National Theatre of Scotland
NToS is launched today. Vicky Featherstone, ex-Paines Plough, writes about it here.
She says:
“I have spent many hours debating the notion of a “national theatre” and the responsibility that entails. It is not, and should not be, a jingoistic, patriotic stab at defining a nation’s identity through theatre. In fact, it should not be an opportunity to try to define anything. Instead, it is the chance to throw open the doors of possibility, to encourage boldness. I hope our programme goes some way to realising these ambitions. I hope we will make Scotland proud.”
in the debate of a “black theatre” I think one could replace Scotland with Black or minority or non-mainstream and have an equally valid statement. However, where does it stop? Does everyone deserve a theatre? I think everyone probably does deserve one of some kind. [In fact, maybe we all do have a theatre of some kind...]
Interestingly NToS doesn’t have a building:
“The National Theatre of Scotland has no building; there has been no great capital project involving architects or contractors. Instead, the idea is to take theatre all over Scotland, working with the existing venues, touring and creating work within the theatre community. We have no bricks-and-mortar institutionalism to counter, nor the security of a permanent home in which to develop. All our money and energy can be spent on creating new work. Our theatre will take place in the great buildings – Edinburgh’s Royal Lyceum and Glasgow’s Citizens – but it will also take place in the Tramway, in site-specific locations, community halls and sports halls, car parks and forests”
Vicky is helped by her experience of Paines Plough, but in the debate for other companies to follow, perhaps a “building” is not only unnecessary but maybe a hindrance?
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About me
I'm a playwright and investment analyst. I have a broad range of interests: food, gardening, innovation & intellectual property, sustainability, architecture & design, writing and the arts. I sit on the board of Talawa Theatre Company and advise a CIS investment trust on socially responsible investments.
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Recent Work
Recent plays include, for theatre: Nakamitsu, Yellow Gentlemen, Lost in Peru, Lemon Love. For radio: Places in Between (R4), Patent Breaking Life Saving (WS).
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Nakamitsu
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Yellow Gentlemen
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