Alan Cumming leads Scottish musical theatre renaissance with Pitlochry season

Alan Cumming, who serves as the artistic director of Pitlochry Festival Theatre, is set to star in The High Life: The Musical at the National Theatre of Scotland. In 2026, he will feature in three musicals, surpassing his entire past career, including performances in The History of Paper and My Fair Lady at Pitlochry. His first season kicks off with Once, directed by John Tiffany at the behest of former Bond producer Barbara Broccoli. This acclaimed show, which garnered eight Tony Awards and enjoyed a three-year Broadway run, has not been performed in Scotland until now. Meanwhile, new musicals are emerging across the country, such as The Lee Jeans Musical, which recounts a 1981 sit-in at the Greenock factory, and Colin MacIntyre's project on the Battle of Culloden. Co-directors Gillian Garritty and Margaret-Anne O'Donnell highlight Scotland's rich tradition of folk music and storytelling, noting that musicals require time and resources. Forbes Masson, co-creator of The High Life, is also working on new productions, including a pantomime at Cumbernauld Theatre and revivals of earlier works like Mince. Cumming stresses the importance of sufficient funding, asserting that support leads to better artistic outcomes.