Pitlochry Festival Theatre

After the decline and subsequent closure of his Park Theatre Club in the West End of Glasgow, John Stewart decided to plan a theatre site in the Knockendarroch area of Pitlochry. However Stewart's plans were met with little success as building licences were refused by the Ministry of Works.[1]

Following this setback, Stewart had the idea of founding a tent-style theatre. This would involve him viewing the wet weather tent of London's Regent's Park and the Birmingham Arena Theatre. Stewart searched for the construction company of these tents in Walsall, eventually investing in one for a theatre space for Pitlochry.

After construction work and promotion by the Scottish Tourist Board, the theatre officially opened on May 19th, 1951. In his opening address, chairman of the board and later Secretary of State for Scotland Tom Johnston said, "This theatre is a monument to one man’s courage, one man’s persistence, and one man’s great faith."

After years 30 years of use and regular cases of damage to the tents by weather, it was decided in the late 1970s that the tent structure would be renovated and stabilised. Construction work began on a new theatre building at the current site, and eventually on May 19th, 1981, the new theatre building was opened on the 30th anniversary of John Stewart's first tent.[2]

The theatre is now of great cultural importance to the Perthshire area. Annually every summer, the theatre and its surrounding area attract thousands of tourists with the theatre's famous summer season, which showcases a large amount of the country's talent in dramatic arts, comedy and writing.

Each summer the theatre offers six plays in daily repertory, enabling visitors to see six plays in six nights (or in four days if two matinees are included); the theatre asserts that "No other UK theatre attempts this extraordinary feat" and that the nearest similar offering is in Canada.[3][4] For example, the 2018 season offered: Chicago the musical; Jim Cartwright's The Rise and Fall of Little Voice; J. M. Barrie's Quality Street; Tom Stoppard's Travesties; Rodney Ackland's Before the Party; and Rona Munro's The Last Witch.[3]

In 2014, it was announced that the Pitlochry Festival Theatre would undergo a £25 million expansion of the current building. Plans have been made to have the expansion completed and opened for the theatre's 70th anniversary in 2021.[5]

• Official website