Val McDermid, the celebrated crime writer, is set to see her long-cherished theatrical project finally come to fruition. Her play “And Midnight Never Come,” which delves into the intriguing and unsolved mystery surrounding the death of 16th-century English playwright and poet Christopher Marlowe, will be performed as a script-in-hand reading at the Pitlochry Festival Theatre. This milestone is particularly significant as it coincides with Alan Cumming’s first year as the theatre’s artistic director, a role in which he has shown enthusiasm for bringing McDermid’s script to life ahead of the theatre’s full-scale production season launching in 2026.

The play, directed by Philip Howard, former artistic director of the Edinburgh Traverse Theatre, will explore the events leading up to Marlowe’s death—shrouded in controversy and various theories for centuries. Marlowe was fatally stabbed in a guest house in Kent on May 30, 1593, but disputes abound over whether his murder was linked to espionage, a political assassination ordered by Queen Elizabeth I, religious conflict, or personal relationships. McDermid, originally from Kirkcaldy, Fife, first became fascinated with Marlowe as an Oxford undergraduate and has returned repeatedly to the story over a span of more than four decades. She has developed her own theory to underpin the play’s narrative, though she prefers audiences to discover the details themselves.

Following the premiere at Pitlochry on 18 August 2025, the work will be showcased the next evening at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, held in the Spiegeltent, where it will reach a wider audience. The Pitlochry performance is scheduled for 2.30pm in the theatre’s Studio, with tickets available to the public, followed by the 8pm presentation at the book festival. This collaboration marks a notable intersection of literary and theatrical celebration, emphasising McDermid’s return to theatre after years of exclusive focus on crime fiction writing.

McDermid’s journey to the stage has been unconventional. Her initial foray into playwriting began over 40 years ago when she adapted her first novel into a play, leading to an unexpected early career as a professional playwright at the age of 23. However, after being dropped by her agent and grappling with the practicalities of writing for theatre, McDermid shifted her focus to crime novels, inspired particularly by the feminist crime fiction of Sara Paretsky. This pivot launched her into a highly successful writing career, with over 19 million books sold worldwide and her work translated into more than 40 languages. Notably, her detective Karen Pirie series has recently returned to UK television screens for a second season.

The renewed interest in theatre emerged seven years ago when she contributed a political comedy to the lunchtime drama series “A Play, A Pie and A Pint.” Encouraged by that experience and the reception of her work in another medium, she revisited the Marlowe project. McDermid’s script was initially picked up by Edinburgh’s Royal Lyceum Theatre but was shelved due to financial constraints and later delayed again when the Edinburgh International Book Festival focused on other major programming.

The chance to collaborate with Alan Cumming, an actor known for his dynamic work and now the artistic director at Pitlochry Festival Theatre, proved pivotal. Despite initial doubts about the project moving forward, Cumming’s genuine excitement led to quick action. McDermid recounted their interaction at the Winter Words book festival and how an eventual Zoom meeting hastened the arrangements for the rehearsed reading at Pitlochry and the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

McDermid expressed hope that the play would not only attract audiences but also draw the attention of producing theatres for a full production in the future. She praised the Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s ambiance, including its restaurant and welcoming atmosphere, as an ideal setting for the play’s staging. Regarding Cumming, she praised his passion, incredible work ethic, and ability to make creative projects happen, qualities she sees as vital for the arts today.

This theatrical venture follows her recent literary work interpreting Lady Macbeth’s story, underscoring McDermid’s deep engagement with historical narratives. She explained the painstaking process involved in writing historical fiction and plays, emphasizing research and the challenge of weaving known facts into a coherent, compelling narrative. For McDermid, once an idea firmly lodges in her mind, writing becomes the only way to set it free.

As the August 2025 performances approach, audiences will have the opportunity to engage with a facet of history that has mystified scholars for centuries through the lens of one of Scotland’s most acclaimed contemporary writers, brought to life under the stewardship of a passionate and visionary artistic director.

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Source: Noah Wire Services