Pitlochry Festival Theatre

The Pitlochry Festival Theatre is a large performing arts venue in the Highland town of Pitlochry. It sits on a hillside site in the Knockendarroch area, surrounded by wooded slopes and the River Tummel. The theatre began as a tent in 1951 after John Stewart, a Glasgow amateur dramatics promoter, could not get a permanent licence. For thirty years plays were performed under canvas until a permanent building opened on the same spot in 1981. Alan Cumming has been artistic director since taking over from Leon Sinden, who spent eight seasons on stage here. The theatre matters because it created the summer repertory season in Britain. Every year thousands travel to see several plays in quick succession, something the theatre says no other UK house attempts. Past seasons have featured Chicago, J. M. Barrie’s Quality Street and Rona Munro’s The Last Witch. In 2025 the long-running rep format will end, replaced by shorter runs followed by tours. The Leon Sinden Awards, voted by audiences, recognise the best supporting performances each summer. Inside, the foyer was refurbished in 2022 and a new 175-seat studio space added. Outside, an amphitheatre and bandstand were improved during closure years. The surrounding slopes and river offer quiet walks before or after performances. The setting remains uncluttered, letting the plays and the landscape speak for themselves.