PRESS RELEASE
Kirsty Findlay and Ali Watt to return to the Theatre in the Hills for The Sound of Music
- CATS Award winning & Olivier Award nominated actor Kirsty Findlay to reprise her acclaimed performance as Maria
- Ali Watt to return as Captain Georg von Trapp
- This year the Oscar winning film version of The Sound of Music celebrates its 60th anniversary
- Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music to return to Pitlochry Festival Theatre from 14 November to 21 December 2025
The hills around Pitlochry Festival Theatre are alive with exciting news that the CATS Award winning and Olivier award nominated actor Kirsty Findlay and Ali Watt are set to reprise their acclaimed performances as Maria Rainer and Captain Georg von Trapp in Elizabeth Newman’s acclaimed production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s much-loved musical The Sound of Music.
Originally directed last year at Pitlochry Festival Theatre by Elizabeth Newman, the revival production will be directed by Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s Associate Director Sam Hardie (Grease and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Pitlochry Festival Theatre) and will run from 14 November to 21 December.
Glasgow based actor Kirsty Findlay was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role along with the 2016 cast of the National Theatre of Scotland and Live Theatre production of Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour. She wowed sold out audiences in Pitlochry’s Summer Season 2024 with her CATS award winning performance as Carole King in the Theatre’s critically acclaimed production of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, as well as appearing in the musical Footloose and Frances Poet’s adaptation of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility. Her other theatre work includes Islander: A New Musical (Southwark Playhouse/Helen Milne Productions) A Mother’s Song (Macrobert Arts Centre and KT Producing). In August she starred alongside Brian Cox in the National Theatre of Scotland, Edinburgh International Festival and Dundee Rep Theatre production of Make it Happen.
Like Kirsty, Ali Watt, who is also from Glasgow, makes a welcome return to Pitlochry Festival Theatre. His credits at the Theatre have included The Crucible, Summer Holiday and The Wind in the Willows. His other stage work includes The Grand Old Opera House Hotel, Traverse Theatre and The Stamping Ground, Eden Court/Raw Material. This year Ali has appeared on Screen in the hit Disney+ series Andor and in the BBC Series Lucy Worsley Investigates: William The Conqueror where he played the title role.
Kirsty Findlay, said:
“I’m thrilled to be returning to Pitlochry to play Maria in The Sound of Music. This show holds an incredibly special place in my heart, and I can’t wait to explore the story and the music even more and uncover new layers along the way.”
Ali Watt added:
“I’m thrilled to be returning to Pitlochry Festival Theatre this Christmas as Captain von Trapp. The wonderful audience reaction last year made it clear just how much this story means to people, and it’s a genuine privilege to help bring its warmth, magic and message to the stage once more. I’m especially excited to be working again alongside so many incredible returning cast members and young actors, as well as all the brilliant new additions to the team.”
This final collaboration between Rodgers & Hammerstein has become the world’s most beloved musical. Featuring a trove of cherished songs, including Climb Ev’ry Mountain, My Favorite Things, Do-Re-Mi, Sixteen Going on Seventeen and the title number, The Sound of Music won the hearts of audiences worldwide, earning five Tony Awards and five Oscars. Based on the memoir of Maria Augusta Trapp, this inspirational musical follows a postulant who goes to work as a governess to the seven children of the imperious Captain von Trapp, bringing music and joy to the household. But as the forces of Nazism take hold of Austria, Maria and the entire von Trapp family must make a difficult moral decision.
Full casting for The Sound of Music will be announced in the coming weeks.
The Sound of Music runs at Pitlochry Festival Theatre from 14 November to 21 December. Tickets are available from the box office on 01796 484626 or online at www.pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com
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NOTES TO EDITORS
Press performance: Thursday 27 November at 2pm, Pitlochry Festival Theatre
CREATIVE TEAM
Pitlochry Festival Theatre presents
THE SOUND OF MUSIC
Music by Richard Rodgers
Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse
Suggested by The Trapp Family Singers by Maria Augusta Trapp
Director Elizabeth Newman
Revival Director Sam Hardie
Assistant Director Rachael Keiller supported by a Federation of Scottish Theatre Producer Placement Bursary
The Sound of Music is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd on behalf of The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization concordtheatricals.co.uk.
LISTINGS
Until 21 December 2025
Eve performance at 7pm: November 14,15, 21, 22, 28 & 29; December 5,6, 12, 13, 19 & 20
Mat performance at 2pm: November 19-23 & 26-30; December 3-7, 10-14 & 17-21
Accessible Performances 2025
BSL Interpreted: Sunday 7 December at 2pm
Captioned: Wed 10 December at 2pm
Relaxed and Dementia Friendly: 11 Dec at 2pm
Audio Described: Saturday 13 December at 2pm
Ticket prices: From £15
Box Office and group bookings: 01796 484626
email boxoffice@pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com
Website: pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com
Pitlochry Festival Theatre. A Theatre for Everyone. A Theatre for a Lifetime.
Since 1951, Pitlochry Festival Theatre has been the artistic heart and soul of Highland Perthshire. Attracting over 100,000 visitors every year, we’re more than simply a place to come and see a show – we’re Scotland’s leading producer of musical theatre, a champion of ensemble practice and the country’s only rurally-located, major arts organisation. Our vision is to improve lives by sharing Pitlochry with the world and the world with Pitlochry. Our aim is to create life-enhancing experiences in our Theatre and its glorious eleven-acre campus that encompasses the magical Explorers Garden. In everything we do, we are committed to nurturing an exciting creative and cultural future for Scotland.
Pitlochry Festival Theatre is a charity supported by funding from Creative Scotland and Perth & Kinross Council. It is also grateful to the many individual donors, trusts and foundations who continue to support the Theatre in its vision.
Pitlochry Festival Theatre
Address: Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Port Na Craig, Pitlochry, Perthshire PH16 5DR
Box Office and group bookings: boxoffice@pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com
Website: pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com
Pitlochry Festival Theatre is a registered Scottish Charity. No SC013055
Pitlochry Festival Theatre gratefully acknowledges support from:
