Alan Cumming, Shirley Henderson to Star In Off-Broadway Musical ‘A History of Paper’ (Exclusive)

Alan Cumming and Shirley Henderson will star Off-Broadway this winter in the musical A History of Paper.

The show, which was developed at Scotland’s Dundee Rep Theatre, comes to New York after most recently appearing at the Pitlochry Festival Theatre in Scotland, where Cumming is artistic director. The two-person musical follows a love story through the paper artifacts of a relationship, including letters, menus and train tickets to shopping lists and postcards.

The story originated as a BBC Radio 4 play in 2017, written by Oliver Emanuel, who then adapted it with composer Gareth Williams, as a work-in-progress at Dundee Rep Theatre in 2019. The production then made its Edinburgh Festival Fringe debut at The Traverse Theatre in 2024, where it won the Fringe First Award. Cumming saw the show and brought it to his first season as artistic director at Pitlochry Festival Theatre.

The musical begins performances Feb. 12, 2027 at the Shubert Organization’s Stage 42, for a 13-week run ending May 16. Andrew Panton, artistic director of Dundee Rep Theatre, directs. Sonia Friedman Productions, Jerry Goehring and Pemberley Productions are producing.

In bringing it Off-Broadway, Cumming said he wants to facilitate more of a “theatrical exchange” with Scotland.

“I am so thrilled to bring A History of Paper from my home country of Scotland to my adopted home in New York City,” Cumming said. “This is one of these rare shows that transcends its own story and manages to touch an audience in a really visceral and beautiful way. And it utterly belongs in New York City. Since taking over as Artistic Director at Pitlochry Festival Theatre it has been my plan (and dream) to start a theatrical exchange channel between Manhattan and our theatre in the hills. This is the first show to do so and I couldn’t be happier to be doing it alongside Shirley, who I first worked with over forty years ago!”

Alan Cumming won a Tony Award for his performance as the Emcee in the Broadway revival Cabaret in 1998. He returned to the show in 2014, with the New York credits including the Broadway productions of Design for Living, The Threepenny Opera, his solo Macbeth, and the Off-Broadway production of Jeremy O. Harris’ Daddy. He is an Emmy-Award winner for hosting The Traitors, in addition to his many film credits.

Known for her roles as Moaning Myrtle in the Harry Potter films, and Jude in the Bridget Jones films, Henderson makes her New York stage debut with this production. She originated the role of Elizabeth in Girl from the North Country at The Old Vic for which she won the Olivier Award for best actress in a musical, and appeared on stage in The National Theatre’s The Winter’s Tale.