I Can Die Too—By Frances Ruffelle, Sally George, and Alan Cumming—Sets World Premiere in Scotland

The play with music, within a play within music, will also star Tony winner Ruffelle.

April 16, 2026 By Logan Culwell-Block

Pitlochry Festival Theatre will join with Lovechild/Evan Sacks and Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg to host the world premiere of a new play with music, I Can Die Too, penned by Tony winners Frances Ruffelle and Alan Cumming and Sally George. Bill Buckhurst will direct, with performances running July 11-August 2, part of Cumming's inaugural season as artistic director of PFT.

The work, initially developed by New York Theatre Workshop, is inspired by the Jean Cocteau film The Human Voice, and will center on stage star Lily as she's leading a play with music that strangely mirrors her own life.

Ruffelle, a Tony winner as the original Broadway and West End Éponine in Les Misérables, will also star as Lily, alongside Stephen Ashfield (The Book of Mormon) as James, Melinda Orengo (The Secret Garden) as Lee, Flora Spencer-Longhurst (The Forsyte Saga) as Georgie, and Maya Rugen (Paranormal Activity) as Young Girl. Casting is by Will Burton for Grindrod & Burton.

The production will feature choreography by Alistair David, music direction and arrangements by Frew, scenic and costume design by Simon Kenny, lighting design by Emma Chapman, and sound design by Tom Marshall. The work features songs written by Ruffelle, Sam Kesler, Mark Kesler, Simon Alexander, Robin Hancock, George de Angelis, Natti Vogel, Rafi, Dan McDougal, Eliza Caird, Blair Mackichan, and Jim Duguid.

"Alan and I began writing together during a residency at Adelphi University," shares Ruffelle in a statement. "We shared a fascination with Jean Cocteau’s The Human Voice, which became the catalyst for our own play with music. I reluctantly recognized certain qualities of the central character in myself, and they were not entirely flattering. There are moments when what we see reflected at us is uncomfortable. With that in mind, we began to explore the interplay between life and art. Alan is an extraordinary collaborator—we laughed constantly, and humor became integral to the piece. At times, we worked so instinctively that we found ourselves finishing one another’s sentences. Unlike The Human Voice, our play is set during a live technical rehearsal, expanding the world to include other characters and an onstage band, blurring the boundaries between drama, tragicomedy, musical theatre, and concert. As Alan’s schedule intensified, we invited Sally George to join the project. She and I have since become close creative partners.”

Tickets are at PitlochryFestivalTheatre.com.