Alan Cumming and Shirley Henderson are marking a four-decade friendship with a shared stage performance. The two actors, who first crossed paths on the STV drama Shadow of the Stone, have reunited for The History of Paper at the Pitlochry Festival Theatre. This production follows their recent collaboration on Brian Cox’s directorial debut, Glenrothan.
The History of Paper began as a 2017 radio play by Oliver Emanuel and Gareth Williams before transitioning into a musical at the 2024 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. When Cumming became the artistic director at Pitlochry, he proposed a change to the casting structure. Rather than using younger actors, he decided that he and Henderson, now in their early sixties, would play the roles themselves to depict both their younger and older selves on stage.
The narrative tracks a couple’s life through the physical mementos and papers they collect over time. Cumming and Henderson note that their long-standing personal history allows for a level of comfort that informs their performance. Henderson describes their working chemistry as natural, while Cumming highlights the emotional demand of the script.
Both actors acknowledge the weight of the material, especially following the passing of the show's writer, Oliver Emanuel, in 2023. The production serves as an exploration of memory and the small, tangible items that define a relationship. The show runs at Pitlochry through September 12 before moving to the Dundee Rep Theatre for a brief run.
Beyond their stage work, both actors retain their own personal collections of paper. Henderson keeps letters from her father written during her early years in London, while Cumming holds thousands of drawings provided by his husband, Grant. These personal connections to the theme add a layer of authenticity to their performances on stage.