When it premiered back in 2009 at Pitlochry Festival Theatre, this ground breaking, critically acclaimed and universally loved musical attracted visitors from throughout the UK and overseas and went on to smash all previous PFT Box Office records – and it hasn’t been beaten since!

“That made it the perfect choice as our first Autumn production in this, our 60th Anniversary year”, commented John Durnin, Chief Executive and Artistic Director of Pitlochry Festival Theatre. He continued: “Having introduced an entirely new development in 2010 – our very first Christmas production – this special Anniversary year seemed the ideal time to roll out the next planned addition to the PFT programme: a stand-alone, crowd-pleasing production to brighten up the Autumn evenings. And in these challenging times, when there seems to be very little to smile about, what could be better than a chance to enjoy again one of the funniest, most heart-warming new musicals that Scottish theatre has ever produced?”

He continued: “Pitlochry Festival Theatre was founded back in 1951 by John Stewart as a gift to his native land, so perhaps more than any other Scottish theatre, PFT belongs to the people of Scotland. In turn, Whisky Galore – A Musical! was PFT`s gift to Scotland for the Year of Homecoming in 2009. And such was its success, with regular ‘House Full’ signs and all performances sold out over 6 weeks before the end of the Season, that barely a week has since gone by without somebody asking me not ‘if’, but ‘when’ – as in: ‘When are you going to be doing Whisky Galore again?’ Well, the wait is over. It`s back!”

With a score that conjures up both the 1940s and the unmistakable sounds of the Western Isles, this celebrated adaptation of Compton Mackenzie`s marvellous novel of island life (performed by a highly talented cast of actor-musicians, many of whom are returning from the original production) will run from Friday 21st October to Saturday 12th November, with matinée performances every Wednesday and Saturday. Tickets are available from the PFT Box Office on 01796 484626 or online at http://www.pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com/

Synopsis:

Whisky Galore – A Musical! adapted from the novel by Compton McKenzie

Book by Shona McKee McNeil, music and lyrics by Ian Hammond Brown

“How can we fight the bloody Germans when we don’t have any bloody whisky?”

1943: the curse of rationing has visited the remote Hebridean islands of Little Todday and Great Todday and the thirsty islanders have all but run out of uisge beatha – the water of life.

And it’s not just the whisky drought causing problems, either. Good Catholic girl Peggy Macroon has fallen for one of the soldiers stationed on the islands, Sergeant Odd – who’s not just English, but Protestant to boot! Catriona MacLeod is having trouble prising meek schoolmaster George Campbell away from his Wee Free dragon of a mother. And the dragon herself seems too much in sympathy with the army authorities for some people`s liking . . .

When the S.S. Cabinet Minister runs aground with fifty thousand cases of whisky aboard, the islanders rush to take advantage of the unexpected bounty. But then the officious Captain Waggett, the English commander of the Home Guard, learns of the illicit salvage operation – and is ordered to confiscate the liquor!

Based on Compton MacKenzie’s funny, romantic and hugely entertaining novel, Whisky Galore – A Musical! will be a delightful Autumnal treat for Scots and visitors alike!

Source: Pitlochry Theatre