Ceilidh Musical UK Tour Opens at Pitlochry Then Travels Nationwide

Ceilidh, pronounced kay-lee, is lining up one of the more distinctive regional openings of the autumn: a brand-new Scottish musical that asks audiences to gather, dance and follow a family story as it unfolds around them. The UK premiere lands at historic Pitlochry Town Hall from 7 to 17 October 2026 as part of Alan Cumming’s inaugural season as artistic director of Pitlochry Festival Theatre, before a London residency at Shoreditch Town Hall and a nationwide tour running into early 2027.

The Pitlochry performances take place at the town’s historic Town Hall, away from the Festival Theatre’s main building. The hall setting brings you close to the music and dancing.

What to expect at Ceilidh

Writers Scott Gilmour and Claire McKenzie (working as Noisemaker) frame a ceilidh as Scotland’s proud tradition of gathering: music, storytelling and dancing that leaves the outside world at the door. Their musical keeps that spirit while threading a multi-generational family tale through the night. A lively caller steers the room; a stomping folk band keeps the floor moving; and audiences can join the dancing or watch from the balcony, meeting the show “exactly where you are,” in the production’s own words.

Direction and choreography come from Tony Award-winner Sam Pinkleton (Oh, Mary!; Broadway’s The Rocky Horror Show at Studio 54). The creative team announced around the UK rollout also includes set design by Rachel Hauck, costumes by Sarah Laux, lighting by Isabella Byrd, sound by Danny Erdberg and Ursula Kwong-Brown, orchestrations by Claire McKenzie and musical supervision by Kris Kukul.

For regional theatregoers, the draw is the mix of participatory night-out energy and touring-scale storytelling: closer to a community hall celebration than a proscenium musical, yet built by a team already moving between Scotland, North America and UK presenting houses.

From Glasgow and Baltimore to Pitlochry

Ceilidh arrives in the UK after development work in Scotland and a sold-out North American season in Baltimore at the M&T Bank Exchange at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center. Official materials describe that US run as a proving ground for the immersive floor-and-balcony format before the title’s homecoming journey through Pitlochry and on to Shoreditch.

Alan Cumming, speaking as artistic director of Pitlochry Festival Theatre, has publicly welcomed the show as “beautifully entertaining and Scottish to its very core,” arguing it is “only fitting” that the piece should start in Pitlochry before it “reels its way down to Shoreditch Town Hall and across the rest of the UK.” Gilmour and McKenzie have likewise described watching the story travel “from Glasgow to North America, Pitlochry to Shoreditch, and now out across the UK” as a thrill rooted in the simple act of gathering for a dance.

Pinkleton’s published comments strike a similar note: that there is “absolutely nothing like Ceilidh,” and that continuing inside Gilmour and McKenzie’s “rambunctious, life-affirming” theatrical world for Shoreditch and the UK tour has been a joy to sustain after the North American chapter.

Cast for the UK chapter

Scott Gilmour will lead the company as Ramsay, with Kyle Gardiner as Alternate Ramsay. The cast also includes David Rankine (Leo), Kirsty Findlay (Euna), George Drennan (Older Leo), Annie Grace (Older Euna / Lady Buchanan / Moira), Star Penders (Granny Maclavaney / Maria), Rori Hawthorn (Rowan), Jerome Lincoln (Lucas) and Laura Lovemore (Yvonne), with company members including Charlie West, Harry Ward, Leo Shak, Elinor Peregrin, Helen Logan and Robin MacKenzie.

Scott Gilmour co-wrote Ceilidh with Claire McKenzie and also plays Ramsay, bringing the songs and story to life alongside the company and live band.

Confirmed UK dates: Pitlochry, Shoreditch and the road

According to the official UK tour site, the currently published itinerary is:

• Pitlochry Festival Theatre at Pitlochry Town Hall: 7–17 October 2026
• London, Shoreditch Town Hall: 23 October to 13 November 2026
• High Wycombe Old Town Hall: 18–22 November 2026
• Eastbourne Winter Garden Floral Hall: 24–28 November 2026
• Fareham Live: 30 November to 5 December 2026
• Brighton Dome Corn Exchange: 15–20 December 2026
• Guildford, G Live: 29 December 2026 to 2 January 2027
• Aberdeen Music Hall: 19–23 January 2027
• Bradford Live: 2–7 March 2027

More venues are still to be announced. Plan your visit with our venue guides to Fareham Live, G Live, Guildford and Bradford Live.

Pitlochry’s own box office currently shows several Town Hall performances already sold out or on limited availability, a reminder that the Highlands opener is behaving like a destination booking rather than a quiet try-out. Running time remains to be confirmed on the Pitlochry listing.

Tickets and what happens next

Find dates and tickets on the official Ceilidh website. Select your nearest stop to book with its box office.

Choose the dance floor if you want to join in, or watch from the balcony. Check the seating and access arrangements for your chosen venue before you book.