Pitlochry Festival Theatre will launch its 75th anniversary fundraising year with a landmark weekend of live events and a major free exhibition, bringing together some of Scotland’s most recognisable cultural figures in the heart of Highland Perthshire.
The celebrations begin on Saturday 28 February when Grammy-nominated singer, actress and pop icon Lulu will appear in conversation with Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s Artistic Director Alan Cumming, reflecting on her six-decade career across music, stage and screen, followed by a post-show signing of her new autobiography If Only You Knew.
The following evening, novelist and fashion historian Justine Picardie will join broadcaster Kirsty Wark to discuss Picardie’s new book Fashioning the Crown, which explores half a century of British history through the lens of royal image-making and clothing, drawing on original research in the Royal Archives and Picardie’s own encounters with Elizabeth II and her family.
Speaking ahead of the event, Justine Picardie said she was “really excited to be visiting Pitlochry Festival Theatre next month” and looking forward to talking with Kirsty Wark about Fashioning the Crown as part of the theatre’s year-long anniversary celebrations.
Kirsty Wark said she was “delighted to be playing a small part” in the celebrations, describing Pitlochry Festival Theatre as “a great creative engine in the heart of Scotland” and calling the conversation with Picardie “a real treat”.
Alan Cumming said the weekend would be “eclectic and joyful”, adding that he had admired Lulu all his life and was equally excited to welcome Kirsty Wark and Justine Picardie for what he described as “one-off fundraisers” that would continue throughout the anniversary year.
Alongside the live events, the theatre will also stage a major exhibition celebrating 75 years of its renowned in-house costume and wardrobe department, showcasing the past 25 years of design and craftsmanship.
The free exhibition will fill the public spaces of the theatre and feature costumes, shoes, hats and accessories alongside never-before-seen sketches, fabric samples and production images, offering a rare behind-the-scenes view of how Pitlochry’s stage creations move from concept to performance.
From meticulously crafted period pieces to striking contemporary designs, the exhibition tells the story of the skill, imagination and collaboration that has shaped Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s visual identity for three quarters of a century.
The anniversary celebrations also mark the launch of a £500,000 fundraising appeal, aimed at securing the theatre’s future as a creative charity through to the end of 2026.
The appeal has three core goals: to support outstanding live theatre for the next 75 years, to nurture bold new writing and exceptional creative talent, and to expand engagement with schools, young people and communities across Scotland.
Alan Cumming said that 2026 would be both his first fully programmed season as Artistic Director and a moment to celebrate “75 years of storytelling, risk-taking and changing lives forever”, describing the appeal as an investment in a future that is “daring, inclusive, vibrant and alive”.
VIP meet and greet packages will be available for both fundraising events, offering audiences the chance to meet Lulu, Kirsty Wark, Justine Picardie and Alan Cumming.
Tickets for Lulu in conversation with Alan Cumming take place on Saturday 28 February at 7pm, with Justine Picardie in conversation with Kirsty Wark on Sunday 1 March at 7pm, with priority booking for Patrons and Members from 10am on Tuesday 13 January and general sale from 10am on Monday 19 January.
For tickets and further information call the Box Office team on 01796 484626 or visit pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com
For more information on Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s Fundraising appeal visit pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com/support-us/
