Belonging with The National Theatre of Scotland

Published: 28 June 2015
Reporter: Sandra Giorgetti

The Driver’s Seat Credit: Mark Hamilton

The National Theatre of Scotland, which earlier this year announced the creation of a permanent administrative, technical and creative development centre in the Speirs Wharf regeneration area of Glasgow, opens its new season shortly.

This continuation of the Belong season will see the company travel across Scotland, take three productions to the Edinburgh Festivals, visit Newcastle with a co–production and voyage abroad to Japan with Macbeth and to Michigan with A Christmas Carol.

Laurie Sansom, Artistic Director of the National Theatre of Scotland, has said, "most of us want to belong. The bosom of the family might make us feel safe, or like running to the hills. Sometimes it’s not always easy to fit in. The embrace of community can protect and it can stifle.

"Our Belong season continues as we celebrate and emotionally navigate the tumultuous worlds of teen tribes. A group of Catholic school girls from Oban takes the trip of a lifetime to Edinburgh; we experience their tribal loyalties and the unique joy of friendship and rebellion that only teenage years can bring.

"In the exquisite Dragon, a teenage boy in Garnethill, Glasgow struggles to find his place in the world following the death of his mother, finding solace in extraordinary friends. We are thrilled to welcome communities in Findhorn and Dumfries to share stories of journeys they have undertaken, to escape and invent new identities. Young people will be a vital and vocal part of our audiences this season."

The previously mentioned co-production with Live Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne is the world première of Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour based on the book by Alan Warner. The adaptation is by Newcastle born Lee Hall who wrote (amongst many significant credits) the award–winning The Pitmen Painters and Billy Elliot - the Musical.

The new programme also includes the return of theatrical spectacle Dragon and of Paul Bright’s Confessions of a Justified Sinner and community work continues with, amongst other strands, To Begin in which locals share their stories for two new shows.

Specifically for the people of Aberdeen is the recently announced new project Granite, named after the stone from which the city is built.

This will be made up of performances, interactive multimedia installations and other events that celebrate the city and the character of its citizens.

The project is led by National Theatre of Scotland associate director Simon Sharkey whose credits include The Tin Forest and Extreme. Sharkey and a team of creative artists will work closely with some of Aberdeen's leading creative groups, to bring together the project that launches in September.

In the meantime, there is still a little time left to catch the company's production of The Driver’s Seat. This world première of the adaptation of Muriel Spark's novel by Laurie Sansom continues at Glasgow's Tramway from 2 to 4 July (having moved on from the Lyceum where it ran this month).

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