Pitlochry Festival Theatre battled yesterday’s A9 closure (11 August) and widespread flooding in Perthshire by staging The Weir at very short notice.

Last night`s scheduled production at Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Alan Ayckbourn`s A Small Family Business, was a washout, as three of the principal actors in the show were left stranded on route to Pitlochry due to the A9 closure. John Durnin, Artistic Director at Pitlochry Festival Theatre, takes up the story:  

“We only found out that our missing trio couldn`t get through to Pitlochry at around 6.00pm. But our unique repertoire system meant that we were able to offer an alternative show, by staging Conor McPherson's The Weir instead of the Ayckbourn. Our ability to turnaround productions at at only two hours notice - plus having our large resident acting company on hand - allowed us to provide audiences with a quality performance, when most theatres facing this predicament would simply cancel.  Those audiences members who made it through the rain , floods and traffic chaos really appreciated the fact that we were able to offer them such a high quality show in such difficult circumstances.”  

He added: “I would like to thank all of the Pitlochry technical staff involved in getting us from London to Sligo in record time; the cast of The Weir, of course, who turned in a great performance; and last, but never least, our patrons, for their appreciation, support and great spirit. All in all, it was quite a night!”