The new Scottish-themed musical Ceilidh will run at Shoreditch Town Hall this autumn following its debut at Pitlochry Festival Theatre. The show, part of Alan Cumming’s inaugural season as artistic director, will then tour multiple UK venues.

Ceilidh, written by Scott Gilmour and Claire McKenzie under their collective name Noisemaker, is set during a traditional Scottish social gathering centred on a caller and folk band. The musical explores family relationships, inheritance, and the cultural significance of the ceilidh event.

The production first appears as part of Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s 75th anniversary season, coinciding with Alan Cumming’s first year as artistic director. Cumming described the show as “a gorgeous, heartfelt story wrapped up in an unadulterated night of joy, dancing, music and pure Highland magic.”

Directed and choreographed by Sam Pinkleton, whose recent credits include the West End hit Oh, Mary! and the Broadway staging of The Rocky Horror Show, the show promises energetic dance and lively music. Ceilidh features a cast of Scottish performers to underscore its cultural roots.

After the Pitlochry run, Ceilidh will open in London at Shoreditch Town Hall from 22 October to 13 November. It will then tour High Wycombe Old Town Hall, Eastbourne Winter Garden, Fareham Live, Guildford G Live, and Bradford Live Ballroom across late 2023 and early 2027, with additional venues to be announced.

The production is a collaboration among Grove Entertainment, Barbara Whitman, Trafalgar Theatre Productions, and Eilene Davidson Productions. Tickets for the London shows are currently available.

This touring schedule reflects an ongoing interest in new work rooted in regional and folk culture, supporting the UK’s diverse theatrical voices in the post-pandemic era.