Pitlochry Festival Theatre is limbering up the ankles and clearing the floor, because this October the town’s in for a stoater. The UK première of CEILIDH, a new musical steeped in Scotland’s favourite communal chaos ritual, will take over Pitlochry Town Hall from 7–17 October — and it’s arriving with some serious creative heft behind it.
At the helm is Sam Pinkleton, the Tony Award-winning director–choreographer whose resume swings from Broadway’s Oh, Mary! to the glitter-soaked antics of The Rocky Horror Show. Now he’s turning his attention to something far closer to home: the kind of night where the band’s too loud, the floorboards are trembling, and you’re guaranteed to be flung into the arms of a stranger before the second reel.
CEILIDH forms part of Alan Cumming’s inauguralseason as Artistic Director — a milestone year marking the Theatre’s 75th anniversary. And if Cumming’s tenure is about celebrating Scottish culture with a wink, a whirl, and a dram, then this production feels like a mission statement.
The show invites audiences to step into the heart of a tradition older than half the buildings in America: a gathering where stories are swapped, songs are shared, and the dancing is mandatory. Led by a caller with the patter and a folk band with the stamina, CEILIDH promises a night of music, memory, and merriment. But beneath the and Strip the Willows, a family story quietly unfurls – one of love, legacy, and why this particular night matters more than most.
Behind the script and score are Scott Gilmour and Claire McKenzie, the award-winning duo known collectively as Noisemaker. If you’ve caught their work on Oor Wullie or SCOTS, you’ll know to expect a cocktail of irreverence, heart, and a distinctly Scottish swagger. CEILIDH looks set to follow suit: a celebration of community, culture, and the simple magic of gathering together – something we’re all still learning not to take for granted.
Cumming has also stacked the cast with young Scottish talent, a necessary choice for a show about passing stories down the line. It’s a nod to the future in a year that’s honouring the past.
Produced by Pitlochry Festival Theatre in special arrangement with Grove Entertainment, Barbara Whitman and Trafalgar Theatre Productions, CEILIDH is shaping up to be one of the season’s most spirited offerings of the year. And let’s be honest – if ever there was a time for a communal knees-up, it’s now.
Tickets are on sale to members now, with general booking opening Monday 13th April at 10am. For details, visit pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com or phone the box office on 01796 484626.
Interested in being featured on our Have a Gander page? With many previews and Q&As lined up, we’re always happy to chat about including your show in future articles. Please do get in touch through the contact page to feature in an upcoming ‘Have A Gander’
Photo credit – Matt Murphy
Review by Dominic Corr – contact@corrblimey.uk
Editor for Corr Blimey, and a freelance critic for Scottish publications, Dominic has been writing freelance for several established and respected publications such as BBC Radio Scotland, The List, The Scotsman, Edinburgh Festival Magazine, The Reviews Hub, In Their Own League, The Wee Review and Edinburgh Guide. As of 2023, he is a member of the Critic’s Award for Theatre Scotland (CATS) and a member of the UK Film Critics.
