Pitlochry Festival Theatre's Lineup for 2026 Revealed, Featuring Alan Cumming in Star-Studded Productions
Alan Cumming has unveiled the lineup for Pitlochry Festival Theatre's 2026 season, marking his inaugural year as artistic director. The program coincides with the theater's 75th anniversary and features a diverse range of productions that showcase the talents of both established and emerging artists.
Cumming's own passion project is Henry Higgins in Lerner Loewe's "My Fair Lady," which he has directed alongside Maria Friedman. This will be a highlight of the festival, bringing his unique energy to the iconic role. In addition to this, other notable productions include "Once" directed by John Tiffany and choreographed by Steven Hoggett, as well as new plays like Martin Sherman's "I'll Be Seeing You," which stars Simon Russell Beale and Fra Fee.
Other shows will feature more established names, including Adura Onashile and Sandy Grierson in Douglas Maxwell's "Inexperience" alongside Scottish playwright Frances Ruffelle. The lineup also includes the UK premiere of "Ceilidh," directed by Sam Pinkleton, as well as a production of William Shakespeare's "King Lear" with Maureen Beattie and Forbes Masson.
Cumming has stated that his programming reflects his personal values, including a belief in dreaming big and the power of positivity. He has drawn inspiration from John Stewart, who founded Pitlochry Festival Theatre 75 years ago. The lineup promises to be an exciting celebration of theater, with a mix of classic shows and new works.
Priority booking for members and patrons begins on November 13, with public bookings opening on November 27.
Alan Cumming has unveiled the lineup for Pitlochry Festival Theatre's 2026 season, marking his inaugural year as artistic director. The program coincides with the theater's 75th anniversary and features a diverse range of productions that showcase the talents of both established and emerging artists.
Cumming's own passion project is Henry Higgins in Lerner Loewe's "My Fair Lady," which he has directed alongside Maria Friedman. This will be a highlight of the festival, bringing his unique energy to the iconic role. In addition to this, other notable productions include "Once" directed by John Tiffany and choreographed by Steven Hoggett, as well as new plays like Martin Sherman's "I'll Be Seeing You," which stars Simon Russell Beale and Fra Fee.
Other shows will feature more established names, including Adura Onashile and Sandy Grierson in Douglas Maxwell's "Inexperience" alongside Scottish playwright Frances Ruffelle. The lineup also includes the UK premiere of "Ceilidh," directed by Sam Pinkleton, as well as a production of William Shakespeare's "King Lear" with Maureen Beattie and Forbes Masson.
Cumming has stated that his programming reflects his personal values, including a belief in dreaming big and the power of positivity. He has drawn inspiration from John Stewart, who founded Pitlochry Festival Theatre 75 years ago. The lineup promises to be an exciting celebration of theater, with a mix of classic shows and new works.
Priority booking for members and patrons begins on November 13, with public bookings opening on November 27.
This line-up looks like it's gonna be fire 
! Alan Cumming as Henry Higgins is already giving me life 
. I love how the lineup's got a mix of old and new shows - you're gonna have your classic musicals, but also some fresh perspectives to boot 
. And let's give a shoutout to all the talented actors and directors involved 
. I'm hyped for the 2026 festival, can't wait to see what they've got in store! 
! Alan Cumming as artistic director is a dream come true - his passion project "My Fair Lady" sounds incredible, can't wait to see him bring his unique energy to the iconic role 
! And the rest of the lineup? Wow, from "Once" to Shakespeare's "King Lear", there's something for everyone 
!
. I mean, I'm excited that Alan Cumming is involved and all, but can't they find a way to make the productions more affordable? It's going to be a packed season with so many big names lined up. And 75 years old is still pretty young to retire, you know? Why not have some younger talent take center stage for once? 
Still, fingers crossed it'll be a great show!
. Love that they're focusing on positivity and big dreams in their programming 
. Fingers crossed priority booking goes quickly for members and patrons 
. Booking opening on Nov 27? Got my calendar marked 
. The fact that Cumming has put his own passion project in the lineup is a great move, and I think fans of "My Fair Lady" are gonna love seeing Alan bring Henry Higgins to life 
. Overall, it's looking like a pretty solid 2026 season - can't wait to see what they do! 
And it's amazing that they're doing a production of 'King Lear' too, Maureen Beattie and Forbes Masson are such talented actors 
. Don't get me wrong, he's an incredible talent and I love the guy for it, but can't we have something new here? 
. that's a lot of buzz! 
and have you seen the lineup for Once? that show alone will get me to Scotland next year 
, but what's the source on this info? Is it just a PR release from the theatre or are there actual reviews and articles that support these claims?
. Where's the concrete evidence that these shows will actually be any good? Have they been reviewed by reputable critics or is it all just based on word of mouth?