PRESS RELEASE
Ian McKellen, Graham Norton, Val McDermid, Armistead Maupin, Evelyn Glennie, Jackie Kay and Alan Cumming to appear at Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s inaugural Out in the Hills Festival
Pitlochry Festival Theatre is set to brighten up January with three days of theatre, music, film, dancing and so much more, as they launch Out in the Hills, a brand-new festival that celebrates all things LGBTQIA+, and invites everyone to find new ways to look at the world and each other.
From 16-18 January 2026 this exciting new festival is set to give audiences the opportunity to enjoy everything from the first look at brand new plays featuring theatrical icons, to beautiful exhibitions of photography, as well as events discussing everything from football, to crime writing, to baking.
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; and 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 be in 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.
Alan Cumming, Artistic Director of Pitlochry Festival Theatre said:
“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!”
Programmer Lewis Hetherington added:
“Putting together the programme for Out in the Hills has been an absolute joy. I’ve loved working with Alan and the rest of the Pitlochry team to piece together this line up of inspiring, thought provoking and beautiful events.
It feels more important than ever for us to celebrate difference, to find harmony together in all the various songs we sing. I’m so proud that this festival offers something for everyone. Come with an open heart and mind and you’ll leave with a richer understanding of the world around you and a deeper sense of empathy for your fellow humans. It’s going to be mind expanding, moving, and fun!”
Broadcaster, comedian, and novelist Graham Norton said:
“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.”
Out in the Hills is a bold, inclusive celebration of queer voices and creative expression that is set to bring light, colour, and connection to the Highlands, welcoming artists, and audiences from all walks of life.
There really is something for everyone, and all are welcome to come along. Be curious, be entertained and be connected.
Out in the Hills is supported by PITLOCHRYhotels.com
Out in the Hills runs at Pitlochry Festival Theatre from 16-18 January 2026. Patrons and Members priority bookings will go on sale on Monday 27 October at 10am and on general sale from Monday 10 November at 10am. For tickets and further information call the Box Office team on 01796 484626 or visit pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com
-Ends-
For all press interviews, images and tickets please contact:
Duncan Clarke PR on 07880893750 or email duncanclarkepr@gmail.com
NOTES TO EDITORS
Ticket and box office details
Ticket prices:
From: £15
Patrons and Members: 25% discount on two or more events (excluding headline events)
Non-membership: 20% discount on two or more events (excluding headline events)
Tickets sales dates
Priority Patrons and Members: Monday 27 October at 10am
Festival Friends: Monday 3 November at 10am
General sales: Monday 10 November at 10am
Box Office and group bookings: boxoffice@pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com
Website: pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com
Telephone: 01796 484626
OUT IN THE HILLS FESTIVAL
FRIDAY 16 JANUARY
1.15pm-2.15pm – Studio
Music
Resol String Quartet: Rainbow Classics
The Resol String Quartet opens Friday’s programme with a powerful afternoon of classical music by queer composers across history. Expect the soaring romance of Tchaikovsky, the aching beauty of Barber’s Adagio for Strings, and the fresh brilliance of Pulitzer Prize-winner Caroline Shaw. This performance celebrates the enduring contributions of LGBTQIA+ artists to the classical canon—voices too often silenced or overlooked. With their signature passion and artistry, the quartet brings these works to vivid life, creating a moving journey through sound and identity.
3.00pm-4.00pm – Studio
Film/discussion
who will be remembered here – A Film by Lewis Hetherington & CJ Mahony
Tender and thought-provoking, who will be remembered here connects queer voices across centuries of Scottish history. Conceived by writer Lewis Hetherington and artist CJ Mahony and created in collaboration with Forest of Black and Historic Environment Scotland, the film invites four queer writers to reimagine historic sites in their own languages: Robert Softley Gale (English), Harry Josephine Giles (Scots), Robbie MacLeòid (Gaelic) and Bea Webster (BSL). Their performances weave together a multi-layered portrait of queer presence—sometimes in resonance with the places they visited, sometimes in dissonance. The result is a hauntingly beautiful exploration of memory, absence, and belonging. Hailed by critics, the film honours those erased from history and insists that queer lives, past and present, must be seen. The panel will feature Lewis Hetherington, Robert Softley Gayle and be hosted by Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s Associate Director Sam Hardie. This very special screening will be opened by the award-winning musician Malin Lewis performing on the pipes.
5pm-6.15pm -Studio
Performance
Slum Boy: Juano Diaz and Evelyn Glennie
Join bestselling author and acclaimed artist Juano Diaz for an unforgettable evening as he reads from his powerful memoir Slum Boy, bringing to life vivid stories of resilience, hope, and transformation. Accompanied by world-renowned solo percussionist and composer Evelyn Glennie, this unique performance blends spoken word with immersive sound and visuals to create a bold, sensory journey unlike any other. Emotional, exciting, and deeply personal — this is storytelling reimagined.
7pm-8pm – Studio
In Conversation
Armistead Maupin & Jackie Kay: In Conversation
Two literary icons meet for a special evening of conversation. Armistead Maupin, author of the beloved Tales of the City series, has spent five decades chronicling queer life with warmth, humour, and radical honesty. Jackie Kay, acclaimed poet, novelist and former Scots Makar, has given voice to identity, belonging and the complexities of modern Scotland through her deeply resonant writing. Together, they’ll reflect on their extraordinary careers, the changes they’ve witnessed in queer representation, and the role of literature in shaping our collective imagination. Expect sharp insights, candid reflections, and the unique chemistry of two writers who have transformed how we tell our stories.
9pm – Midnight – Foyer
Queer as Folk! – A big gay ceilidh with the Malin Lewis Trio and hosted by Chris Wilson
End Friday night with a ceilidh like no other—joyfully queer, inclusive, and unmissable. Rising star of Scottish traditional music Malin Lewis leads a specially formed trad band to get everyone dancing. Known for their boundary-pushing compositions and virtuosic piping, Malin has performed on stage across the globe and is recognised as one of the most exciting voices in contemporary folk. Hosting the evening is cabaret star Chris Wilson, who brings charm, wit, and sparkle to the floor. Together, they’ll guide you through a night of music, dance and celebration that reimagines the ceilidh as a space of belonging for all.
SATURDAY 17 JANUARY
11am-12pm – River Room
Yoga
Kilted Yoga
With Finlay Wilson
Start your Saturday grounded and glowing with Finlay Wilson’s signature Kilted Yoga. Known for his viral yoga sessions set against the Scottish wilderness, Finlay brings that same sense of strength and connection to his live classes. His teaching is deeply personal, rooted in his own journey overcoming injury, mobility challenges, and chronic back pain. Combining expertise in anatomy and sports therapy with his warm, accessible approach, Finlay creates transformative sessions where everyone feels welcome.
11.15am-12.15pm – Studio
In Conversation
Match of the Gay
LGBTQIA+ Voices in Football
Football is the world’s game—but for many LGBTQIA+ players and fans, it hasn’t always felt like home. Match of the Gay opens up the conversation with a panel of voices who are reshaping the pitch, hosted by. Scotland’s first openly gay professional footballer, Zander Murray, Scotland’s first openly gay professional footballer.
Zander will guide an open and honest conversation about courage, visibility, and inclusion in the beautiful game. He is joined by Amy McDonald (former Scotland National Team) and Coinneach MacLeod (known as the Hebridean Baker, with years of experience at FIFA and UEFA) and LEAP Sports, the leading charity promoting inclusion and participation for LGBTQIA+ people in sport.
Part of the Football v Homophobia Scotland campaign the panel will explore challenges, triumphs, and the path toward a more inclusive future in football. Honest, passionate, and inspiring, this panel is for football lovers and changemakers alike.
12.45pm – 1.45pm – Studio
In Conversation
Whose history is it anyway?
In conversation with Catherine McPhee and Dr Ashley Douglas
Two voices, two perspectives, one shared journey of discovery. Archivist and tradition bearer Catherine McPhee brings the depth of Skye’s oral traditions and cultural memory. Historian Dr Ashley Douglas brings her groundbreaking research into Marie Maitland, Scotland’s little-known 16th-century poet whose words quietly hint at sapphic love. Through their conversation, unexpected traces of queerness emerge from the rhythms of language to the stories passed down through generations. Together, they reveal how Scotland’s past holds more diversity than history has often allowed us to see an illuminating and moving invitation to look again at the stories we thought we knew.
2pm-5pm – Events Bar
Workshop
Drop-in art sessions: Colour Outside the Lines (for Young people and families)
2.30pm-3.30pm – Studio
In Conversation
Hebridean Baker
International best-selling author Coinneach MacLeod—better known as The Hebridean Baker—brings his trademark charm, humour, and storytelling to the stage. With four chart-topping cookbooks and a BBC series, he has become one of Scotland’s most beloved cultural voices. In this special event, Coinneach will share his rarely told story of growing up gay on the Isle of Lewis and how that experience shaped his life, career, and writing. Blending laughter, candour, and a dash of island magic, this is more than food chat—it’s about identity, resilience, and joy. Coinneach MacLeod will be in conversation with BBC Radio Scotland presenter Tony Kearney, who grew up on the Herbideam island of Barra. The event will feature a drink (an alcohol-free alternative will be available) and is suitable for 18 years and over.
4.30pm-6pm – Auditorium
Rehearsed Performance
Equinox: Ian McKellen
A rare theatrical event: a special reading of Equinox, a new play by Laurie Slade, directed by Sean Mathias and performed by Ian McKellen in its first-ever public performance.
The play follows Ed, an older man trapped in a strange room, as he wrestles with his past, conflicted desires, and visions of alternative realities. At once witty, poetic, and raw, Equinox is a meditation on mortality, meaning, and the stories we tell ourselves at life’s end—with flashes of cosmic vision and queer desire. In McKellen’s hands, this one-man performance promises to be unforgettable: intimate, daring, and deeply human.
7-8pm – Auditorium
In Conversation
Graham Norton
In conversation with Alan Cumming.
Two of the most recognisable queer voices in entertainment sit down together for an unmissable conversation. Graham Norton, beloved broadcaster, comedian, and novelist, joins Alan Cumming, award-winning actor, activist, and author, to talk about life, love, careers, and everything in between. Expect outrageous anecdotes, razor-sharp wit, and plenty of heartfelt honesty as these cultural icons share the stage. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see two masters of storytelling and conversation spark off each other with humour and warmth.
7.30pm – 8.30pm – Studio
Performance
The Green Knight (but gay)
Written and performed by Niall Moorjani
Winner of the Northbridge Media Comedy Award, The Green Knight (but gay) is a delightfully irreverent retelling of the Arthurian legend. In Niall Moorjani’s (they/them) hands, the tale of Gawain and the Green Knight becomes a joyous romp full of silliness, queerness, and sharp humour. Moorjani is a Scottish Indian, non-binary, neurodiverse storyteller who has performed everywhere from packed theatres to village libraries, festivals to street corners. At the heart of their work are themes of joy, hope and kindness, always delivered with wit and warmth. Praised by The Scotsman as a “storytelling genius” and hailed by The Skinny as “storytelling at its finest,” Moorjani invites audiences to laugh, reflect, and discover new magic in an old myth.
9pm – Midnight – Foyer
Disco with DJ Junglehussi
Close Saturday night with a joyful, high-energy dance party. Glasgow-based DJ, artist, and photographer Junglehussi (Matthew Arthur Williams) brings their genre-shifting, playful, and emotive sound to the decks. With roots in Manchester’s alternative queer scene and a reputation as a leader in Glasgow’s electronic underground, Junglehussi has built a unique space for community and celebration through their night Papaya Whip. Expect big vibes, joyous beats, and a packed dance floor.
SUNDAY 18 JANUARY
11am-12pm – River Room
Yoga
Kilted Yoga
With Finlay Wilson
Wake up and flow into Sunday with another chance to experience Finlay Wilson’s famous Kilted Yoga. This session offers the perfect mix of grounding and renewal, setting the tone for the final day of the festival.
12.30pm-1.30pm – Studio
In Conversation
Mhairi Black
In conversation with Gemma Cairney
A conversation between two powerful voices. Mhairi Black, a trailblazer in British politics and one of the youngest MPs ever elected, reflects on her life, career, and identity. She is joined by award-winning broadcaster and author Gemma Cairney, known for her work on BBC Radio 1 and 6 Music, her acclaimed books, and her advocacy for young people. Together, they’ll explore politics, queerness, resilience, and the personal stories behind public lives.
2.30pm-3.30pm – Studio
Murder She Wrote:
In conversation with Val McDermid and Louise Welsh
Crime fiction queens unite. Val McDermid, international bestselling author of the Tony Hill & Carol Jordan series, and Louise Welsh, award-winning novelist of The Cutting Room and beyond, come together to discuss writing, crime, and queer women in literature. This is a chance to experience the stories, dark humour, and insider perspectives from two of the most influential voices in contemporary crime writing.
2pm-5pm – Events Bar
Workshop
Drop-in art sessions: Colour Outside the Lines (for Young people and families)
4-5pm – Studio
In Conversation
Family Pride
In conversation with Jo Clifford and Catriona Innes
Playwright Jo Clifford and her daughter, journalist Catriona Innes, come together for a moving conversation about queerness, family, and love. Jo, a trailblazing trans playwright, and Catriona, award-winning journalist for Cosmopolitan, share candid reflections on how queerness shapes family life and thrives across generations. Honest, funny, and deeply touching, this dialogue offers rare insight into the ways love and identity intertwine.
6pm-7.30pm – Auditorium
Performance
Me and the Girls starring Alan Cumming
By Noel Coward, adapted by Neil Bartlett
Discover a side of Noel Coward you’ve never seen. Written in 1964, Me and the Girls is a dark, spiky story of George Banks, a cabaret artist at the end of his life, looking back with brutal honesty. Adapted for the stage by Neil Bartlett and interwoven with seven Coward songs (most rarely heard), this staged reading — featuring Alan Cumming among a cast of six — reveals Coward’s unfiltered queer voice. It’s a radical yet faithful adaptation, showing Coward not as the polished wit we think we know, but as a man confronting life, death, and love without disguise.
6.30pm-7.30pm – Studio
Stand-up comedy
Kim Blythe: Cowboy
Kim Blythe is a cowboy – not the rugged, western kind but more like a questionable tradesman. Unsure and thriving after selling out the Glasgow International Comedy Festival, Kim brings her second show Cowboy to Out in the Hills Festival as she tries to make sense of it all. If you feel like you’re constantly winging it through life, then Cowboy is the show for you! If you don’t feel like that, it’s still a great show I promise.
OVER THE WEEKEND
Colour Outside the Lines: Drop-in Art Sessions
All weekend long, join us for free drop-in workshops designed for young people, families, and anyone who wants to unleash their creativity. Inspired by the work of LGBTQIA+ icons like Keith Haring and Frida Kahlo, these hands-on sessions invite you to get messy, experiment, and make art that reflects your own voice. Whether you’re a complete beginner or a seasoned artist, the workshops offer a playful, welcoming space to explore colour, form, and self-expression. Just turn up, grab some materials, and see where your imagination takes you.
Camp Trans Scotland
Exhibition & Film
Cradled by the mountains, refreshed by the clear river, walk into the deep magic of Camp Trans Scotland. This exhibition, curated by filmmaker and photographer Jules Lacave-Fontourcy, and activist and author Tam Omond, leads the audience into a time and space built on and by nature, community care, and trans ancestry. Through photographs and the new film, The River and The Glen, the viewer is taken into a world still vibrating within the camp trans folks. It invites the viewer under its green shield, to breathe the golden air, heal, and restore the strength to face the relentless attacks on trans people. The project takes us far from the demands of cis society, where trans people came together to rest, heal, and celebrate.
Content notes: Discussions of ableism, alcohol use, current trans panic, drug use, racism, transphobia.
Portraits of an LGBTI+ Generation
Created as part of the National Theatre of Scotland’s The Coming Back Out Ball, this moving exhibition celebrates the lives and stories of queer elders across Scotland. Conceived by Lewis Hetherington, the project pairs photographic portraits taken by Tiu Makkonnen with short films, created in close collaboration with each participant. From motorbikes to accordions, pirates to poetry, the portraits reveal passions, quirks, and the fierce individuality of a generation often pushed to the margins.
Football v Homophobia Scotland ‘s Oral History Archive
Despite football’s reputation for queerphobia, the LGBTIQ+ community has always been part of our national sport. In the archive we aim to record, preserve, and share the personal stories of Scottish football’s LGBTIQ+ players, fans and officials at all levels of the beautiful game.
This initial series of interviews represents just a small slice of LGBTIQ+ Scottish football and its history. The exhibit showcases snapshots of longer oral history interviews conducted between March and June 2025. The full audio recordings and transcripts of these interviews have been donated to the National Library of Scotland’s Sound and Moving Image Archive, where they have been made available to researchers and the public in perpetuity.”
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 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, and corporate partners 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
Out in the Hills Festival is supported by PITLOCHRYhotels.com
