Pitlochry Festival Theatre announces Ensemble for 2022 season

Pitlochry Festival Theatre have announced the Ensemble for their 2022 season which takes place this summer between May and October.

Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s exciting 20-strong Ensemble will feature Keith MacPherson (Stan and Ollie, BBC Films); Alyson Orr (Cinderella, Pavilion Theatre Glasgow);  Keith Jack (Fame, UK Tour and Only The Brave, Edinburgh Festival ) Rhiane Drummond (Dreamgirls and 9-5 The Musical, both Savoy Theatre); Connor Going (The Choir of Man, Australia and USA tour); Richard Colvin (Sunshine on Leith, UK Tour);  Deirdre Davis (Bold Girls, Citizens Theatre and Monarch of The Glen, Pitlochry Festival Theatre); Lanna Joffrey (The Times of Our Lies, Park Theatre); Nalân Burgess (The Sandman, Warner Brothers and DC Comics); Amelia Donkor (Eastenders, BBC) and Rachael McAllister (A Christmas Carol, Pitlochry Festival Theatre).

The Ensemble will also feature Blythe Jandoo (Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat; The London Palladium and Aladdin, Prince Edward Theatre); Jessica Brydges (Peter Pan, Maltings Theatre); Meg Chaplin (The Midnight Child, UK Tour) Anna Fordham (The Borrowers, Watermill Theatre); James Hudson (The Choir of Man, West End); Kit Orton (Spamalot, West End & UK Tour and Oliver, Watermill Theatre); Tom Richardson (Julius Caesar and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Storyhouse Chester); Marc Small (Richard II , Almeida); and finally, making his professional acting debut, Richie Spencer.

Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s Artistic Director Elizabeth Newman said: “We are so excited to welcome our 2022 Ensemble to Pitlochry this year. We cannot wait to start rehearsals for productions which will also see us return to producing theatre inside our building as well as outside and online. This fantastic Ensemble of incredibly talented actors will perform some extraordinary dramas, comedies, new works, and musicals in repertoire throughout our Summer Season including in our brand new Studio. The team of Directors Amy Liptrott, Ben Occhipinti, Brigid Lamour, Caitlin Skinner, and I cannot wait to make the plays with them for our wonderful audiences. During their time with us, you will be able to see this talented group in different roles. I look forward to our audience enjoying them transforming from production to production. We are also thrilled that this year their work will be seen in Pitlochry and in Edinburgh, London and toured across Scotland, as three of our 2022 summer productions are being co-produced with leading organisations - Stellar Quines Theatre Company, Capital Theatres and Watford Palace Theatre. Pitlochry is known for its Ensemble, and I am excited for us to continue this brilliant tradition.”

Running throughout the summer in the Theatre’s Auditorium, new Studio, as well as outside in the theatre’s Amphitheatre and riverside Bandstand, the 2022 season will include a staging of the much-loved musical Sunshine on Leith (20 May – 1 October), co-produced with Capital Theatres; the premiere, co-produced with Watford Palace Theatre, of Anne-Marie Casey’s adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel Little Women (21 July – 29 September); Michael Frayn’s iconic backstage comedy Noises Off (27 May – 1 October) which celebrates its 40th anniversary; and a revival of Noël Coward’s classic 1930s comedy of manners, Private Lives (17 June-30 September).

The Theatre’s new studio with see the premieres of three news plays Helping Hands (23 June-9 July) by Cathy Forde; Sara Shaarawi’s Sister Radio (25 August – 28 September) – a co-production with Stellar Quines Theatre Company; and Martin McCormick’s new play The Maggie Wall (9 – 29 September).

The 2022 season will also see the premiere of two exciting new productions performed in the Theatre’s picturesque amphitheatre, nestled within its Explorers Garden and in the shadow of Ben-y- Vrackie. From 8 June – 7 July, the Theatre will stage Sherlock Holmes: A Study in Lipstick, Ketchup and Blood, playwright and actor Lesley Hart’s brand new adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic detective tale A Study in in Scarlet and in August, the world premiere of David Greig’s adaptation of Charlotte Higgins’ acclaimed book, Under Another Sky (10 Aug – 23 Sept).

Finally, there will be a terrific line up of entertainment for all the family including a brand new adaptation from the creative team behind last year’s successful production of The Wind in the Willows of Jules Verne’s family adventure Around the World in 80 Days (8 July-17 September).

For further information and to book tickets, please click here.