Scotland


<p>Something’s afoot on Scotland’s stages. After all, it’s not every year that a renowned Hollywood actor takes over the creative direction of a theatre in Scotland. And a rural theatre at that. </p>



<p>Writing in <em>The Guardian</em>, Libby Brooks described Alan Cummings’ new role as Artistic Director of Pitlochry Festival Theatre as coming at a time of “soaring confidence for Scottish theatre”.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/Out-in-the-Hills-Alan-Cumming-Photo-by-Tommy-Ga-Ken-Wan-DSC_8592-2-1-1024x683.jpg" alt="Alan Cumming" class="wp-image-2369" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/Out-in-the-Hills-Alan-Cumming-Photo-by-Tommy-Ga-Ken-Wan-DSC_8592-2-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/Out-in-the-Hills-Alan-Cumming-Photo-by-Tommy-Ga-Ken-Wan-DSC_8592-2-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/Out-in-the-Hills-Alan-Cumming-Photo-by-Tommy-Ga-Ken-Wan-DSC_8592-2-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/Out-in-the-Hills-Alan-Cumming-Photo-by-Tommy-Ga-Ken-Wan-DSC_8592-2-1.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photograph Tommy Ga-Ken Wan</figcaption></figure>



<p>The evidence is all there in plain sight. Both Glasgow’s Tron Theatre and Edinburgh’s Royal Lyceum also have new leadership, bringing renewed energy and vigour to their programmes for the year.&nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1500" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/Lyndsey-Jackson-_-Photo-credit_-Roberto-Ricciuti.jpg" alt="Lynsey Jackson" class="wp-image-2378" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/Lyndsey-Jackson-_-Photo-credit_-Roberto-Ricciuti.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/Lyndsey-Jackson-_-Photo-credit_-Roberto-Ricciuti-200x300.jpg 200w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/Lyndsey-Jackson-_-Photo-credit_-Roberto-Ricciuti-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/Lyndsey-Jackson-_-Photo-credit_-Roberto-Ricciuti-768x1152.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Lynsey Jackson. Photograph: Roberto Ricciuti</figcaption></figure>



<p>New Executive Director Lynsey Jackson brings her experience from twelve years at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society when she starts at The Lyceum this January. Meanwhile Jemima Levick has already had a strong year at the helm of Glasgow’s Tron Theatre. </p>



<p>The benefits aren’t just to those theatres. Putting on groundbreaking productions in one Scottish theatre allows them to be toured to others around the country. A new play by Douglas Maxwell, Man&#8217;s<em> Best Friend</em>, for example, toured in Aberdeen, Ayr, Dundee, Edinburgh, Greenock and Inverness after its debut at The Tron.</p>



<p>The renaissance is physical too: The King’s Theatre in Edinburgh is set to reopen this autumn after extensive renovations. Fiona Gibson, Chief Executive of Capital Theatres, explains “The King’s Theatre restoration project is not just a refurbishment; it is a once-in-a-lifetime transformation of one of Edinburgh’s most beloved cultural landmarks,” part of “a vision to deliver a fully accessible, high-quality venue that will serve future generations.”</p>



<p>Access was also key part of the renovations of Glasgow’s Citizen’s Theatre too, which reopened with much applause late last year. The old Victorian theatre is not just in better shape for its refurb, there’s a new foyer and better sightlines in the auditorium meaning “more people will be able to enjoy the theatre”.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<p>A new multi-purpose Studio Theatre at the Citz is an investment into the future of theatre in the city, with the theatre saying “it will allow us to accommodate more performances than ever before and champion a new generation of emerging theatre makers”.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="501" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/Landscape-Ensemble-Collage-3-Copy-1024x501.png" alt="Out in the hill pitlochry" class="wp-image-2360" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/Landscape-Ensemble-Collage-3-Copy-1024x501.png 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/Landscape-Ensemble-Collage-3-Copy-300x147.png 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/Landscape-Ensemble-Collage-3-Copy-768x376.png 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/Landscape-Ensemble-Collage-3-Copy.png 1380w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>One look at the 2026 programme for Pitlochry Festival Theatre and you can see that access and inclusion are already at the heart. This January kicks off with Out In The Hills festival, a three day celebration of all things LGBTQIA+ through theatre, music, film and dance. Notable Scots like Val McDermid, Evelyn Glennie, Jackie Kay and Mairi Black are on the billing, but such is Cumming’s pulling power there’ll also be appearances from Sir Ian McKellen, Graham Norton, and Armistead Maupin.</p>



<p>The magic does need to stretch a little further. Cumbernauld Theatre lost their multi-year funding from Creative Scotland last year, putting its future at risk. The <a href="https://lanternhousearts.org/donations/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">#SaveCumbernauldTheatre campaign</a> will prove vital in raising the funds to keep this valuable community asset thriving for the future. But, as always, the best way to save theatre is to show your enthusiasm by going to see performances in them. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-here-s-a-round-up-of-what-we-re-excited-about-for-the-coming-year"><strong>Here’s a round up of what we’re excited about for the coming year:</strong></h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-high-life-dundee-rep-then-touring"><a href="https://www.aberdeenperformingarts.com/whats-on/the-high-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>The High Life</em></a>, Dundee Rep, then touring</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/2.-The-High-Life-The-Musical-development-Siobhan-Redmond-Alan-Cumming-Forbes-Masson-and-Patrick-Ryecart.jpg" alt="The High Life Dundee Rep" class="wp-image-2376" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/2.-The-High-Life-The-Musical-development-Siobhan-Redmond-Alan-Cumming-Forbes-Masson-and-Patrick-Ryecart.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/2.-The-High-Life-The-Musical-development-Siobhan-Redmond-Alan-Cumming-Forbes-Masson-and-Patrick-Ryecart-300x225.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/2.-The-High-Life-The-Musical-development-Siobhan-Redmond-Alan-Cumming-Forbes-Masson-and-Patrick-Ryecart-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/2.-The-High-Life-The-Musical-development-Siobhan-Redmond-Alan-Cumming-Forbes-Masson-and-Patrick-Ryecart-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>National Theatre of Scotland’s award-winning writer, director, actor and performer Johnny McKnight gives new life to the much loved BBC Scotland cult comedy series, bringing it to the stage in musical form. Touring to&nbsp;Festival Theatre, Edinburgh&nbsp;;&nbsp;His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen;&nbsp;Eden Court, Inverness<strong>&nbsp;</strong>and<strong>&nbsp;</strong>King’s Theatre, Glasgow <strong>(<strong>27 Mar to 23 May</strong>)</strong>.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stand-amp-deliver-the-lee-jeans-sit-in-tron-theatre-glasgow-then-touring"><a href="https://www.tron.co.uk/shows/stand-deliver-the-lee-jeans-sit-in/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Stand &amp; Deliver: The Lee Jeans Sit-In</em></a>, Tron Theatre, Glasgow, then touring </h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1052" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/2.-Stand-and-Deliver-Lee-Jeans-Factory-Sit-In-Photo-credit-Trinity-Mirror-Mirrorpix.jpg" alt="Stand and Deliver" class="wp-image-2373" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/2.-Stand-and-Deliver-Lee-Jeans-Factory-Sit-In-Photo-credit-Trinity-Mirror-Mirrorpix.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/2.-Stand-and-Deliver-Lee-Jeans-Factory-Sit-In-Photo-credit-Trinity-Mirror-Mirrorpix-300x210.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/2.-Stand-and-Deliver-Lee-Jeans-Factory-Sit-In-Photo-credit-Trinity-Mirror-Mirrorpix-1024x718.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/2.-Stand-and-Deliver-Lee-Jeans-Factory-Sit-In-Photo-credit-Trinity-Mirror-Mirrorpix-768x539.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photograph: Trinity Mirror Mirrorpix</figcaption></figure>



<p>Telling the story of the legendary occupation of the Lee Jeans factory in Greenock, Frances Poet’s play is a powerful and personal story of political resistance. Jemima Levick directs and there’s a live 80’s soundtrack. The play then tours to&nbsp; Aberdeen Arts Centre; the Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy; Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh; Byre Theatre, St Andrews; Eastgate Theatre, Peebles; Mull Theatre, Eden Court, Inverness; Cumbernauld Theatre, and Beacon Arts Centre, Greenock<strong> (24 April to 10 June)</strong>.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-black-diamonds-and-the-blue-brazil-royal-lyceum-theatre-edinburgh"><a href="https://lyceum.org.uk/events/black-diamonds-and-the-blue-brazil" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Black Diamonds and the Blue Brazil</em></a>, Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1250" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/Black-Diamonds-and-the-Blue-Brazil.jpg" alt="Black Diamonds and the Blue Brazil" class="wp-image-2380" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/Black-Diamonds-and-the-Blue-Brazil.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/Black-Diamonds-and-the-Blue-Brazil-240x300.jpg 240w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/Black-Diamonds-and-the-Blue-Brazil-819x1024.jpg 819w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/Black-Diamonds-and-the-Blue-Brazil-768x960.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>With original music performed live on stage by Deacon Blue’s Ricky Ross, this is a play about grief and the trials, triumphs, and unbreakable loyalty of a small-town football club with a big heart <strong>(8 to 23 May)</strong>.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lear-pitlochry-festival-theatre"><a href="https://www.pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com/whats-on/lear/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Lear</em></a>, Pitlochry Festival Theatre</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1250" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/Lear.png" alt="Lear" class="wp-image-2386" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/Lear.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/Lear-240x300.png 240w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/Lear-819x1024.png 819w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/Lear-768x960.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Does it change the way the play goes, if Lear is a Queen not a King? Maureen Beattie takes on the Shakespearean role under the direction of Finn Den Hertog <strong>(4 July to 1 August)</strong>.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-i-ll-be-seeing-you-pitlochry-festival-theatre"><a href="https://www.pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com/whats-on/ill-be-seeing-you/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>I’ll Be Seeing You</em></a>, Pitlochry Festival Theatre</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1250" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/Ill-Be-Seeing-You-copy.jpg" alt="I'll be seeing you" class="wp-image-2389" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/Ill-Be-Seeing-You-copy.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/Ill-Be-Seeing-You-copy-240x300.jpg 240w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/Ill-Be-Seeing-You-copy-819x1024.jpg 819w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/Ill-Be-Seeing-You-copy-768x960.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Simon Russell Beale and Fra Fee star in this new play about Liberace by Martin Sherman. Alan Cumming directs for its world premiere at Pitlochry Festival Theatre <strong>(12 September to 11 October)</strong>.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-history-of-paper-pitlochry-festival-theatre-and-dundee-rep"><a href="https://dundeerep.co.uk/events/a-history-of-paper" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>A History of Paper</em></a>, Pitlochry Festival Theatre and Dundee Rep</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1250" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/A-History-of-Paper-copy.jpg" alt="A history of paper" class="wp-image-2388" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/A-History-of-Paper-copy.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/A-History-of-Paper-copy-240x300.jpg 240w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/A-History-of-Paper-copy-819x1024.jpg 819w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/A-History-of-Paper-copy-768x960.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>The award-winning Artistic Director of the Dundee Rep brings Shirley Henderson (star of <a href="https://scotland.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/film-tv/summerwater/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Summerwater</em></a>) and Alan Cumming to the stage for a magical musical about unbounding joy, impossible grief, a man, a woman and the little bits of paper that make up a life <strong>(9 August to 19 September)</strong>.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-prime-of-miss-jean-brodie-royal-lyceum-theatre-edinburgh-then-touring"><a href="https://www.nationaltheatrescotland.com/events/the-prime-of-miss-jean-brodie" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie</em></a>,  Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh, then touring</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1499" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/2.-Prime-of-Miss-Jean-Brodie-Gayle-Rankin-Photo-credit-Andrew-Arthur.jpg" alt="Gayle Rankin Miss Jean Brodie" class="wp-image-2371" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/2.-Prime-of-Miss-Jean-Brodie-Gayle-Rankin-Photo-credit-Andrew-Arthur.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/2.-Prime-of-Miss-Jean-Brodie-Gayle-Rankin-Photo-credit-Andrew-Arthur-200x300.jpg 200w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/2.-Prime-of-Miss-Jean-Brodie-Gayle-Rankin-Photo-credit-Andrew-Arthur-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/2.-Prime-of-Miss-Jean-Brodie-Gayle-Rankin-Photo-credit-Andrew-Arthur-768x1151.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photograph: Andrew Arthur </figcaption></figure>



<p>The Scottish premiere of a brand new adaptation of the Muriel Spark classic. The play sees Scottish actor Gayle Rankin, star of Netflix’s Glow return to the nation’s stages – first Edinburgh, then the Citizens Theatre, Glasgow, His Majesty&#8217;s Theatre, Aberdeen and Pitlochry Festival Theatre <strong>(2 October to 7 November)</strong>.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-my-fair-lady-pitlochry-festival-theatre"><a href="https://www.pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com/whats-on/my-fair-lady/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>My Fair Lady</em></a>, Pitlochry Festival Theatre</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1250" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/My-Fair-Lady.png" alt="My Fair Lady" class="wp-image-2384" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/My-Fair-Lady.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/My-Fair-Lady-240x300.png 240w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/My-Fair-Lady-819x1024.png 819w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/scotland/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2025/12/My-Fair-Lady-768x960.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Lerner and Loewe’s iconic musical gets revived by Olivier award winning actor and director Maria Friedman <strong>(21 November to 31 December)</strong>.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-in-the-mood-for-more">IN THE MOOD FOR MORE?</h2>



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Is 2026 Scotland’s year of theatre? These eight not-to-be missed performances say “Yes”

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