Pitlochry Festival Theatre to present filmed performance of The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus

A filmed performance of The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus will form part of an outdoor Christmas experience at Pitlochry Festival Theatre.

Running from 1 to 23 December, the special Christmas installation follows the success of last year’s The Magic of Christmas.

Pitlochry Festival Theatre is teaming up with Macrobert Arts Centre on the outdoor experience and filmed performance of L. Frank Baum’s much-loved Christmas tale The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus.

Adapted from the wonderfully inventive mind of award-winning poet and playwright Hannah Lavery, the film will be presented in the beautiful grounds of the Perthshire theatre. Ticket holders will also be sent a link to watch at home during the Christmas season while the film will also be shown on the big screen at the Macrobert Arts Centre on selected dates between 4-24 December.

It is Christmas Eve, and while most children are asleep, Alice has an idea to catch Santa Claus. Instead, she accidentally traps a Fairy in her bedroom who proceeds to tell Alice how Santa Claus came to be. There begins an incredible journey that takes us into the magical world of Wood Nymphs, Knooks, and Ryls. From the Forest of Burzee to the Laughing Valley and beyond. This is a Christmas story for the ages, for all ages.

The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus cast will feature Michael Cooke as Claus; Rosa Lavery as Alice; Lisa Livingstone as Necille/Alice’s Mum; Jane McCarry as Great Ack; Fiona Wood as Fairy; and Marco Young as Knook/Reindeer.

Elizabeth Newman, Artistic Director of Pitlochry Festival Theatre said: “We are thrilled to be making The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus, adapted from a novella by the brilliant Hannah Lavery this year.

“L Frank Baum conceived the origin story of Santa Claus to delight readers many years ago and Hannah has managed to create a funny, moving, and fresh new adaptation for audiences to enjoy in Pitlochry and Stirling.”

Julie Ellen, Artistic Director of Macrobert Arts Centre added: “I am delighted that this Christmas we are able to build on the partnership between Macrobert Arts Centre and Pitlochry Festival Theatre which bought ‘The Magic of Christmas’ to our audiences in 2020 when we could not have our usual festive fun.

“We had such a good experience working together to bring you that little bit of magic we are going to do again. So, a new creative adventure has begun with our friends in Pitlochry, and we cannot wait to share the special story of The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus on screen here at Macrobert.”

The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus runs from 1-23 December. For information and tickets for The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus visit www.pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com and www.Macrobertartscentre.org

About the author: Josh Darvill

Josh is Stageberry's editor with over five years of experience writing about theatre in the West End and across the UK. Prior to following his passion for musicals, he worked for more than a decade as a TV journalist.