Article Source: National Theatre of Scotland
Last Updated: 25 January 2024 13:41
A year of world premieres, tours and work at all scales, on stages across Scotland, England and beyond, a programme of work for younger audiences, plus artist’s residencies, events, a touring exhibition and film and digital projects.
Touring to 45 venues across 28 locations in Scotland, England and Europe.
Jackie Wylie, Artistic Director said: “We are delighted to be offering audiences a packed theatrical programme in 2024 with, thrilling new productions alongside acclaimed shows that we have brought back by popular demand.
We are proud to honour icons and celebrate artists that help define and shape our cultural identity.
As Scotland’s National theatre company, who tour tirelessly throughout Scotland, we want to bring a sense of community togetherness, pride in our nation’s creativity and the chance to have a brilliant night out, for audiences, locally or indeed further afield.
We are acutely aware that we continue to live in challenging times. Global politics, the aftermath of the Covid years and the cost of living crisis all have ongoing impacts for the creative and cultural industries and the brilliant Scottish artists who create theatre with us.
National Theatre of Scotland has always held a lens up through which we can view ourselves, as a nation, as a society and never more so than in this programme.
Through the sharing of important stories, that tell us about ourselves, we explore our shared humanity. Climate activism, youthful protest, the enslaved Joseph Knight who made his bid for freedom, the great Billy Connolly, the Margaret Thatcher years, working class culture, teenage Cosplay, Country music, masculinity and the late great Beldina Odenyo all share the spotlight in our 2024 programme.
Young people hold a special place in our programme. We are committed to ensuring they are involved with the National Theatre of Scotland from Primary School onwards, through our productions with Theatre in Schools Scotland, our touring work to venues and through participation in projects with leading theatre-makers.
We thank our partners, our supporters and funders, the venues we are touring to, the artists, the crews and the freelancers who make our work, all those who participate and most importantly our audiences who energise us through their commitment and enthusiasm for the joy of theatre.”
NEW PRODUCTIONS:
THE FIFTH STEP, a thrilling and provocative new play written by David Ireland and directed by Finn den Hertog. The taut two-hander features Jack Lowden, returning to Scottish stages for the first time since his theatrical debut in Black Watch in 2010. The Fifth Step will preview at Dundee Rep Theatre before opening at the Royal Lyceum Theatre, for a week’s run as part of the 2024 Edinburgh International Festival and then end with a week’s run at The Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow in August 2024.
JUNE CARTER CASH: THE WOMAN, HER MUSIC AND ME, a new play written and performed by Charlene Boyd sharing the story of one of country music’s most iconic voices: June Carter Cash, directed by the multi-award-winning Cora Bissett. June Carter Cash: The Woman, Her Music and Me opens at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe ahead of a tour of Scottish cultural venues.
THANK U, NEXT, a new dance theatre piece exploring the contemporary culture of cosplay, created by leading radical performance collective 21Common working with teenagers across Scotland. They will produce four unique productions presented at schools in Glasgow, Cumbernauld, Grangemouth and Lochgelly, for a run of public performances in February and October 2024 and then again in March 2025. Each production will be directed by 21Commoners Lucy Gaizely and Gary Gardiner, and performed by a mixed group of professional performers, school pupils and young collaborators who were involved in the original development of the piece.
PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED
MAGGIE & ME, is a bold and explosive new production based on Damian Barr’s award-winning and darkly witty memoir about growing up gay in Thatcher’s Britain, adapted by Damian Barr and James Ley, directed by Suba Das. Opening at the Tron Theatre in Glasgow, before touring to Inverness, Perth, Cumbernauld, Dundee, Northampton and Edinburgh in Spring 2024. Full creative team announced.
DEAR BILLY, a love letter to the Big Yin returns to Scottish stages after a successful tour of Scotland in 2023. Written and performed by Gary McNair, and directed by Joe Douglas, this critically acclaimed celebration of Billy Connolly will be heading to Aberdeen, Glasgow and Inverness before coming to the Assembly Rooms as part of the Assembly Festival programme for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August.
NEWLY ANNOUNCED - RETURN OF AN AWARD-WINNING PRODUCTION
ENOUGH OF HIM, the incisive and emotive, award-winning and critically acclaimed play based on the true story of Joseph Knight returns to stages in 2024. Enough of Him, written by May Sumbwanyambe and directed by Orla O’Loughlin with Omar Austin reprising his role as Joseph, will open in Edinburgh in October 2024 before touring to Dundee, Aberdeen, Chichester and Coventry. A co-production with Pitlochry Festival Theatre
IN ASSOCIATION WITH PRODUCTIONS
AN ACCIDENT / A LIFE, an exciting new collaboration between Marc Brew and Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui. The semi-autobiographical piece has its world premiere at Holland Dance Festival in February 2024 before arriving in Glasgow for the UK premiere at Tramway in March 2024 ahead of further European international tour dates.
SHŌ AND THE DEMONS OF THE DEEP, a timely new production for younger audiences aged 8 and over, from Independent Arts Projects (IAP) in association with National Theatre of Scotland. Shō and the Demons of the Deep is a visual adventure story about overcoming fear, climate crisis, and how the actions of one generation can affect the next, written by Zoë Bullock and directed by Shilpa T-Hyland, touring across Scotland in April and May 2024.
TERO BURU, a new play by the late, great Beldina Odenyo has been posthumously interpreted by Beldina’s sister, Leah McAleer and directed by Julia Taudevin. Beldina’s friends and collaborators have joined together with Leah to bring Beldina’s debut play to an audience. Tero Buru will be performed in Glasgow in autumn 2024, with full details of dates and venue to be announced.
PROTEST, Natalie Ibu’s acclaimed production of Hannah Lavery’s new play embarks on a new tour across the UK, following a successful tour in 2023. Presented by Fuel, Imaginate and Northern Stage in association with National Theatre of Scotland, the show takes a timely look at the right to protest from the perspective of three young girls. Opening in Edinburgh in January, then touring to Newcastle, London, Nottingham, Harrogate, Cambridge, Colchester, Coventry, Poole, Plymouth and Exeter until March 2024.
All 2024 productions will be produced to the Theatre Green Book intermediate standard with 75% of all materials having been pre-used.
Full details of the new programme can be found at www.nationaltheatrescotland.com
The Edinburgh Butter Company is excited to announce the launch of Scotland’s first-ever croissant competition, open to bakers across the country.
READ MOREContemporary glass maker Elin Isaksson has been chosen to create the awards for Scotland’s national music prize the Scottish Album of the Year, via this year’s SAY Award Design Commission.
READ MOREHold onto your popcorn, because Cineworld is thrilled to announce the whirlwind return of the blockbuster hit Twisters to 4DX screens nationwide, due to an overwhelming tornado of popular demand!
READ MOREFilm fans are invited to revisit a galaxy far, far away this September as every main Star Wars film brings some of cinema's most iconic heroes and villains back to the big screen.
READ MOREAre you ready to take on Scotland's greatest running event at this year's AJ Bell Great Scottish Run in Glasgow on Sunday 6 October?
READ MOREMacrobert Arts Centre has announced the cast of Santa's Magical Lighthouse, to be performed this Christmas at the Stirling venue.
READ MOREFestival-goers attending the fourth Music at the Multiverse festival at the weekend enjoyed fantastic live music, sunshine and showers in one of Scotland’s most spectacular outdoor venues.
READ MOREStudents go FREE with Stena Line on Cairnryan and Liverpool routes.
READ MOREResidents are being asked to shape the future of Stirling Council's libraries in a new consultation.
READ MOREA rare opportunity to study the plans that led to the construction of the National Wallace Monument will form the centrepiece of a double birthday celebration this week.
READ MOREPrepare to be enchanted once again this winter as Monteviot Lights returns to Monteviot House & Gardens!
READ MOREParticipants can choose any novel way of racking up 100 miles this September to help raise crucial funds for those who need it most in the UK.
READ MOREThe Stirling and District Schools Pipe Band are celebrating after being named fourth best in the world!
READ MOREMeet The Buchanans is announced as the lead title in Macrobert Arts Centre's Central Scotland Documentary Festival (CSDF).
READ MOREToday, on what would have been Michael Jackson's 66th Birthday, entertainers launch their brand-new show; Man in the Mirror – A Tribute to Michael Jackson.
READ MOREDistinguished Senior Consultant Physician and psychiatrist Lotta Borg Skoglund will present groundbreaking research which challenges outdated views on female ADHD.
READ MOREThe winners of the 2024 Scottish Bar and Pub Awards have been revealed!
READ MOREWith Chef Demos, Cocktail & Mocktail Masterclasses and Wild Food Walks!
READ MOREFilm fans can get their big screen fix at Vue for just £4 this Saturday (31 August) as part of National Cinema Day!
READ MOREThe nominees have been unveiled for the Scots Language Awards 2024, with 50 outstanding organisations and individuals in the running for 12 awards at the annual ceremony next month.
READ MOREFresh from a hit run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where it earned critical and audience acclaim, Scottish Dance Theatre is taking its groundbreaking double-bill The Flock & Moving Cloud on tour.
READ MOREPeople are being invited to a special celebration at Forth Valley College next month to mark the 20th anniversary of Fair Trade Stirling.
READ MOREMacrobert Arts Centre has announced the full cast for this year’s Christmas pantomime production, Snow White.
READ MOREOrganisers Go Forth Stirling have announced the popular honours will return for a third year with the awards ceremony taking place on Thursday February 27, 2025 at the Albert Halls.
READ MOREAfter a total sell-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2023 and 2024, Christopher Macarthur-Boyd takes his smash hit show Scary Times out on tour...Scary Times indeed!
READ MOREAs the cooler days of Autumn approach, Dobbies Garden Centres is inviting families and gardening enthusiasts to gear up for a colourful spring with its free monthly Grow How sessions this September.
READ MOREKey summer events at Thistles Stirling led to 1.2% increase in footfall and thousands of pounds raised for Strathcarron Hospice.
READ MOREThe team at Stirling-based jewellery specialists Lily Blanche are celebrating after being shortlisted in the Women’s Enterprise Scotland Awards 2024.
READ MOREThere's just over 6 weeks to go until this year's AJ Bell Great Scottish Run and it's expected to be a sell out!
READ MOREThe Caped Crusader turned 85 this year and to celebrate Vue venues across Scotland are showcasing some of the comic book hero’s most loved films.
READ MORE