Alan Cumming is widely recognized for his roles in TV shows such as The Traitors US, The Good Wife, and Schmigadoon.

However, it was an entirely different endeavor that led the Scottish actor back to his Highland Perthshire roots—taking the helm at the Pitlochry Festival Theatre.

Cumming recalls that his journey to this role began while filming an episode of Channel 4’s All Aboard: Scotland’s Poshest Trains. During the visit, he spoke with artistic director Elizabeth Newman about the theatre’s work. “Afterward, she asked if I had ever considered running a theatre,” he said.

With filming commitments for The Traitors and two film projects keeping him in Scotland throughout 2024, the timing felt right. When Newman stepped down in July, Cumming quietly applied for the position.

Though born and raised just a few miles away in Aberfeldy, Cumming’s career on Broadway, in film, and on television had long since taken him to New York, where he lives with his husband, Grant Shaffer. Yet, in recent years, he has been spending increasing time in Scotland, working on productions like Burn, Macbeth, and The Bacchae with the National Theatre of Scotland.

“I've been living partly here for years, trying to split my time more evenly between Scotland and New York,” he explained. “I was very honest with the recruitment team about what I could offer. I have other commitments, but I can do a lot remotely.”

What truly drew him to the role was the theatre’s mission to "share Pitlochry with the world and the world with Pitlochry." He immediately connected with the idea. “I thought, I can do that. I’m from here. I can go out into the world and bring the world back here.”

Cumming’s appointment was announced just before the Emmy Awards, where The Traitors US won Outstanding Reality Competition Programme. Dressed in his signature tartan, he seized the moment to highlight Pitlochry on a global stage—something he hopes to continue as theatre director.

“I have experience, I’m talented, and I know a lot of people. But being well-known also helps. It raises the theatre’s profile and will be invaluable for fundraising,” he noted.

His appointment mirrors that of Nicola Benedetti, who became director of the Edinburgh International Festival. Both bring star power and a strong voice to advocate for the arts in Scotland. Like Benedetti, Cumming plans to perform on stage while balancing his own projects.

His first season’s programming will be revealed later this year, but discussions are already underway. He hopes to “act in or direct shows in every season,” marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the Pitlochry Festival Theatre.