The National Theatre of Scotland
This month, Vicky Featherstone, Artistic Director of the National Theatre of Scotland (NTS) shares with us an insight into the background and future of NTS.
| 'For over 100 years, the theatre community in Scotland has been campaigning for a National Theatre. Now it is finally happening. In September 2003 the Scottish parliament announced the creation of the only new major cultural institution since devolution. |
 |
 |
Scottish theatre has always been for the people, led by great performances, great stories or great playwrights. We now have the chance to build a new generation of theatre-goers as well as reinvigorating the existing ones; to create theatre on a national and international scale that is contemporary, confident and forward-looking; to bring together brilliant artists, composers, choreographers and playwrights; and to exceed our expectation of what and where theatre can be'.
'The National Theatre of Scotland has no building; there has been no great capital project involving architects and contractors. Instead, we are taking theatre all over Scotland, working with the existing venues and 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 also in site-specific locations, community halls and sports halls, car parks and forests.
 |
 |
As well as producing our own work, we will collaborate with the best companies and individuals working here already. We will travel all over Scotland taking work to school and communities. A small ensemble of six actors will take up residence for a week at a time in the smallest venues and communities in Scotland, offering plays for adults, young adults and family theatre. At last we will be able to create large-scale work, music and spectacle, something that has disappeared due to lack of resources and time. There will be opportunities for our great playwrights to write big, important plays and to do new versions of those which have not been seen in Scotland for many years. This will create parts for the great Scottish actors spread over the world and at home. We will tour internationally and bring international work into Scotland. We have created a young company of recent graduates, actors, directors, producers and technicians who will tour their own work, giving them the opportunity to develop professionally.
| We 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'.
Vicky Featherstone
Artistic Director, NTS |