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Pitlochry Festival Theatre www.pitlochry.org.uk e-mail booking
01796 484626

The Pitlochry Theatre building which echoes the tent it started off in. © PFT 2002

The Theatre and Pitlochry,

2006 Summer season - Dates.

Reviews of 2005 2004, 2003, 2002 and 2001 Seasons.

This theatre runs a summer rep company in scenic surroundings where you can watch salmon leaping in the Tummel River in the intervals. It has a very accomplished costume and scenery department which you can tour as well as the backstage. John Durnin has been appointed Clive Perry's successor as Artistic Director.

Pitlochry produces usually fine productions of well made plays catering for an apperciative audience which returns every year to enjoy this theatre's special strengths. For the winter season Pitlochry runs themed weekends containing crafts, music and special guests.

By the banks of the River Tummel, their theatre has most beautiful setting. You can fairly often take in two different plays on the same day and in 3 days it is possible to see 3 plays if you plan. There are additional entertainments during the season and this season they are going to include concerts, poetry, writers' talks, creative workshops and playdays. You can also book a backstage tour on Fridays from the 28 of May till 15 Oct and also on Tuesdays from 6 July to 24 August.

Food and Drink. There is a Bar and Coffee Bar and a Restaurant. When the theatre is open Restaurant booking is advised 01796 484626 for dinner. The somewhat expensive meals are tasty and well presented, helpings are rather too generous and rich if you are going afterwards to watch a show. The cafe's food is fine but could perhaps be a bit more exciting, in the sandwiches only four types are offered. Pitlochry Theatre should take a look at what is on offer at Dundee's Rep, St Andrews' Byre and Perth's Theatre to see how to modernise their approach.

Other Events. There are regular art exhibitions in the foyer. Pitlochry Festival Theatre are increasingly having out of main season events for theatre goers of the local area. In Autumn 2003 were sucessfully open in the winter till April 2004 with a weekend programme of visiting shows, craft days, workshops and drama classes for all ages. This will be repeated this year.

The auditorium of Pitlochry theatre © PFT 2002

The auditorium of the theatre is designed to give very good view of the stage and the seats are wide and comfortable. It is possible to get to your seat without people having to get up to let you get by if you buy in most rows. When doing this I suggest you go along the row facing the seated people and thanking them as you go. A face is better than a rear!

Patrons with special needs are well catered for - full details on the theatre's website. Wheelchairs are accommodated half way up the auditorium in the middle and are easy to move into. There are four spaces and a courtesy wheelchair can arranged in advance. There is an induction loop facility, personal sound amphifiers are available if arranged in advance. An audio description can be usually be provided if requested in advance.

The Town Pitlochry is about 2hrs easy drive from Edinburgh and about the same from Glasgow and an hour or less from Dundee. Pitlochry has lots of hotels and B+Bs, most are rather traditional, the designer hotel vogue hasn't reached this area yet. Recomendations for places to stay and eat are being sought by the Theatre Editor who is investigating them herself too.

The Old Armoury (email) (on the other side of the Tummel but walkable from theatre) past her and her partner's taste and ambiance tests easily the last two years in a historic building with a lovely tea garden and has a good outlooks. Has various menus including with a theatre menu 5:30pm - 6:30pm.

For places for those on tighter budgets Fern Cottage, on Ferry Road (email) at the town side of the railway bridge if you walk over the people bridge from the Theatre. Mediterranean style foods with a theatre menu 5:30pm - 6:45pm, run by very pleasant and helpful staff and serving tasty food.

Or the recently refurbished Strathgarry Hotel on the Main St up near the path to the fish ladder which has a more limited menu but serves reasonably priced meals and excellent coffee, try the mocha latte.

Port-Na-Craig Inn (on banks of Tummel below the theatre) is now under new ownership and opens this year for morning coffee, lunch, afternoon tea and dinners. Special pre-theatre menu from 5:30pm. A chance again to sip and sup and watch the salmon leap. I've yet to check out their fare.

The 2006 Pitlochry Festival Theatre Season.
A Women Of No Importance by Oscar Wilde. A mother finds her son endangers her secret.
Summer Lightening Adapted from PG Woodhouse's novel by Giles Havergal. Romances & a pig.
Man Of The Moment by Ayckbourn. TV jurno reunites a hero & the gangster now chat show host.
Chimneys by Agatha Christie Lost play about Balkan oil & prince, HM Government and a plot.
The Grapes Of Wrath adapted by Frank Galati from Steinbeck's .
Dolly West's Kitchen by Frank McGuinness. GIs arrive in a Donegal kitchen in WW2.

The 2005 Pitlochry Festival Theatre Season.
Man For All Seasons by Robert Bolt. Thomas More is a man trouble is Henry VIII is his king.
Kind Hearts And Cornets Adapted from film by Giles Croft. Distant relative resorts to murder.
Things We Do For Love by Alan Ayckbourn. Upstairs lovers, lodger below, landlady between.
To Kill A Mocking Bird by Christopher Sergel from novel about accusations in racialist South US.
Treasure Island adapted by Grace Barnes from RLS's seagoing, action packed tale.
Dolly West's Kitchen by Frank McGuinness. GIs arrive in a Donegal kitchen in WW2.

The 2004 Pitlochry Festival Theatre Season.
Engaged by W S Gilbert. Three fiancees and one rich gentleman get stranded in the Borders.
The Shop on Sly Corner by Edward Percy. A emigre father a gifted daughter and secrets.
A Small Family Business by Alan Ayckbourn. Newly made MD son-in-law discovers things.
Lend Me A Tenor by Ken Ludwig. A farce with a volatile wife, a famous tenor and love-struck PA.
The Government Inspector by Gogol new version by John Byrne. Corruption in a small town.
The Weir by Conor McPherson. In a remote Silgo pub locals entertain a visitor with ghostly tales.

The 2003 Pitlochry Festival Theatre Season Reviews
The Matchmaker by Thornton Wilder. The light comedy that introduced Dolly the Matchmaker to the world. It's New York and a wealthy old man employs her to find him a bride.
Stepping Out by Richard Harris. Seven woman and a man take a class in tap dancing and then they're asked to go on stage.
Double Indemnity by James M. Cain. A femme fatale seduces an insurance man into helping her with the prefect crime and then the investigator starts to probe.
The Steamie by Tony Roper. Where working women went to wash their landry this nostalgic much loved play full of social history returns with Dolly, Magrit and Mrs Culfeather's ode to mince.
Man and Superman by George Bernard Shaw.John has a wealthy young ward trouble is she's got plans on him. Shaw's tragic-comedy has hime taking off to Spain with the lady in pursuit.
The Haunted Man by John Clifford. Meet Dickens and many of his characters in this acting tour de force performed by Jimmy Chisholm. Reviewed in Edinburgh in tour also goes to Glasgow and Bristol.
Also in the new Scottish Plant Collectors' Garden (opens officially in April) Stella Quines premiered Judith Adams's play concieved for this special new space.

The 2002 Pitlochry Festival Theatre Season Reviews
The Rep 2002 Season
Amadeus - Peter Shaffer's play about Mozart and his rival Salieri
Arsenic and Old Lace - Eccentric old Brooklyn Ladies bother their nephew
Absurd Person Singular - Ayckbourn's comedy set in 3 Christmas kitchens
The Hollow - An Agatha Christie with all the right ingredents for mystery
The Queen Of Spades - J Clifford's new play adapted from Puskin's novella
The Haunted Man - John Clifford's play about Dicken's with Jimmy Chisholm

The 2001 Pitlochry Festival Theatre Season Reviews
The Admirable Crichton - J M Barrie's satire on the British class system
The Ladykillers - dramatisation by Giles Croft from the original screenplay
The Shellseekers - Play based on Rosamunde Pilcher's novel
Let Wives Tak Tent - Robert Kemp's adaptation of Moliere's comedy L'ecole des Femmes set in C17 Edinburgh
The Winslow Boy - Rattigan's play about whether principle is a worse evil than disgrace.
Amy's View - David Hare's hit play's Scottish premiere

© Thelma Good 2001 - 2006.

Although every effort has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information presented in these pages, no responsibility can be accepted for any errors or omissions.
Theatre Editor, Thelma Good's e-mail is
thelma@edinburghguide.com

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