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There’s turning seventy‑five with a polite slice of Victoria sponge… and then there’s turning seventy‑five the Pitlochry Festival Theatre way: by calling in a trio of Scotland’s most recognisable exports and handing them the mic. Growing old tastefully no longer fits the theatre’s dynamic: it’s here to stir up momentum and energy. If there was ever any doubt that Pitlochry intends to mark its anniversary era with intent, ambition, and just a hint of theatrical audacity—consider that doubt dispelled.

When a theatre celebrates three‑quarters of a century, it might pop a wee retrospective on the programme or unveil a plaque. Pitlochry? They’re bringing Ewan McGregor, Sam Heughan, and Alan Cumming together for two nights of star‑powered, fireside‑style conversation. And honestly? It’s exactly the kind of joyous, community‑charged eccentricity Scottish theatre craves; and continues to show how Pitlochry is stepping into its new Artistic Directors’ vision with ambition.

On Sunday 26 July, Sam Heughan – Scotland’s favourite time‑travelled Highlander -sits down with Cumming to unravel the journey that carried him from early Scottish stages to Outlander megastardom. Expect reflections on graft, guts, and the gambles that transformed a talented lad from Dumfries and Galloway into an international screen presence. It’s the kind of event that doesn’t just scratch the itch of fans; it feeds the spirit of emerging performers watching someone who once stood where they stand now.

And because Heughan has never been shy about backing the next generation, the evening opens with a curtain‑raiser from the Pitlochry Festival Theatre Young Company—a gesture that feels symbolic and right. Here’s a celebration not only of star power but of the artists coming up behind it, the ones who might just be gracing these anniversary posters in a few decades.

Fast‑forward to Wednesday 29 July, and it’s Ewan McGregor’s turn to take the hot seat opposite Cumming. Few Scottish actors have careers as kaleidoscopic as McGregor’s – from the needle‑thin rawness of Trainspotting to intergalactic Jedi poise, from the musical frenzy of Moulin Rouge! to high‑intensity Hollywood blockbusters. Here lies the kind of conversation that promises more than glossy anecdotes: an exploration of technique, transformation, and what it means to sustain a global career while remaining unmistakably, fiercely Scottish.

And at the centre of these evenings—connecting, prodding, and teasing out the truths—is Alan Cumming, the theatre’s Artistic Director and a master of digging beneath the polite answers to the stories performers rarely get the chance to tell aloud. It’s hard to imagine a more fitting host for such a celebration: warm, quick-witted, and mischievously insightful, Cumming is the glue binding these evenings together.

But beyond the celebrity sparkle lies the heart of the matter. Pitlochry Festival Theatre isn’t indulging in starstruck theatrics for the sake of a birthday party. This is part of their 75th Anniversary Appeal—an ambitious fundraising campaign to safeguard the theatre’s future, champion new writing, uplift emerging artists, and keep the doors wide open for schools and communities who rely on this beacon in the Highlands. They’re aiming for £500,000 by the end of 2026, alongside doubling the number of Patrons and Members.

This isn’t just about marking the past: it’s about charging headlong into the next seventy‑five years with boldness and clarity. Pitlochry Festival Theatre has always been a place “like no other,” and what they’re building now is a continuation—not a reinvention—of that spirit. A theatre that sits among the hills yet echoes across the nation. A charity that never shies from the hard graft of making live performance accessible, relevant, and thrilling.

And hearing Cumming himself speak about these events, the excitement is tangible -trade-mark cheeky. For those keen to witness these rare conversations up close:
Priority booking opens 2 April, with general sale following on 16 April. Two nights. Two titans. One unmissable celebration of Scottish artistry and theatrical legacy.

Pitlochry Festival Theatre is lighting the beacons for its anniversary—and the signal is unmistakably, gloriously bright. If you ever needed an excuse to head north, consider this your sign.

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