Elizabeth Newman’s six-year tenure as Pitlochry’s artistic director has been characterised by a spirit of generosity and an urge to connect. As Mother Abbess says of Maria in The Sound of Music, Newman has a “great capacity to love”.
Which makes it all the more fitting that her parting shot before moving to Sheffield Theatres is a musical that champions civic responsibility. In our dark political times, this is a show that nourishes and redeems.
And if it is goodness you want, look no further than Kirsty Findlay. As Maria, the would-be nun, she is as straightforward as her blue-grey pinafore: direct, practical and pure. This she achieves without being prim or starchy. She radiates sweetness, yes, but she also brings fun and creativity. [READ MORE]