2019 Contents 02 Summer Holiday 23 Dementia-Friendly and 04 Blithe Spirit Relaxed Performances 06 The Crucible 24 Matinée Audience Club (MAC) 08 Blonde Bombshells of 1943 25 Groups and Schools 10 North and South 26 Diary 12 Heritage 32 Concerts and Events 14 Faith Healer 36 Backstage Tours 16 A Christmas Carol 37 Young Explorers, Make & Play 18 Tickets and Offers 38 Explorers Garden 20 Engage: Writers and Artists 40 Workshops In The Garden 21 Get Involved! 41 Pitlochry is the place... 22 Access All Areas Scenic Artists Marianne Pritchard and Suzi Potts Scotland’s Most Welcoming Theatre, 2015, WHY DOES THEATRE MATTER? 2016, 2017 & 2018 “Theatre has the capacity to transport, emote and inspire. Pitlochry Festival Theatre is a Company Limited by Guarantee Registered in Scotland Number SC029243 at the below address. It’s the spark in the dark – the tinder to our imaginations. Scottish Charity Number SC013055 Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Port-na-craig, Pitlochry, PH16 5DR And it sets your phasers to feel-good!” Administration: 01796 484600 | Box Office: 01796 484626 Marianne Pritchard, Scenic Artist (pictured opposite) Email: [email protected] | Website: www.PitlochryFestivalTheatre.com 01 Th Musca IN THE COUNTRY SUMMER HOLIDAY TRAVELLIN’ LIGHT BACHELOR BOY THE YOUNG ONES DO YOU WANNA DANCE LIVING DOLL MOVE IT ON THE BEACH Stage adaptation by During a wet Scottish summer, One of the most popular movies Look out for news about our MICHAEL GYNGELL and MARK HADDIGAN Pitlochry bus driver Don whisks his of the 60s, immortalised by Cliff Theatre Bus Tour! We will be Based on the film SUMMER HOLIDAY, directed by PETER YATES, workmates away on a borrowed Richard and The Shadows, make sharing songs and stories in lots of screenplay by RONALD CASS and PETER MYERS bus, in search of sunshine and fun sure you jump on board and sing communities, bringing joy and art and by special arrangement with StudioCanal in Athens! along with the happiest, hit-filled, to as many people as possible. Orchestrations by KEITH STRACHAN feel-good musical of your summer Performed by arrangement with Along the way, the mechanics pick Post Show Talk: Relaxed Music Theatre International (Europe) Limited holiday. Thurs 30 May, Performance: up a stowaway, rescue stranded on behalf of Josef Weinberger Limited after the matinée Thurs 19 Sept, 2pm singing trio Do-Re-Mi and fall in love! 02 01796 484626 | PitlochryFestivalTheatre.com Turn to page 26 for all performance dates 03 “It’s discouraging to think how many people are shocked by honesty and how few by deceit.” BLITHE SPIRIT by Noël Coward Celebrated and charming novelist Blithe Spirit is Coward’s most Charles Condomine has invited successful, inventive and a local medium and eccentric, highly-spirited comedy. It was Madame Arcati, to hold a séance at the longest-running hit of his his house, as research for his latest career, the film version of which book. Rather surprisingly, the memorably starred Rex Harrison hapless Arcati calls up the ghost and Margaret Rutherford. of Charles’ first wife – the alluring If you relished our 2013 production Elvira. Safe in the knowledge of Present Laughter, then you’ll that only Charles can see her, love this mischievous comedy Elvira embarks on a series of that’s pure Coward at his troublesome events that quickly nonchalant and sardonic best. move from somewhat harmless to very dangerous… Supported by Katharine Liston in loving memory of Iain Liston Post Show Talk: Captioned Performance: Wed 26 June, after matinée Wed 10 July, 2pm 04 01796 484626 | PitlochryFestivalTheatre.com Turn page 26 for all performance dates 05 “Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” THE CRUCIBLE by Arthur Miller For the puritanical folk of Salem, Arthur Miller’s 1953 play is one Massachusetts, the news that of the most powerful pieces of their young women have been 20th-century theatre. Written as conjuring spirits in the forest is an allegory for McCarthyism, when devastating. It means the devil the US government persecuted its is amongst them. And the devil citizens for being communists, this must be hunted down and driven parable of politics, religious fervour out, whatever the cost. Fear and and fear is a masterpiece which suspicion quickly spiral out of still resonates in the 21st-century. control, unleashing a murderous powder keg of accusations, hysteria, lust and revenge. Post Show Talk: Relaxed Performance: Wed 4 Sept, after matinée Fri 20 Sept, 2pm BSL Interpreted Performance: Turn to page 26 for all performance dates Tues 10 Sept, 8pm 06 01796 484626 | PitlochryFestivalTheatre.com By arrangement with Josef Weinberger Limited. 07 boogie woogie bugle boy • Tuxedo Junction Don’t sit under the Apple Tree T’ain’t What You Do • Goodbye-ee Wish Me Luck As You Wave Me Goodbye “A soldier, a schoolgirl and a nun. If they went into a pub, it could turn into a joke.” BLONDE BOMBSHELLS OF 1943 By Alan Plater Band leader Betty is in trouble. Her soldier saxophonist. Will Betty glamorous band has finally landed and her assorted crew give the a big-time BBC performance on performance of their lives? the wireless, but various illicit Based on the BAFTA-winning liaisons with the Yanks have TV film starring Judi Dench, this depleted their ranks. show is guaranteed to raise your In double-quick time, remaining spirits with stunning, live vocal and bandmates recruit new talent! musical performances of hits by Enter a draft-dodging drummer Glenn Miller, The Andrews Sisters, who is unafraid to don a frock, George Formby, Fats Waller and a nun who plays a mean more, with all the glitz and sparkle ukulele, an innocent schoolgirl of a gone but not forgotten era. clarinetist and a rather snooty, Post Show Talk: Turn to page 26 for performance dates Wed 3 July, after the matinée 08 01796 484626 | PitlochryFestivalTheatre.com 09 “I know you despise me; allow me to say, it is because you do not understand me.” A World Première NORTH AND SOUTH by Elizabeth Gaskell, adapted by Janys Chambers Strong-willed vicar’s daughter A tale for today, this timely Margaret Hale has grown up in adaptation of Elizabeth Gaskell’s the rarefied atmosphere of rural classic 19th-century novel by southern England, so when her BAFTA-nominated writer Janys family relocates to the roughness Chambers explores the complex and vitality of a northern factory relationship between North and town, she is thrown into a new life South, and between women and of strikes and strife. men of different classes. Hot-blooded industrialist John Can reason overcome pride Thornton rules his cotton mill and prejudice? Can compassion with an iron hand. Sparks fly when triumph over a blind adherence Margaret challenges both master to market forces? Can love bloom and millhand, only to discover that amongst the snowy fibres of a not all of her southern beliefs hold money-driven cotton mill? true. Inspiration And Characterisation Post Show Talk: A Writers’ Workshop with Thur 5 Sept, after the matinée Janys Chambers: Mon 29 Jul, 6pm Turn to page 29 for performance dates 10 by ELIZABETH GASKELL, adapted by JANYS CHAMBERS 01796 484626 | PitlochryFestivalTheatre.com 11 “Carried across deathbeds Across oceans to faraway lands Burning deep into the soil Blood in the veins And fire in the blood What fire!” HERITAGE by Nicola McCartney Canada 1914. Sarah McCrea stands and his determination to define on the threshold of womanhood, his identify catches fire, centuries facing a bright future in a new of conflict threaten to blight their country. Leaving Ulster behind, love. And for Sarah, the realisation Sarah and her family carve out dawns that old battles are being their existence in an emerging fought on new territory. community. First staged in 1998, Heritage is a Drawn to one another through poignant and poetic exploration tales of a near-forgotten, mythical of love, identity, tribalism and Ireland, Sarah and her neighbour the need to belong. As stark Michael Donoghue become firm and poignant as the sweeping friends. But when Sarah and landscape it conjures, all at once it Michael’s relationship deepens is epic, lyrical and timeless. Post Show Talk: Turn to page 28 for performance dates Wed 14 Aug, after the matinée 12 01796 484626 | PitlochryFestivalTheatre.com 13 “I caught the finger between the palms of my hands and held it there and looked into his face. Already he was uneasy – he wanted to withdraw his challenge.” FAITH HEALER by Brian Friel Travelling to the small towns and A haunting exploration of love, remote village halls scattered loss, belief and sacrifice,Faith throughout Scotland and Wales, Healer is often funny, passionate the Fantastic Francis Hardy, and tender. It will take you to the together with his indefatigably heart of what it means to love, loyal wife, Grace, and their born- struggle and believe. into-show-business manager, Brian Friel is one of Ireland’s Teddy, promises healing to the greatest playwrights. Author hopeless and restoration for the of Translations and Dancing sick and suffering. At Lughnasa, Faith Healer is Each of their stories in turn sheds considered his masterpiece. shifting shards of light on events. Starring George Costigan who is Only one thing is certain however; best known for portraying Bob in Faith Healer Francis is at the mercy the 1987 filmRita, Sue and Bob Too of his ‘unreliable’ gift. So where as well as his more recent role in does truth lie? Showman? Happy Valley.