Tag: Travfest25

Traverse Theatre announces industry events for Travfest25

  • Thought-provoking Monday events this August will cast a glance forward to the future of Scottish theatre through the lens of pressing issues in playwrighting.
  • Delivered in partnership with the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities at the University of Edinburgh and Playwrights’ Studio, Scotland

The Traverse Theatre hosts two exciting industry-facing events as part of its Travfest25 programme this August, bringing together artists, academics, and audiences to look into what the future may hold for Scottish theatre.

These Monday discussions and readings will bring together leading playwrights, academic voices, and industry experts to explore critical themes shaping the future of arts and culture in Scotland and beyond.

On Monday 11 August a panel event on playwrighting, delivered in partnership with the University of Edinburgh’s Institute of the Advanced Study of Humanities programme (IASH).

Chaired by Fergus Morgan, The Stage’s Scotland Correspondent and freelance theatre critic, the Scottish Writers Community panel will discuss the shape of contemporary playwrighting in Scotland, and the burning issues that writers can uniquely address on-stage.  

Fergus is joined by Gareth Nicholls, the Traverse Theatre’s Artistic Director and a number of the IASH x Traverse Theatre fellows past and present – Isla Cowan (2024) Michael John O’Neill (2025) and Apphia Campbell (2021).

The event will also feature an exclusive first reading of Michael John O’Neill’s work-in-progress play Headland, a result of his 2025 IASH fellowship.

On Monday 18 August, Traverse Theatre and Playwrights’ Studio, Scotland collaborate on their annual event that looks to Scottish theatre’s past to offer a guide for its future. Industry figures will gather to discuss perspectives and insights.

The Traverse Theatre Festival for 2025 runs until Sunday 24 August, featuring 12 productions and 10 premieres, giving audiences the chance to be among the first to see some of the most ground-breaking, quality new theatre in Edinburgh this month.

LISTINGS

Monday 11 August, 4pm (1hr 30mins)

Scottish Writers Community: Panel Discussion

Join a discussion chaired by Fergus Morgan (The Stage’s Scotland correspondent and freelance theatre critic), Gareth Nicholls (Traverse Artistic Director), Michael John O’Neill (2025 IASH x Traverse Playwriting  fellow), Isla Cowan (2024 IASH x Traverse Playwriting fellow) and Apphia Campbell (2021 IASH x Traverse Playwriting fellow), to discuss the future of Scottish theatre, contemporary theatre narratives and what writers want to address.

This event will also feature an excerpt reading of Michael John O’Neill’s new work in development, Headland, which is a result of the IASH x Traverse fellowship.

Full price £8

Standard concession £5

Under 30s/Student £3

Low income benefit £3

Monday 18 August, 3pm (1hr30mins)

Traverse Theatre event with Playwrights’ Studio, Scotland

Join us for our annual festival event with long-term partners Playwrights’ Studio, Scotland. Expect discussion and insight from industry figures.

BSL Interpreted

Full price £8

Standard concession £5

Under 30s/Student £3

Low income benefit £3

Tickets are available to book now at https://www.traverse.co.uk/whats-on/travfest25

Traverse Theatre, 10 Cambridge St, Edinburgh, EH1 2ED I traverse.co.uk For more information, interviews, press tickets or images, contact press@traverse.co.uk

Glimmers films set to spread moments of joy throughout Travfest25

  • Seven moments of filmed magic to be shared with audiences in the theatre and at home throughout this year’s TravFest.
  • Partnership with Edinburgh Napier’s Screen Academy Scotland showcases Class Act writers from Scotland, Ukraine, India and Finland
  • First film released is Grandmother’s Pie, performed by Imani Preyor, with further releases to follow each week through August.

Glimmers: micro-moments of positivity that help us to feel joy, safety and connection. It could be a fleeting sense of safety or love, happiness, or hope. But it leaves a positive lingering feeling.

Glimmers are ephemeral, much like theatre: a swift moment of magic, over too soon, but whose impacts can last forever.

This summer TravFest25 shares Glimmers with audiences and visitors. The series of short films have been penned by some of our brightest young voices, nurtured and discovered through the Traverse’s flagship engagement programme Class Act, then filmed within the Traverse Theatre and given a platform at the world’s biggest performing arts festival.

Voices from across the world – including Ukraine, India, Finland, and Scotland come together in Glimmers, supported by the Traverse’s leading mentors and directors including John Tiffany, Douglas Maxwell, Nicola McCartney, Natalya Vorozhbyt and Gareth Nicholls.

Created and delivered in partnership with Edinburgh Napier University’s Screen Academy Scotland, these wonderful miniature theatre works have become short films to be shared online and within the Traverse itself throughout August.

The first of the seven films is released today – Grandmother’s Pie, a new piece submitted by former Class Act Finland participant Anastasiia, performed by Imani Preyor.

Further Glimmers will be released through the coming weeks, uploaded to enjoy for free via the Traverse Theatre’s Youtube channel as well as popping up on digital screens within the building throughout the month.

The full set of films is:

1 in 2 by Seren (Class Act Dumfries submitted in 2024) – performed by Eloise King Anderson

Grandmother’s Pie by Anastasiia (Participated in Class Act Finland 2023 – Cultura Foundation and Fenix Finland Ry, new piece submitted for Glimmers)– performed by Imani Preyor

One Two Three by Matvey (Participated in Class Act Finland 2023 – Cultura Foundation and Fenix Finland Ry, new piece submitted for Glimmers) – performed by Alexander Tait.

More Like Mum by Jules Risingham (Letters to Our Future Government piece submitted in 2024) – performed by Lawrence Boothman.

Ryoko by Kate (Participated in Class Act Finland 2023 – Cultura Foundation and Fenix Finland Ry, new piece submitted for Glimmers) – performed by Janette Foggo.

The Light by Alisa (Participated in Class Act Finland 2023 – Cultura Foundation and Fenix Finland Ry, new piece submitted for Glimmers) – performed by Eve Buglass and Sydney Mulligan.

Last Chance to Save the Planet by Kayla (Submitted in 2023) – performed by Rebecca Wilkie.

A team of 23 camera, sound, lighting, technical and production staff from Edinburgh Napier University’s Screen Academy Scotland honed theatre capture skills in a short residency at the Traverse Theatre in July.

Camera: Grant Deans (him), Owen McCaffrey (him), Natalie Weir (her), Tony Ross (him)

Sound: Liam Stobie (him), Reece Groves (him), Sherbaaz Khan (him)

Lighting: Marcin Maternik (him), Jimmy Kitson (him)

Production: Ruby Holywell-Walker (her), Olivia Mcardle (her)

Technical support: Francis Todd (him) (Napier staff technician)

Support:  Reece Groves (him), Ruby Holywell-Walker (her), Sherbaaz Khan (him), Jimmy Kitson (him), Marcin Maternik (him), Owen McCaffrey (him), Olivia Mcardle (her), Tony Ross (him), Liam Stobie (him), Francis Todd (him), and Natalie Weir (her)

Glimmers films will be available to watch via the Traverse Theatre Youtube channel