The community play

Whether you choose to take part in or attend a community play, it is a terrific way to experience an alternative to the professional theatre presentations.

Amateur dramatics

Amateur groups exist throughout Scotland, producing plays from new or existing texts.  The Scottish Community Drama Association is prominent in facilitating a network of member groups and events.  It provides services, resources and activities to its members and activities include an annual 'one act' festival.  The 2006 One Act Festival is currently drawing to a finale. Following the local and divisional rounds held across Scotland between February and April, the Scottish Final was held at Pitlochry Festival Theatre in April.  The winners will go on to represent Scotland at the British Finals at Perth Theatre on 30 June - 1 July.

Youth teams are also encouraged to take part in SCDA festivals competing besides adults, and indeed some also beat adult groups. The seventh annual Scottish Youth Final is being held at the McLaren Hall, Killin on 24 June.

Although competitive in nature the youth festivals have a great spirit of participation and camaraderie with youngsters encouraged to take part in all aspects of running a youth festival.

Professional theatre companies

All professional theatre companies engage with the community to an extent.  Through quality work, companies can develop a good relationship with audiences through the productions themselves.  More targeted community involvement may include, for example, plays with community casts, creating new work, workshops to accompany a professional production and other discrete or ongoing community workshops.

Many of Scotland’s theatre companies regularly stage a community play.  This month we profile Peter Clerke, whose company benchtours will this month stage work devised collaboratively with the community.

We focus this month on Theatre Workshop who, together with a community cast, will present their production directed and devised by their artistic director Robert Rae.