Following an intensive three-month recruitment and choice course of, Pitlochry Festival Theatre is delighted to announce the appointment of actor, singer, author, producer and director Alan Cumming as their new Artistic Director.
Forty years in the past, Alan Cumming made his skilled theatre debut on the Tron Theatre in Glasgow. Thirty years in the past, his Hamlet stormed the West End, and he was hailed as ‘an actor knocking at the door of greatness’. 1 / 4 of a century in the past, he was a sensation as Cabaret’sMaster of Ceremonies in a manufacturing that perpetually modified the Broadway panorama. A decade in the past, his visceral, nearly one-man Macbeth was a shocking, transatlantic coup de theatre. His display screen work ranges from artwork home to blockbuster, cult to mainstream. Find out extra at alancumming.com.
Speaking of his appointment, Alan Cumming stated:
“For me, all roads result in the theatre and all roads result in Scotland. I’m a theatre animal at coronary heart and, like Robert Burns, my coronary heart is within the Highlands. To turn out to be Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s Artistic Director is a homecoming I embrace with all my expertise, all my ardour and, sure, all my coronary heart.
This Theatre is a hidden gem with probably the most wonderful services and boundless potentialities, and I’ll invite the world’s finest theatre artists right here and showcase one of the best of Scotland’s thrilling theatrical legacy. I need Pitlochry Festival Theatre to be a house for everybody and to stay on the coronary heart of the neighborhood. And, to cite Burns once more, ‘I will dare to be honest and fear no labour’. Above all, I can not wait to share Pitlochry with the world, and the world with Pitlochry.”
Kris Bryce, Executive Director commented:
“At Pitlochry Festival Theatre, we believe in the transformative power of our work. Since the moment we met, I have been completely won over by Alan’s passion – for theatre and for Scotland – 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’s 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.”
Crawford Gillies, Chair of Pitlochry Festival Theatre, added:
“I am delighted to welcome Alan as Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s 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’s appointment, we continue to look forward to the brightest of futures.”
Elizabeth Newman, present Artistic Director stated: “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.”
Alan Cumming will be part of Pitlochry Festival Theatre as Artistic Director from January 2025, together with his programmed season starting in 2026. As beforehand introduced the Pitlochry Festival Theatre 2025 season will embody productions of The Great Gatsby, Grease, The 39 Steps and 4 new performs staged within the Theatre’s Studio. Elizabeth Newman’s final manufacturing as Artistic Director at Pitlochry Festival Theatre shall be The Sound of Music which runs from 15 November – 22 December 2024.
