Alan Cumming, the acclaimed actor known for his work on stage, television, and film, has been announced as the new artistic director of Pitlochry Festival Theatre in Scotland. The actor, who hails from Perthshire, will take up his post in January but will not program any work until 2026.
Cumming, 59, who was born in Aberfeldy, has a long history in the world of theatre, having trained at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and made his stage debut 40 years ago. He has appeared in a variety of productions, including the National Theatre of Scotland’s Bacchus and Macbeth, as well as the BBC Scotland comedy series The High Life and films such as Goldeneye and X-Men 2.
The appointment of Cumming as artistic director comes after an intensive three-month recruitment and selection process. Cumming expressed his excitement about the role, describing it as a “homecoming” to a “hidden gem.” He pledged to invite the “world’s best theatre acts” to perform at the theatre and to make it a home for everyone in the community.
Pitlochry Festival Theatre, established in 1951, is Scotland’s largest building-based producing theatre, drawing over 100,000 visitors annually. The theatre’s chairman, Crawford Gillies, expressed his confidence in Cumming’s leadership skills and vision for the future of the theatre.
Cumming’s appointment has been met with praise from departing artistic director Elizabeth Newman, who believes he will bring new and exciting dialogues with artists and audiences to the theatre. Cumming’s passion for theatre and his ties to the Scottish theatre community make him a fitting choice for the role.
As Cumming prepares to take on his new role in January, theatre enthusiasts are eager to see how he will shape the future of Pitlochry Festival Theatre and continue to champion the arts in Scotland.
