'Theatrical exchange' launched between Pitlochry and Manhattan as Scottish musical to tour Off-Broadway

Alan Cumming and Shirley Henderson in A History of Paper

Alan Cumming has said he has fulfilled a “dream” to start a “theatrical exchange channel” between Pitlochry and New York as he announced a Scottish musical will tour to Manhattan.

A History of Paper, starring Cumming and Shirley Henderson, will be transferring Off-Broadway to the Shubert Organization’s Stage42 in New York for its US premiere in February, where it will play for a 13-week run.

The show, Directed by Dundee Rep Theatre’s award-winning artistic director Andrew Panton, is the first production from either theatre to transfer Off-Broadway. It was performed in Pitlochry Festival Theatre and Dundee Rep in August and September this year.

A History of Paper started life as an original BBC Radio 4 play in 2017, written by Oliver Emanuel. Oliver, and composer Gareth Williams, subsequently adapted it as a work-in-progress at Dundee Rep Theatre in 2019. The production went on to make its Edinburgh Festival Fringe debut at The Traverse Theatre in 2024, where it won the Scotsman Fringe First Award.

The show charts a universal love story between a man and a woman through the physical paper artefacts that define a relationship and a lifetime - from letters, menus and train tickets to shopping lists and postcards.

Alan Cumming and Shirley Henderson in A History of Paper

Cumming, who hosts the US version of The Traitors, said: “I am so thrilled to bring A History of Paper from my home country of Scotland to my adopted home in New York City. This is one of these rare shows that transcends its own story and manages to touch an audience in a really visceral and beautiful way. And it utterly belongs in New York City.

“Since taking over as artistic director at Pitlochry Festival Theatre it has been my plan (and dream) to start a theatrical exchange channel between Manhattan and our theatre in the hills.”

Henderson said: “When Alan whispered backstage to me that we might be taking our show A History of Paper to New York, my heart skipped a beat. In that moment, I felt excited, a little scared but happy to be holding hands with Alan as we take this beautiful piece of writing with sweet music on the next part of its journey. I never imagined it was possible to have the opportunity to step onto the New York stage.”