ALAN Cumming is set to bring a summer festival of eating, drinking, and learning to Scotland.
Nestled in his home county of Perthshire, Cumming’s new lecture series, A Beer, A Bap and A Boffin, will be held at Pitlochry Festival Theatre. Cumming was elected as artistic director of the theatre in 2024.
The series aims to spotlight leading experts from the Royal Society of Edinburgh, which Cumming is a member of himself.
On Saturday, June 14, the series opens with James Robertson’s talk, What’s next for Libraries, Literature, and Creativity?, which will explore the state of culture and literature in the library sector, shedding light on the future of our libraries as AI becomes increasingly commonplace.
David Field FRSE, CEO of the Royal Zoological Society Scotland, continues the series on Saturday, August 2, with a talk on how to train your wildcat.
Field’s lecture seeks to uncover the techniques that specialists use to prepare zoo-bred wildcats for release, whilst also discussing the possibility of bringing back Scotland’s lost species.
On Saturday, August 23, Professor Niahm Nic Daeid FRSE closes the talks with her lecture titled "what is forensic science and why does it matter?" and discuss the crucial use of science in criminal investigation and trial.
Cumming said one of the "many surprises" at the theatre is the "explorers garden," adding: "I want to find as many reasons as possible for it to be enjoyed. That’s why I thought of A Beer, A Bap and A Boffin!
"As a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, I have watched many academics mesmerise with their knowledge and rediscovered how fascinating it can be to learn about topics you’d otherwise never encounter. So, I invited some of these Boffins to do lectures in our Explorers Garden amphitheatre, and with the addition of a wee drink and a bite to eat as they extrapolate, I don’t think there could be a better way to spend a summer’s day!
"Also, full disclosure this is both a steal and a homage to Oran Mor’s brilliant A Play, A Pie and A Pint!”
Alongside access to the talks, tickets include a complementary beer and a bap.
For tickets and further information visit here, or call the Box Office on 01796484626.
