Pitlochry Festival Theatre has announced an exciting new festival, Out in the Hills, which is set to feature theatre, music, film, dancing, and much more. The festival will run from Friday 16th – Sunday 18th January, bringing some colour into the cold winter days and nights. This inaugural run of Out in the Hills is also one of the first programmed for Alan Cumming’s tenure as the theatre’s Artistic Director.
Performances at the Festival will include legendary screen and stage actor Ian McKellen starring in Equinox, a rehearsed reading of the brand new one man play by Laurie Slade and directed by Sean Mathias; author and acclaimed Scottish artist Juano Diaz will read from his powerful memoir Slum Boy, accompanied by world-renowned solo percussionist and composer Evelyn Glennie for a unique performance that will blend spoken word with improvised immersive sounds and visuals to create a bold, sensory journey unlike any other. Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s own Artistic Director Alan Cumming is set to lead a cast of six for Me and the Girls, a brand new stage adaptation by Neil Bartlett of Noel Coward’s 1964 short story.
Over the weekend there will also be a series of ‘in conversation’ events which will give audiences a chance to hear from well-loved figures including literary icons Armistead Maupin (author of the bestselling chronicles Tales of the City) and Jackie Kay (Red Dust Road), politician turned stand up comedian Mhairi Black talking to Broadcaster and Author Gemma Cairney, and the nation’s favourite chat show host, Graham Norton, who will bein conversation with Alan Cumming.
And whilst it might be dark outside, the whole building will be full of joy and light on the inside, featuring drop-in workshops for young people across the weekend, stand up, a queer ceilidh on the Friday night, and a DJ set from Junglehussi on Saturday evening.
Cumming had this to say about this thrilling new event –
“Out in the Hills is my first piece of new programming in 2026 as Artistic Director of Pitlochry Festival Theatre and I think it perfectly demonstrates the ethos I want to infuse all my work with here. We have a combination of big names as well as new faces and ideas, and I’m inviting the public to take a chance on new experiences as well as revel in those they already love.
Also, I love a party! Out in the Hills is a celebration of the amazing contributions the LGBTQIA+ community has made to all our lives. And, at a time in our history when the queer and trans community is once more under threat, this is a chance for everyone to come along and show solidarity and support and be part of a weekend of queer joy!”
One of the most notable names to join the packed line-up for this festival is of course the nation’s favourite late night host, Graham Norton who will be in conversation with Cumming on Saturday 17th January at 7pm, in the Festival Theatre’s auditorium. Norton had this to say about venturing up to Pitlochry to join the fun –
“When I left drama school almost forty years ago, the very first job that I didn’t get was at Pitlochry Festival Theatre. I went on to not get jobs at many other theatres, but Pitlochry holds a special place in my heart. I am delighted to finally be making my debut and in such stellar company.”
General sale opens on Monday 10th November at 10am, with a full list of events available on Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s website –
Theatre Scotland 