performance – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

Brian Cox returns to Scottish stages in James Graham’s new play Make It Happen

Brian Cox (Succession, Braveheart) returns to Scottish stages in a new play by leading British playwright James Graham (Dear England, Sherwood)
The first major artwork to tell the story of Royal Bank of Scotland’s role in the 2008 financial crash

WORLD PREMIERE

A National Theatre of Scotland, Edinburgh International Festival and Dundee Rep Theatre co-production in association with Playful Productions and Neal Street Productions

Make It Happen
Written by James Graham
Directed by Andrew Panton
With Brian Cox

Opening performance of the 2025 Edinburgh International Festival on Friday 1 August 2025, then running until Saturday 9 August. Previewing at Dundee Rep Theatre in late July and at the International Festival on Wednesday 30 and Thursday 31 July.

Make It Happen is an epic new satirical play by acclaimed playwright James Graham, directed by Andrew Panton, Artistic Director of Dundee Rep Theatre. This unique co-production between National Theatre of Scotland, Edinburgh International Festival and Dundee Rep Theatre marks the return of Brian Cox to Scottish stages for the first time in a decade.

The world premiere of Make It Happen opens the Edinburgh International Festival’s 2025 programme of theatre, music, opera, and dance. It runs for a week at the Festival Theatre from 1–9 August, with previews at the International Festival on 30 and 31 July and at Dundee Rep Theatre from late July.

‘There is no such thing – as too big.’

Behold the rise, fall and fail of the biggest bank in the world – The Royal Bank of Scotland.

Helmed by Fred ”The Shred” Goodwin, with his fervent belief in the wisdom of the ‘founder of modern capitalism’, Adam Smith, the once prudent RBS soon plummets, placing Scotland at the heart of the global financial crash of 2008.

Set in Edinburgh, Make It Happen sees legendary actor Brian Cox return to the Scottish stage for the first time in a decade as Adam Smith, the ghost of fiscal past. Written by James Graham (Sherwood, Dear England), hailed as one of the most influential and finger-on-the-pulse writers of our time, and directed by the award-winning Andrew Panton, this bitingly funny new satire delves into the unchecked growth, spiralling greed and nail-biting hubris that brought the world’s economy to its knees.

This fictionalised satire features a mixture of characters and incidents inspired by real-life events, with others entirely imagined.

James Graham, writer, said: “Like many writers, an Edinburgh stage is the first place ever I dared put a full play in front of an audience.

“To be invited to join the prestigious Edinburgh International Festival programme this summer is an honour and a thrill. And to work with the National Theatre of Scotland, the Dundee Rep, and of course – Brian Cox, whom I’ve been desperate to write for for as long as I can remember.

We still live in the long shadow of the 2008 financial crash and our inability to reset from that inheritance and its divisive legacies, so it feels right to be interrogating it artistically. But we hope to do so in a show full of music and story, larger-than-life characters, cheeky humour, and some ghosts from Scotland’s centuries’ long past thrown in as well…”

Andrew Panton, director, said: ”It’s a personal honour and huge responsibility to tell what became a global story that started in the city close to where I grew up.

“Working with an exceptionally talented cast, creative and production teams, I’m excited to be directing this new play, bringing it to audiences at Dundee Rep Theatre and Edinburgh International Festival stages.”

Brian Cox, actor, said: “I’m excited to be doing a play written by James Graham who is such a great writer.

“It’s been a long time since I played in Scotland – it’s good to be back.”

Jackie Wylie, Artistic Director of the National Theatre of Scotland said: “I am thrilled that audiences will get to experience the combined talents of James Graham and Brian Cox, taking on the collapse of Royal Bank of Scotland in this epic new play, directed by the gifted Andrew Panton, produced in partnership with the brilliant institutions, Dundee Rep and Edinburgh International Festival.

“Dealing with seismic global moments that have shaped our national psyche, at the world’s most significant arts Festival is the perfect project for the National Theatre of Scotland and we are truly proud of this special collaboration”

Nicola Benedetti, Edinburgh International Festival Director, said: “We are extremely proud to present a brand-new play by James Graham, ‘Make It Happen’, which will open the 2025 International Festival in August.

“This co-commission with the National Theatre of Scotland and Dundee Rep demonstrates our ongoing commitment to bringing vital Scottish stories to the world stage, and invites us to examine events that took place in Edinburgh but rippled across the globe.

“Illuminating this year’s festival theme ‘The Truth We Seek’, ‘Make it Happen’ exemplifies the level of ambition and thought-provoking work that defines the Edinburgh International Festival. We cannot wait to see you there.”

Paisley born Fred Goodwin was the Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Bank of Scotland Group between 2001 and 2009, presiding over RBS’s rapid rise to become the world’s largest company (by assets) and the fifth-largest bank (by stock market value), and their even more rapid fall in 2008, which coincided with the worldwide economic crisis. Make It Happen is the first major artwork exploring RBS’s role in this tumultuous period in recent history.

‘James Graham is fast becoming the pre-eminent playwright of his generation.’ The Guardian

James Graham is an award-winning screenwriter and playwright, whose recent work includes Dear England (National Theatre of GB and West End) which won the Olivier award for Best Play in 2024 and is currently being adapted into a BBC miniseries.

Other theatre work includes: This House (National Theatre of GB, West End and UK tour), which was chosen by popular vote as the best play of the 2010’s for the major theatre publisher Methuen; Punch (Nottingham Playhouse and transferring to the Young Vic in spring 2025); Best of Enemies (Young Vic, 2022), winner of the Critics’ Circle Theatre Award; Tammy Faye (The Almeida), and Ink (The Almeida), which transferred to Broadway and was nominated for six Tony Awards; Labour of Love (Noel Coward Theatre, 2018) which won the Olivier award for Best Comedy.

For television, James is the writer and creator of Sherwood which first aired on BBC One in 2022 to five star reviews, winning the Royal Television Society Award for Best Drama and two BAFTAS. Other TV includes Brexit: An Uncivil War, broadcast on Channel 4 and HBO, and was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Television Movie. His Channel 4 drama, Coalition won the RTS Award for Best Single Drama (2019), and Quiz (ITV and AMC), adapted from his stage play and directed by Stephen Frears, was one of the most watched UK TV dramas of 2020.

Andrew Panton is an award-winning theatre director and currently Artistic Director and Joint CEO of Dundee Rep Theatre. For Dundee Rep, his directorial credits include August: Osage County, The Children, A Christmas Carol, Oor Wullie, Passing Places and Spring Awakening.

He has previously worked with National Theatre of Scotland as director on digital lockdown short Out of the Woods with Alan Cumming and A Sheep Called Skye, and as staff director on the original UK & International tours of Black Watch. He has also directed productions for the Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh, Citizens Theatre Glasgow, Royal & Derngate, Perth Theatre and The Stephen Joseph Theatre.

His recent work includes A History of Paper, which won a Scotsman Fringe First, an immersive production of Peter Greenaway’s The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover, and the gig-theatre musical No Love Songs which will transfer to Sydney and New York in spring 2025. Andrew’s work for television includes: Children in Need, The Naked Choir and The Voice (BBC) and he was a creative director for the opening ceremony of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Brian Cox is an award-winning Scottish actor, known for his work on stage and screen. Born in Dundee, he trained at Dundee Rep Theatre before going on to work at the Royal Lyceum Theatre, Royal National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company where he first gained recognition for his portrayal of King Lear.

His numerous accolades include two Olivier Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award. Recent entries on his extensive list of theatre credits include Long Day’s Journey Into Night (Wyndham’s Theatre) and The Score (Theatre Royal Bath). His screen work includes Succession (HBO), Braveheart (Paramount Pictures, 20^th Century Fox) and Nuremberg (TNT).

Brian returns to Scottish stages for the first time in a decade, last appearing on Scottish stages in 2015 in Waiting For Godot at the Royal Lyceum Theatre. He previously worked with National Theatre of Scotland in 2020 when he played Inspector Rebus in a special digital short, John Rebus: The Lockdown Blues written by Ian Rankin for their lockdown Scenes for Survival series, created in partnership with BBC Scotland.

Creative Team: Set Designer: Anna Fleischle; Costume Co-Designers: Anna Fleischle and Angelica Rush; Movement Director: Emily Jane Boyle; Musical Supervisor and Arranger: Martin Lowe; Lighting Designer: Lizzie Powell; Sound Designer: Tingying Dong; Video co-designers: Lewis den Hertog and Anna Fleischle; Associate Designer: Angelica Rush; Casting Director: Stuart Burt CDG

Supported by Sir Ewan and Lady Brown

Make It Happen is also supported by the Scottish Government’s Festivals EXPO Fund through Creative Scotland.

Previewing at Dundee Rep Theatre (late July); opening at Edinburgh International Festival, at the Festival Theatre, (previews Wed 30 & Thurs 31 July) Fri 1 August – Sat 9 August

Full cast to be announced.

More information here: https://www.eif.co.uk/events/make-it-happen

Tickets will go on sale for performances at Edinburgh International Festival on 27 March, with priority booking available.

The Edinburgh International Festival’s full programme will be announced on 13 March 2025.

Mary Poppins: The Show WILL go on!

Important information for audiences: Mary Poppins – Friday 24 January, 7.30pm

The weather warning in place for Edinburgh is currently due to end at 5pm today Friday and therefore the performance should begin as planned at 7.30pm.

Leith Theatre and Restless Natives hit the big time

The Clown and The Wolfman Ride into Leith Theatre

Leith Theatre is proud to reveal it will be the Edinburgh home of Restless Natives: The Musical.

The brand-new stage version of the classic Scottish film will kick off a three-month summer programme of theatre, music and film co-commissioned by Restless Natives’ producers, Andy Paterson and Wild Yak Productions, and the Leith Theatre Trust team.

Welcoming audiences back into the venue is a significant milestone for Leith Theatre. This curated collaboration will offer a rare and exciting chance to enter the faded grandeur of a theatre that has remained largely the same since opening in 1932. This pop-up summer season will be a unique opportunity for audiences to glimpse at the theatre’s future while it continues on its journey towards restoration.

Original Restless Natives screenwriter and now lyricist, Ninian Dunnett, director Michael Hoffman and composer Tim Sutton, inspired by Big Country songs and themes, will open the season by delivering a not-to-be-missed full stage musical designed to delight devotees of the original movie and capture the hearts of a new generation.

A charming sense of national pride is built as intrepid underdogs Ronnie and Will become Highland Highwaymen, holding up buses and winning international renown, fleecing tourists with panache, with all the quirky idiosyncratic fun coming to Leith Theatre’s raked stage in June 2025.

Although the Trust have operated on a pop-up basis in the past bringing a wide range of cultural activity, the creative focus has more recently been within the TV and film industry hosting a large number of shoots and productions. Excitingly, this will be the first theatre production to make Leith Theatre its home since 2018.

Restless Natives: The Musical will commence a summer 2025 programme, providing audiences with a chance to enjoy live cultural experiences in this iconic heritage venue while supporting Leith Theatre’s preservation.

Restless Natives producer Andy Paterson is thrilled to see the musical leading the summer programming for the venue: “We are so inspired by the Trust’s vision for this incredible building.

” Our memories of shooting key scenes from the film just a few hundred yards away on the Western Harbour make this new partnership all the more special.

“We can’t wait to bring the Clown and the Wolfman back to their actual and spiritual home in Edinburgh.”

By partnering with Restless Natives, Leith Theatre Trust will shine a spotlight on the building’s history and restoration journey and bring an exciting cultural experience to the stage that fits with all of the film, music and theatre connections that already make up the venue’s heritage.

Will this be the end of the story or the beginning of a legend?

Lynn Morrison, Chief Executive from Leith Theatre Trust, said: “We are absolutely delighted to announce Leith Theatre as the Edinburgh venue and to work in partnership to deliver this incredible three-month summer season, starting with Restless Natives: The Musical.

“Despite the challenges posed by our building’s health, we remain committed to being at the heart of cultural life in Leith. This theatre adaptation blends theatre, film and music which is everything we love, and we couldn’t be prouder to welcome this exciting crossover and summer opportunity to our venue.”

Andy Paterson, who was one of the producers of the film and lead producer on Restless Natives: The Musical, said: “The moment we walked into Leith Theatre we had a feeling that we’d come home.

“The unique atmosphere and personality of the venue chimed with Ninian’s story. Both embody the resilience, the spirit of Scottish community, a sense of perseverance and solidarity – and the belief that with the right values and serious ambition, you can make something great.”  

Scottish Ensemble join forces with puppetry company, Blind Summit, in The Law of Gravity

Collaborating with creative minds, Scottish Ensemble have forged new paths over recent years blurring the boundaries between genres and artforms. In their latest cross-artform project Scottish Ensemble collaborate with Blind Summit to explore what puppetry can reveal about music.

Performing Arnold Schoenberg’s Verklärte Nacht (Transfigured Night) and Philip Glass’ Symphony No. 3 the musicians and puppeteers play together to blend sound and visuals in this experimental collaboration where puppetry and music lead each other in a fragile dance. Directed by Mark Down, this new work will defy the rules to reveal the unseen, unheard and unknown.

Performances take place on Thursday 13 February at Edinburgh’s Traverse Theatre (as part of Manipulate Festival), Friday 14 February at Dundee Rep and Saturday 15 February at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall’s New Auditorium.

Jonathan Morton, Artistic Director of Scottish Ensemble, said: “Collaborations which involve a different artform invite us to re-examine some of our habitual patterns of thought, behaviour and action.

“There is risk involved. And, more alluringly, the potential encounter with something special. At the start of this collaboration, I knew very little about puppetry, but I am drawn to the fact that puppeteers, like musicians, pick up inanimate objects and, somehow, breathe life into them. You can see this, and you can hear it in The Law of Gravity.”

Mark Down, Artistic Director of Blind Summit, said: “During the research and development sessions for this project it has been an absolute inspiration to be surrounded by live music all day, I wish I could have an ensemble at all our rehearsals.

“The puppeteers and musicians generated seemingly endless ideas, the challenge was how to edit and organise them to share with an audience. The Law of Gravity is of course what makes everything fall down, I hope we stay standing”

In another first for Scottish Ensemble the performances in Dundee and Glasgow will be audio described. Visually impaired audiences will be able to enjoy the production through a live verbal commentary describing the visual elements of the production, whilst being respectful to the music performed.

Tickets range from £11 – £22 and in Dundee and Glasgow are free for under 16s.

Tickets are available from https://scottishensemble.co.uk/programme/2024-25/the law-of-gravity/

Exclusive dance workshop comes to Edinburgh

ASPIRING dancers in Edinburgh are set to experience a transformative day of contemporary dance training with leading professionals.

Leading contemporary dance artists Errol White and Davina Givan, bring their acclaimed Elite Intensive to Dance Base on Saturday 18th January offering a rare opportunity to train with industry professionals.

As course leaders for The Scottish Institute’s (The SI) pioneering BA (Hons) Contemporary Dance degree, Errol & Davina will share their expertise through an immersive day of training, focusing on the creative processes and that define their celebrated repertoire.

This exclusive session will guide participants through company class, focusing on skeletal alignment, core stability, and fluid movement.

Dancers will also engage in choreographic exercises, delving into group work and solos from White & Givan’s repertoire, offering insights into professional company work and the artistry of contemporary dance.

The pair said: “The Elite Intensives are a fantastic way to connect with the next generation of dance artists. We aim to provide an inspiring and rigorous experience that offers a glimpse into professional training and performance.

“Embedding White & Givan as artists in residence within the Institute is a rare opportunity within the educational world for practicing artists and students to evolve together.

“Passion in sharing knowledge lies at the heart of what we do, and we are extremely proud to play an integral role in developing a new generation of dance artists.”

With over 25 years of experience collaborating as performance artists, Errol and Davina have built an acclaimed body of work that engages audiences on a physical and emotional level.

The duos appointment as artists-in-residence at The SI creates a unique bridge between professional practice and education, offering a opportunity to share their expertise and passion for dance with the next generation of dancers.

“The inclusion of sport science and the role it plays in the training of young dance artists at the Scottish Institute is vital, preparing them for a long and fulfilling future career as successful dance practitioners.” White & Givan added.

Dance Base is Scotland’s National Centre for Dance. As a creative charity it aims to see people across Scotland engaging in dance as an art form, a way to exercise and a way of life.

It supports Scottish dance artists to develop successful careers and develops opportunities for dance to be used to support people’s health and wellbeing.

The SI is set to welcome its first cohort in September 2025, making it the only higher education provider in Scotland to offer a course that is led by professional dance artists specifically tailored to contemporary dance.

Students will benefit from The SI’s state-of-the-art technologies and professional-grade studios, as well as access to the renowned Howden Park Theatre.

The degree will couple sport science and dance training and is poised to produce well-rounded, successful dance practitioners prepared for long and fulfilling careers.

Mark Langley, Principal of The SI, said: “Having White & Givan as artists in residence creates an extraordinary environment where practicing artists and students evolve together.

“Our students won’t just learn about the profession – they’ll be immersed in it, working alongside industry specialists, performing in professional venues, and developing their craft through a carefully structured progression from core techniques to professional practice.

“The Scottish Institute was created by professionals to educate the next generation of professionals, and this new BA (Hons) Contemporary Dance program exemplifies that mission.”

The Scottish Institute is Scotland’s only fully CDMT accredited performing arts institution, also holding accreditations from Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), Council of Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre (CDMT) and Imperial Society for the Teachers of Dance (ISTD).

The session is free of charge, offering a rare opportunity for Scotland’s emerging dance talent to work closely with two of its most prominent contemporary artists.

To book a slot at the Elite Intensive day, visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/white-givan-elite-intensive-edinburgh-tickets-1137763133159

If you have additional questions on the course, contact: admissions@thesi.co.uk

Maggie, June, Billy and a Giant Rabbit walk into a Theatre Bar …

Looking back on a year of theatre | NTS 2024

It’s been another busy year taking theatre out on the road across Scotland and beyond. Moving memoirs brought to the stage, new twists on Country classics and jaw-dropping dramatic moments.

We have been touring to theatres, schools, community halls, art centres, hospitals, cinemas, libraries and festivals. As well as exhibitions, short films, documentaries, podcasts, residencies and more.

In 2024, we visited 62 venues across Scotland, and beyond.

Here are some highlights of the year from your national theatre…

We kick started the year celebrating young audiences and performers.

Theatre in Schools Scotland (TiSS) took to the road with two brilliant shows for primary, school children, Cloud Man and Going for Gold: Me and Linford Christie landing in school halls.

Cloud Man by Constellation Points/Ailie Cohen and Lewis Hetherington, presented by Scottish Theatre Producers. Going for Gold: Me and Linford Christie by Victoria Beesley, presented by Catherine Wheels.

Meanwhile Hannah Lavery’s Protest continued to inspire youth activism at the Traverse Theatre.

Co-commissioned and co-produced by Fuel, Imaginate and Northern Stage in association with National Theatre of Scotland.

In January we presented work in Edinburgh and toured to schools in Edinburgh, Grangemouth, Coatbridge, Bathgate, Aberfeldy, Dallas, Fort William, Kenmore, Pitlochry, Glasgow, Airdrie and Wishaw with Theatre in Schools Scotland (TiSS).

Cloud Man and Going for Gold continued their TiSS adventures.

“I’ve learnt that anything is possible. If I never came out my comfort zone I’d never have made these memories… Life changing.”

Thank U, Next participant.

We took up residency at Bellahouston Academy with 21Commoners Lucy Gaizely and Gary Gardiner to explore teen lives with a cast of 12-to-16 year olds with the extraordinary Thank U, Next.

A National Theatre of Scotland production in association with Bellahouston Academy, created by 21Common.

Hope Dickson Leach’s Scots Gothic classic, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde was screened as part of Victoria Film Festival.

National Theatre of Scotland and Selkie Productions, Supported by Screen Scotland and Sky Arts.

We celebrated our 18th birthday!

We toured to Bellahouston and Glasgow, presented work in Edinburgh, Harrogate, London, Cambridge, Colchester, Coventry, Poole and Victoria, Canada and the Netherlands and visited schools in Dunkeld, South Queensferry, Cumbernauld, Grangemouth, Edinburgh, Oban, Dallas, Tain, Lairg, Orkney, Sanday, Westray and Stronsay with TiSS.

“A startling, unique, powerfully honest work.”

★★★★ – The Telegraph

Marc Brew and Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui’s raw and life affirming an Accident/a Life had its UK premiere at Tramway following a presentation in Holland.

A Marc Brew Company and Eastman co-production in association with National Theatre Scotland.

We brought the drama to Rockvilla with the BBC’s Bring the Drama creative careers event.

And we launched Caring Scotland, a wide-reaching nationwide Listening Project, led by artist and foster parent Nicola McCartney, to record the testimony of care-experienced people across Scotland.

A National Theatre of Scotland, Who Cares Scotland and National Library of Scotland project.

And Going for Gold ran its final furlongs with TiSS

In March we toured to Glasgow and presented work in Plymouth, Exeter and Newcastle and visited schools in Dumfries, Langholm, Edinburgh and Glasgow with TiSS.

“Delightfully creative and warming show.”

★★★★ – The Reviews Hub

We shō’ed up for Independent Arts Projects with our support of Shō and the Demons of the Deep, written by Zoë Bullock, adapted from the work by Annouchka Gravel Galouchko and directed by Shilpa T-Hyland, which opened at Platform Glasgow.

An Independent Arts Projects (IAP) production in association with National Theatre of Scotland.

We teamed up with New College Lanarkshire on a mini documentary project, The Making of of Maggie & Me.

We celebrated surviving Thatcher’s Britain at the Mitchell Library, with Damian Barr and James Ley chatting to our Artistic Director Jackie Wylie as part of the Aye Write book festival.

We launched A Big Map for the Big Yin where we encouraged folks to leave their own homages to Scotland’s most beloved comedian, Billy Connolly.

In April we toured to Glasgow, Aberdeen, Shetland and Tobermory.

“Funny, moving and powerful in equal measure, it’s an expertly told story and it deserves to be a hit.”

★★★★★ – WhatsOnStage

Maggie & Me James Ley and Damian Barr’s epic adaptation of his celebrated memoir, directed by Suba Das took the Tron Theatre, Glasgow by storm.

A National Theatre of Scotland production.

Damian Barr returned to North Lanarkshire for a sell-out event at Motherwell Library.

“A poignant, colourful and hilarious performance.”

★★★★★ – Scottish Field

The mighty Dear Billy – Gary McNair’s love letter to the Big Yin from the people of Scotland returned with a run at His Majesty’s Theatre in Aberdeen.

A National Theatre of Scotland production.

And an Accident/a Life continued to astound audiences at the Steps Dance Festival in Switzerland, visiting Sierre, Bulle and Basel and at the Norfolk and Norwich Festival.

In May we toured to Dunoon, Dunkeld, Melrose, Wick, Dumfries, the Edinburgh International Children’s Festival, Inverness, Perth, Cumbernauld, Dundee, Aberdeen, Glasgow and Inverness and presented work in Switzerland and Norwich.

We tore up the miles in June with three shows on the road, Maggie & Me, Shō and the Demons of the Deep and Dear Billy.

Damian Barr popped over to the National Library of Scotland to talk about taking his memoir from page-to-stage with Chitra Ramaswamy.

In June we toured to Inverness, St Andrews, Dundee, Northampton, Edinburgh and Manchester.

We invited local people to take to the stage at Springburn Auditorium for a joyous celebration of the North Glasgow region, led by our community artist in residence, Eoin MacKenzie with the Neighbourhood Variety Show.

A performance project by Eoin McKenzie as part of the National Theatre of Scotland’s Neighbourhood Project.

We announced that Kal Sabir was the winner of our South Asian short film commission with his forthcoming short film Kinaara.

And we aspired to get greener by launching the second edition of the Theatre Green Book.

In July we presented work in Glasgow.

The Fifth Step previewed at Dundee Rep Theatre, ahead of opening at the Edinburgh International Festival.

“Highly entertaining, often very funny, and sometimes brilliantly tense.”

★★★★ – The Scotsman

We provoked audiences with David Ireland’s sizzling two-hander, directed by Finn Den Hertog, marking a homecoming to Scottish stages for Jack Lowden, alongside Sean Gilder.

A National Theatre of Scotland production.

“this production is absolutely joyous – a truly magnificent story of two remarkable women.”

★★★★★ – Broadway World

We hoe-downed with Grid Iron, for Charlene Boyd’s June Carter Cash, The Woman, Her Music and Me, directed by Cora Bissett which opened at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe enjoying a sold-out run, winning a Fringe First, with a shout out for Parents in the Performing Arts too.

A National Theatre of Scotland and Grid Iron co-production.

Pamela Carter and Stewart Laing delved into the archive and pulled out Extraordinary Trash: A Theatre Essay featuring Adura Onashile as ‘The Archivist’ at the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

Dear Billy ended its 2024 World Tour of Scotland and Salford by bringing joy to audiences at the Assembly Rooms during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Meanwhile, over in Glasgow, we headed down the canal to premiere Wonder Lands at Pinkston Gala Day, Roisin McLinden, our community artist in residence’s, film fusing community arts practice and cycling.

In August we toured to Edinburgh, Banchory, Glasgow and Dundee.

June Carter Cash saddled up and hit the road for a sold out tour across Scotland, including opening the Outwith Festival, and ending its journey at Findhorn Bay Festival.

We welcomed Gus Gowland as our first Resident Composer.

In September we toured to Glasgow, Dunfermline, Kirkcudbright, Stranraer, Arran, Oban, Ullapool, Findhorn Bay.

Thank U Next enriched young lives at Cumbernauld Academy with the next troupe of talented young performers taking to the stage at Lanternhouse.

A National Theatre of Scotland production in association with Cumbernauld Academy, created by 21Common.

We shone on a light on those that paved the way with our Portraits of an LGBTQI+ Generation at St John’s Hospital, Livingstone.

A National Theatre of Scotland and All the Queens Men project in partnership with Eden Court Theatre and Luminate

We marked Care Experienced Week with a special in conversation event at National Library of Scotland, with artist Juano Diaz and sent our project facilitators around the country to listen and gather testimony from care experienced individuals.

We embraced Gothic horror at Halloween with a special free screening of The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde with a post-show chat from the lead creatives at the National Library of Scotland at Kelvin Hall.

In October we toured to Cumbernauld, and presented work in Glasgow, Livingston, Sweden and Norway.

We paid tribute to the much loved and missed Beldina Odenyo with the powerful Tero Buru at Platform, Glasgow, directed by Julia Taudevin.

A Leah McAleer project, produced by Disaster Plan in association with the National Theatre of Scotland.

We Pushed the Boat Out with our support for new commissions at Edinburgh’s spoken word festival, at the Storytelling Centre.

And we made gingerbread men with pupils in schools across the country as the playful Ginger went on tour with TiSS.

Created by Tortoise in a Nutshell, created in association with Platform and Lyth Arts Centre.

In November we toured to Glasgow and Edinburgh and visited schools in the Isle of Lewis, North Uist, Kinross, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Blackridge, Livingston, Orkney, Sanday, Westray, Stronsay, Shetland, Aberdeen, Bellshill, Cumbernauld and Oban with TiSS.

Jack Hunter and his deeply personal and political One of Two ended its important TiSS tour.

Presented by Independent Arts Projects.

We celebrated Scottish playwriting by supporting Fergus Morgan’s podcast – A History of Scottish Drama in Six Plays featuring NTS shows, Black Watch, Men Should Weep and The Cheviot, The Stag and The Black, Black Oil.

Produced by the Scottish Society of Playwrights in association with Bespoken Media and the Traverse Theatre.

In December, we toured to schools in Tain, Alness and Culloden with TiSS.

A YEAR IN REVIEW

Throughout 2024 we:

Toured to 62 venues across Scotland and beyond
Visited 62 schools with Theatre in Schools Scotland
Added 2 new shows and resources to our Education Portal
Hosted 15 First Nights events connecting with 275 Participants
Delivered 74 accessible performances
Continued to reduce our carbon footprint
Won 3 awards at the UK Theatres Awards, Audio Production Awards and Scotsman Fringe First and were nominated for 12 more!

Please do read our Annual Report and Financial Statement for 2022 to 2023 here.

A standing ovation for the hundreds of actors, creatives, artists, technicians and freelancers that worked with us this year. Full creative credits are available for each project and production via the links above.

With thanks to…

Our funders, friends and followers, our audiences and allies, our participants and partners, our co-producers, cheerleaders and communities.

And all our wonderful donors and supporters.

None of this would be possible without your generosity and goodwill!

We send our thanks to the Board too for their ongoing enthusiasm, guidance and governance.

We are really looking forward to getting out round Scotland in 2025 – our full season will be announced in January 2025.

We hope to see you at your local theatre this year!

With love from all the team at the National Theatre of Scotland.

Citadel’s McScrooge brings festive joy

Citadel’s tour of McScrooge by Alan Mountford directed by Mark Kydd came to an end with a performance at Blossom Tree Nursery.

We took the mini-panto into a community centre, a school, two dementia clubs, Leith Dockers Club, two care homes, and the Dementia Arts Festival!

Thanks to People’s Post Code Lottery and Garfield Weston Foundation, Ashley Barlow, Jim Bryce, Mark Kydd and Roddy Simpson brought lots of festive joy to audiences aged from two to 102!

Stage taster session at Out of the Blue

SATURDAY 23rd NOVEMBER

We are delighted to announce that on Saturday, November 23rd, we will be hosting two free taster sessions for our new performance groups – 10am – 12pm & 1pm – 3 pm – at The Out of the Blue Drill Hall, Edinburgh.

With these sessions, we want to create a fun, safe and supportive enviroment for people to engage in interactive drama activities, where like-minded people can meet and feel comfortable to experiment and perform.

We are looking for individuals to participate and provide valuable market research and feedback. Whether you’re a seasoned performer or just curious about drama, this is a fantastic opportunity to explore your creative side and help shape our future programs.

To register, email us at fablesstagecommunitytheatre@gmail.com or give us a direct message on Facebook and Instagram. Places are limited, so please book in advance.

We look forward to seeing you then and thank you so much for your help!

Through the Shortbread Tin comes to Scottish stages in 2025

WORLD PREMIERE

National Theatre of Scotland presents

Through the Shortbread Tin

Written and performed by Martin O’Connor
Directed by Lu Kemp

Musical Director and Composer – Oliver Searle, Sound and Video Designer – Rob Willoughby, Set and Costume designed by Emma Bailey and Rachel O’Neill

1 April to 2 May 2025

A Scotland-wide tour opening at Melrose, touring to Glasgow, Edinburgh, Ullapool, Stornoway (Isle of Lewis), Portree (Skye), Dornie (Lochalsh), Cumbernauld, Oban, Helensburgh, Lerwick (Shetland) and Inverness.

Opening Performance at Corn Exchange, Melrose on 2 April 2025

The story of the greatest literary hoax of all time. 

In 1760 Scottish poet James Macpherson set the world ablaze with stories of the third-century Scottish bard, Ossian. This tartan-trimmed tale of Highland history spread far and wide, capturing the imagination of thousands– but was it built on a deception?

In 2025 Scottish poet Martin O’Connor decides to revisit Macpherson’s epic and begins to question his own relationship with Scottish culture. The sporrans, the stags, the shortbread – do these ‘gift-shop’ images of Scotland hold us back or bring us forward? What does it mean to be authentic, and is the truth sometimes better told in a lie? 

Imagine that you didnae ignore the myths.

Imagine you were telt your history.

Imagine ye could hod onto the stories.

Imagine ye could create yer ain truth.

Through The Shortbread Tin is a new show, performed in Scots, with Gaelic songs, which explores Scottish culture, myths, history and identity. 

Martin will be joined on stage by three female Gaelic choral singers, singing original songs composed by Oliver Searle.

Audiences are invited to join Martin and Macpherson on an oral odyssey spanning centuries of Scottish history, exploring the myths we tell each other and the stories we tell ourselves. 

BACKGROUND TO OSSIAN

In 1760 Highlander Macpherson published Fragments of Ancient Poetry to great critical and commercial acclaim. The poems were collected from oral sources around Scotland and were presented as the work of a third century bard, Ossian, soon dubbed The Homer of the North.

There soon followed two other publications, Fingal and Temora, and together they set the Scottish and European literary world alight. The ‘Ossian effect’ soon saw a rise in interest in Scottish and Highland ways of life and an increase in tourism and cultural interest.

The impact of Ossian was immediate and permanent, even if the individual poems eventually fell out of fashion. But soon after publication, debates over Ossian’s aesthetic and moral ‘legitimacy’ surfaced, which plagued the writer and the impact and legacy of the work.

Martin O’Connor is an award-winning theatre-maker, performer and poet from Glasgow. He is interested in exploring ideas of voice and identity through theatre and poetry, with particular interest in Scots, Gaelic and verbatim. He won Scots Performer of the Year Award at this year’s Scots Language Awards.

He was granted a Gavin Wallace Fellowship in 2018, hosted by Playwrights’ Studio Scotland and the Lyceum Theatre, marking the first stage in his research into James Macpherson and Ossian.

He makes work for solo performance as well as with, and for, other people. He was the National Theatre of Scotland Writer in Residence in 2020. Previous projects include Turntable (MJ McCarthy/Red Bridge Arts), Mark of the Beast (Martin O’Connor/Platform), Togail Nàisean/ Building a Nation (Glasgow Life).

Martin O’Connor, writer and performer said: “I’m looking forward to staging this work after many years of research and development, and I can’t wait to begin working with Lu and the rest of the creative team to tell this story.

“I have been fascinated with the history of Ossian and Macpherson since I started learning Gaelic and since I have rediscovered my Scots voice, and it gave me a jumping off point to explore all things linguistic, cultural and historical about Scotland, and my own upbringing.

“It seems that not many people know about Ossian and Macpherson, the hoax that he created, and the impact that it had on him and wider Scottish culture, so I am very excited to be staging this work and telling this tale at a time when we are still asking big questions about our country and identity.”

Through the Shortbread Tin is directed by Lu Kemp, a theatre director and dramaturg with a distinctive reputation for her work in new writing. Lu was Artistic Director of Perth Theatre between 2016 to 2023.

Her tenure was notable for supporting the creation of new work by Scottish artists and community engaged productions. As a freelance director, Lu has worked for The Citizens, The Royal Lyceum Theatre, National Theatre of Scotland, Artangel, London,The Tricycle, Almeida and The Royal Shakespeare Company.

Touring to Corn Exchange, Melrose (Preview Tues 1 April) Wed 2 April; Tron Theatre, Glasgow Fri 4 & Sat 5 April; Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh Tues 8 & Wed 9 April; Macphail Centre, Ullapool Saturday 12 April; An Lanntair, Stornoway Tues 15 April; Aros Centre, Skye (with SEALL) Thurs 17 April; Dornie Community Hall, Lochalsh (with SEALL) Fri 18 April; Cumbernauld Theatre Wed 23 April; Corran Halls, Oban Thurs 24 April; Cove Burgh Halls, Helensburgh Fri 25 April; Mareel, Shetland Mon 28 & Tues 29 April; Eden Court, Inverness Thurs 1 & Fri 2 May.

On social: #ShortbreadTin

Saturday: Morgan Njobo at Muirhouse Library

Edinburgh Multicultural Festival goes on tour! This fall we will be visiting libraries in the Edinburgh North neighbourhoods with our featured artists.

This Saturday, 26 October, Muirhouse Library will be hosting Morgan Njobo who will bring a South African flavour to your day with his signature signing and drumming performance and workshop.

Morgan Njobo, Edinburgh Multicultural Festival director, is a versatile artist, a singer, composer, musician, choreographer, dancer, director and producer known for traditional and modern African and World Music performances and productions. Morgan has worked with many communities across Edinburgh hosting vocal, music and dance workshops across the city.

This event is free but ticketed, so make sure you register with us ahead of the event at: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/edmcf/t-vvaxqkg