Like so many theatres across the country, Pitlochry Festival Theatre was forced to close its doors to the public in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This provided a rare opportunity to take forward the first stage in a wider vision for the upgrading of the theatre’s buildings on the banks of the River Tummel. This vision will help build resilience and broaden the theatre’s artistic programme. Our approach at tender stage conceived the desired new studio space as a timber box inserted into the existing brick scene dock. Using locally sourced timber, we aimed to fabricate a robust studio with the character of an adaptable play space - a space that is magical without being precious, a memory of the timber marquee which was the festival theatre’s summer home, and an expression of the theatre’s commitment to a low carbon future. A new entrance, signage and a receiving space would provide a welcome and make audiences visible on arrival. We wish the theatre the best of luck with the first stage of their redevelopment and their planned re-opening.