In a bold move, Pitlochry Festival Theatre in Scotland has launched its first-ever LGBTQ+ festival, “Out in the Hills.” The three-day event, programmed by Lewis Hetherington, was a vibrant celebration of the LGBTQ+ community, featuring talks, scratch performances, and workshops that transformed the usually sedate theatre into a buzzing social hub.
The festival kicked off with a lively Queer As Folk! ceilidh, led by the Malin Lewis Trio, which had the audience on a high. Other highlights included a conversation between trans playwright Jo Clifford and her daughter Catriona Innes, as well as the much-anticipated Kilted Yoga session by Finlay Wilson.
The main draw of the festival, however, was the presence of renowned actors Sir Ian McKellen and Graham Norton. McKellen delivered a powerful, emotionally charged performance in a rehearsed reading of the new monologue “Equinox” by Laurie Slade. Playing the role of Ed, an elderly gay man struggling to find the right words, McKellen captivated the audience with his raw and visceral portrayal.
In a separate event, McKellen was joined by festival artistic director Alan Cumming and TV host Graham Norton for a lively conversation about their careers and the importance of LGBTQ+ representation in the arts. “I love that there’s this big gay thing in the middle of Scotland,” said Norton, delighting in the festival’s joyous atmosphere.
Cumming, sporting a t-shirt with the legend “Ae fond pish,” steered the discussion towards more serious topics, such as homophobia and the need for greater diversity in the theatre industry. The event was a testament to the festival’s mission to celebrate and uplift the LGBTQ+ community, with both McKellen and Norton receiving enthusiastic applause for their advocacy.
The inaugural Out in the Hills festival has undoubtedly left a lasting impression on the Pitlochry community, showcasing the power of the arts to bring people together and amplify underrepresented voices. As the curtain falls on this groundbreaking event, the organisers are already looking ahead to next year, promising an even more vibrant and inclusive celebration of LGBTQ+ culture.