For now, the theatre will continue with its 2025 season under the capable leadership of outgoing (and upwardly mobile) Artistic Director Elizabeth Newman. Highlights include productions of The Great Gatsby, Grease, The 39 Steps, and a selection of new plays. Newman’s swan song, a production of The Sound of Music, will no doubt echo with poignancy, even whilst anticipation for Cumming’s arrival builds.
“Quite simply, I cannot think of a better person to join Kris Bryce at the helm and write the next chapter of Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s 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’t wait to return to the Theatre in the future, as a member of the audience this time, to experience the impact of Alan’s artistic direction and the work of the world-class artists he will bring to Pitlochry.“
Elizabeth Newman, current Artistic Director
And why not be excited? With Cumming’s blend of blockbuster allure and indie sensibility, this is more than just another appointment—it’s the dawn of something new for Pitlochry Festival Theatre. Whatever comes next, one thing is clear: Cumming’s creative vision will not be one to fade into the Scottish mist. He will also have big shoes to fill, given Newman’s triumphant tenure in the post. Time will tell if his star power translates into comparable commercial and critical success. Bon chance Alan, may your transatlantic journey home be entirely devoid of dictators in hosiery.
Featured Image: Frederic Aranda
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