The Pitlochry Festival theatre hosted a lively first-ever LGBTQ+ festival in the picturesque Scottish town of Pitlochry. The three-day event, dubbed "Out in the Hills," brought together an array of creative pursuits, including talks, scratch performances, workshops, and even a ceilidh led by the Malin Lewis Trio. This celebration of queer culture was spearheaded by new artistic director Alan Cumming, who is no stranger to pushing boundaries.
Sir Ian McKellen, 86 and with impressive lung capacity for his age, took the stage to perform a rehearsed reading of Laurie Slade's new monologue "Equinox." Written from the perspective of Ed, an elderly gay man struggling to come to terms with his life choices, McKellen delivered a powerful performance that was met with thunderous applause. His character's emotional plea for understanding and acceptance resonated deeply with the audience.
After the reading, Cumming joined forces with Graham Norton to engage in a witty conversation about the TV host's career. The lighthearted discussion featured humorous anecdotes, touching moments, and a healthy dose of sarcasm β characteristic of both hosts. Meanwhile, audiences were eagerly anticipating other events, including a Sunday afternoon panel discussion between trans playwright Jo Clifford and her daughter Catriona Innes.
Throughout the festival, attendees were treated to an inclusive atmosphere that was, at times, irreverent in its humor and playfulness. Graham Norton even expressed his enthusiasm for being part of such a joyous celebration, stating, "I love that there's this big gay thing in the middle of Scotland." The event's unapologetic embrace of queer culture was further underscored by Cumming's tongue-in-cheek reference to his own Scottish heritage.
Overall, Out in the Hills demonstrated its commitment to fostering a sense of community and providing a platform for creative expression. By embracing diversity and inclusivity, this festival has solidified its position as an important contributor to Scotland's cultural landscape.
Sir Ian McKellen, 86 and with impressive lung capacity for his age, took the stage to perform a rehearsed reading of Laurie Slade's new monologue "Equinox." Written from the perspective of Ed, an elderly gay man struggling to come to terms with his life choices, McKellen delivered a powerful performance that was met with thunderous applause. His character's emotional plea for understanding and acceptance resonated deeply with the audience.
After the reading, Cumming joined forces with Graham Norton to engage in a witty conversation about the TV host's career. The lighthearted discussion featured humorous anecdotes, touching moments, and a healthy dose of sarcasm β characteristic of both hosts. Meanwhile, audiences were eagerly anticipating other events, including a Sunday afternoon panel discussion between trans playwright Jo Clifford and her daughter Catriona Innes.
Throughout the festival, attendees were treated to an inclusive atmosphere that was, at times, irreverent in its humor and playfulness. Graham Norton even expressed his enthusiasm for being part of such a joyous celebration, stating, "I love that there's this big gay thing in the middle of Scotland." The event's unapologetic embrace of queer culture was further underscored by Cumming's tongue-in-cheek reference to his own Scottish heritage.
Overall, Out in the Hills demonstrated its commitment to fostering a sense of community and providing a platform for creative expression. By embracing diversity and inclusivity, this festival has solidified its position as an important contributor to Scotland's cultural landscape.
I'm so thrilled to see Pitlochry hosting its first-ever LGBTQ+ festival 
! It's about time our Scottish hills got a bit more colorful 
Alan Cumming did an amazing job as artistic director, bringing together so many talented artists and creatives 
. And can we talk about Sir Ian McKellen's performance? 
86 and still slaying the stage like it's his job! 
The ceilidh was a total highlight too - I love how the Malin Lewis Trio brought that Scottish energy to the festival 
. Can't wait for next year's Out in the Hills! 
graham norton was hilarious with jo clifford too 
what a wonderful celebration of queer culture 
οΈβ
. Alan Cumming is GENIUS 
. I mean, who wouldn't want to attend a ceilidh led by the Malin Lewis Trio 
β
! His performance was pure MAGIC 
. I'm so glad Graham Norton was part of it too - his wit is on point as always 
. Can't wait for next year's event 
it's just a bunch of stuff thrown together for the sake of being diverse 
. And Pitlochry? It's like they're trying too hard to be charming and picturesque... newsflash: it's Scotland, not a Hallmark card 
. But I guess it was cool that Sir Ian McKellen came out and showed off his impressive lungs 
. And Alan Cumming is always going to bring some much-needed edge to any event 
. The panel discussion with Jo Clifford and Catriona Innes sounds super interesting, though 
. Can't wait for the next year's "festival" to see what they've got cooking in Pitlochry... or if it'll just be more of the same 
.
- the way he poured his heart into Ed's emotional monologue was truly breathtaking. And I adored how Graham Norton and Alan Cumming just riffed off each other during their chat; it was like they were having a private joke that we got to eavesdrop on 
. As for Graham Norton's comment about there being this "big gay thing" in Scotland... honestly, who wouldn't want that? 
. And can we talk about Graham Norton's banter skills? 
. It's events like this one that remind me why I love being part of the online community β we're always talking about ways to support creators and promote diversity and inclusion 
!