Award‑winning theatre‑maker Sally Reid directs the world premiere of Inexperience, the latest play by acclaimed Scottish playwright Douglas Maxwell, opening the Studio season at Pitlochry Festival Theatre.
This witty and heartfelt romantic comedy explores intimacy, memory and the choices that shape a life, with a cast including Adura Onashile, Sandy Grierson, Alexander Tait and Sophie Fortune.
Inexperience runs at Pitlochry Festival Theatre from 13 June to 4 July 2026. Tickets and further information are available here.
You’re directing Inexperience at Pitlochry Festival Theatre, what can you tell us about the show?
The show follows Iris and Robin at different stages of their lives. We first meet them at Iris’s 21st birthday party, when they are young, full of hope, and attracted to each other, but they make a deal never to touch each other and to keep the fantasy of attraction going “forever”.
We then meet them 30 years later. How have things changed? Have they kept the deal?
The play focuses on the theme of how one envisages living the “best life”, as well as ideas of connection and what we need from each other to live, survive, and thrive.
What was it about Douglas Maxwell’s script that made you want to bring this new play to the Studio, particularly as a world premiere?
Having worked with Douglas before as an actor, I know how richly he writes characters and how much of a joy they are to play, so to work with him as a director is a real privilege and something I have always wanted to do.
Douglas’s work is always truthful, with an incredible wit, and that is something which drew me into this story. I could see all of the characters and hear them speak when I first read it, and that was an exciting place to start from.
The play focuses on touch, memory and emotional restraint. How have you approached staging such intimate themes for a live audience?
Working with movement director Vicki Manderson has been crucial to staging the intimate themes of the play.
We built trust through slow-paced movement sessions, approaching the work in a simple, foundational way first, and then adding intention on top of that strong base of trust.
The cast brings together performers at very different points in their careers. How have you worked to shape that dynamic in rehearsal?
I like to work collaboratively with all departments and create an open rehearsal room where everyone feels confident and comfortable to create.
Including the younger members of the company is crucial to fostering harmony and ensuring there is no sense of hierarchy in the room.
Inexperience balances humour with emotional depth. What has been your focus in maintaining that tonal balance on stage?
Truth. It’s always about truth for me as a starting point for any play.
From there, you can shape the timing of the comedy and refine the tone and style.
What would you say to anyone thinking of booking to see Inexperience?
Come! It’s a wonderfully relatable piece, with recognisable characters, a great nineties nostalgic soundtrack, and a rom-com for the stage—what’s not to love?
