National Theatre Of Scotland Announces Its 2019 Season

Jackie Wylie Artistic Director and Chief Executive of the National Theatre of Scotland says

"In 2019 the National Theatre of Scotland is focussing on major Scottish artists, creating major new works that explore the vital questions facing all of us both as Scots and as global citizens.

What Scottish theatre can do like no other national culture is tackle the big questions of our times, with a unique sense of joy and a love of communal celebration.

Touring remains at the heart of our commitment to audiences across Scotland and beyond. In 2019, twenty productions will be touring to theatre venues, schools, community centres, and pop up performance spaces. We will also take the work of Scottish artists throughout the UK and internationally to New York, Montreal, Virginia, Kentucky and Lisbon.

We are proud to be without walls - we have partnerships in our DNA, and we aim for our collaborations to be as diverse as Scotland's ever changing populace. I would like to thank the partners, funders, artists and collaborators who are joining us to ensure that theatre in Scotland, in 2019, matters more than ever"

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WORLD PREMIERES AND NEW PRODUCTIONS INCLUDE:

• Interference will be performed in a transformed Glasgow office block from 16 to 30 March 2019. A bold and chilling new trilogy of near-future plays by three provocative writers, Morna Pearson, Hannah Khalil and Vlad Butucea, and directed by National Theatre of Scotland's Associate Director Cora Bissett. A National Theatre of Scotland production.
• Dear Europe is a special event produced by National Theatre of Scotland to mark Scotland's scheduled exit from the European Union. Six of the country's most adventurous theatre- makers will create and present short performances that respond to this significant moment in Europe's history at SWG3, Glasgow on the night of 29 March 2019. Co-curated by Stewart Laing and Jackie Wylie. A National Theatre of Scotland production in association with SWG3.
• Them! tackles the nebulous nature of identity in a changing world. Written by Pamela Carter with long-time collaborator Stewart Laing directing his first project in his new role as Associate Director with the National Theatre of Scotland. Premiering at Tramway, Glasgow in June and July 2019. A National Theatre of Scotland production.
• Thank You Very Much is a new work from Claire Cunningham using the phenomenon of Elvis tribute artists as a springboard to explore impersonation, identity, acceptance and the challenges of being yourself. A Manchester International Festival and National Theatre of Scotland co-production, opening in Manchester in July 2019 and touring to Glasgow in October & November 2019.
• Total Immediate Collective Imminent Terrestrial Salvation, written by Tim Crouch and directed by Karl James & Andy Smith will premiere at the Edinburgh Festivals in August 2019 before touring to Brighton and Lisbon later in the autumn. Exploring manipulation and the nature of truth in an age of arch-political misdirection, the play is a bold experiment in the collective creation of fiction. A National Theatre of Scotland production in association with Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts and Teatro do Bairro Alto, Lisbon.
• Red Dust Road is the first stage adaptation of the bestselling memoir by Jackie Kay, tracing the challenges she faced on the journey to discover the truth about her birth parents. Adapted for the stage by Tanika Gupta and directed by Dawn Walton, it will premiere at the Edinburgh International Festival and HOME, Manchester, touring throughout autumn 2019. A National Theatre of Scotland and HOME, Manchester co-production, developed with support from Macrobert Arts Centre.
• The Drift by performer and spoken-word artist Hannah Lavery journeys through history, Scottishness, belonging, and grief, exploring her legacy of being "mixed" in Scotland. Directed by Eve Nicol, it will tour Scotland from 02 to 12 October 2019 as part of Black History Month 2019. A National Theatre of Scotland production, tour supported by Flint & Pitch and The Workers Theatre with the Coalition of Racial Equality and Rights, as part of Black History Month 2019.
• The Panopticon will be adapted for the stage by Jenni Fagan from her celebrated novel of the same name. A gritty and gripping coming-of-age tale turned on its head, the production will be directed by Debbie Hannan, touring to the Traverse Theatre and Platform, Glasgow in November 2019. A National Theatre of Scotland production.

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TOURING SCOTLAND

• Joe Douglas returns to direct John McGrath's seminal political play The Cheviot, The Stag & the Black, Black Oil, in newly imagined version, based on his acclaimed recent production for Dundee Rep Theatre. The production will tour nationwide, in the spirit of the 1973 original tour. A National Theatre of Scotland production in association with Dundee Rep Theatre and Live Theatre, Newcastle.

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INTERNATIONAL TOURING

• Adam is the remarkable true story of a young trans man and his journey to reconciliation; with himself, those closest to him, and the world as he knows it. Conceived for the stage and directed by Cora Bissett, written by Frances Poet and performed by Adam Kashmiry, upon whom the story is based, and Rehanna MacDonald. The show receives its US premiere in New York from 14 to 16 February 2019. A National Theatre of Scotland production.
• Première neige/First Snow follows its successful run at the 2018 Edinburgh Festival Fringe with an international tour to Canada. Directed by Patrice Dubois and written by Davey Anderson, Philippe Ducros and Linda McLean, the Fringe First-winning show will be performed at Théâtre de Quat'Sous in Montreal from 26 February to 23 March. An international co-production between National Theatre of Scotland, Théâtre PÀP and Hôtel-Motel.
• Anything That Gives Off Light returns following its premiere at the Edinburgh International Festival in 2016. Focusing on three characters in a pub as they wrestle with loneliness, grief and a festering sense of betrayal, the production will visit Virginia, Kentucky, and New York from 01 to 30 March 2019. A co-production from The TEAM, the National Theatre of Scotland and Edinburgh International Festival.

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PARTICIPATORY THEATRE AND FESTIVALS INCLUDE:

• LIKE FLYING is a new participatory project from the National Theatre of Scotland, working in partnership for the first time with SAMH, (Scottish Association for Mental Health) in association with East Ayrshire Council and Edinburgh City Council. The project, tackling mental wellbeing through aerial performance, will be performed in schools in East Ayrshire and Edinburgh in June 2019 and curated by National Theatre of Scotland Artist-in-Residence Nic Green.
• The Coming Back Out Ball, a year-long engagement programme created for the LGBTI elder community comes to Scotland, having been successfully pioneered in Australia by Tristan Meecham and Bec Reid of All The Queens Men. Led by Scottish theatre-maker Lewis Hetherington alongside the original creative team from All The Queens Men, the project will take place from May 2019.
• Just Start Here, the National Theatre of Scotland's pop-up festival celebrating new work and Scottish artists, arrives in Aberdeen on 08 and 09 March 2019 as part of the Company's Engine Room programme. Produced in partnership with Citymoves, Aberdeen.

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THE YEAR IN BRIEF:

February

• Adam, conceived for the stage and directed by Cora Bissett, written by Frances Poet and performed by Adam Kashmiry and Rehanna MacDonald, tours to New York for performances at the Skirball Centre in Manhattan from 14 to 16 February 2019, the show's first international dates.

March

• Anything that Gives Off Light, directed by Rachel Chavkin, with Associate Direction from Davey Anderson, visits Virginia, Kentucky, and New York from 01 to 30 March 2019. Written by Jessica Almasy, Davey Anderson, Fraser Ayres, Rachel Chavkin, Brian Ferguson, and Alexander Grierson. A co-production from The TEAM, the National Theatre of Scotland and Edinburgh International Festival.
• Première neige/First Snow, directed by Patrice Dubois and written by Davey Anderson, Philippe Ducros and Linda McLean, follows its successful premiere at last year's Edinburgh Fringe with a tour to Théâtre de Quat'Sous in Montreal from 26 February to 23 March 2019. An international co-production between National Theatre of Scotland Théâtre PÀP and Hôtel-Motel.
• Engine Room's Just Start Here pop-up festival returns, bringing two days of music, climate change activism and cross-art form making to Aberdeen from 08 to 09 March 2019. Presented in partnership with Aberdeen's Citymoves.
• Interference, a chilling new trilogy of near-future plays, will be performed in a transformed Glasgow office block from 16 to 30 March 2019. Written by Morna Pearson, Hannah Khalil and Vlad Butucea and directed by Cora Bissett. A National Theatre of Scotland production.
• Dear Europe will mark Scotland's scheduled exit from the European Union with an evening of live music and live performance at SWG3, Glasgow on Friday 29 March 2019. Co-curated by Stewart Laing and Jackie Wylie and featuring work from artists Adura Onashile, Nima Séne, Alan McKendrick, Angus Farquar, Nic Green, and Leonie Rae Gasson. A National Theatre of Scotland production, in association with SWG3

May

• The Cheviot, The Stag & the Black, Black Oil begins its new Scotland-wide tour with performances in Dundee, Inverness, Shetland and the Highlands. Joe Douglas returns to direct John McGrath's seminal political play. A National Theatre of Scotland production in association with Dundee Rep Theatre and Live Theatre, Newcastle. Based on the original Dundee Rep Theatre production.
• My Left Right Foot - The Musical returns to the stage with new performances at Dundee Rep from 21 to 25 May 2019. Written and directed by Robert Softley Gale, with music and lyrics by Scott Gilmour & Claire McKenzie, Richard Thomas & Robert Softley Gale. A Birds of Paradise and National Theatre of Scotland co-production.

June

• Them! is written by Pamela Carter and directed by Stewart Laing, his first project in his new role as Associate Director with the National Theatre of Scotland. It will premiere at Tramway, Glasgow in June/July. A National Theatre of Scotland production.
• LIKE FLYING, is led by National Theatre Scotland Artist in Residence Nic Green in schools in East Ayrshire and Edinburgh from June. In partnership with (SAMH) Scottish Association for Mental Health, in association with East Ayrshire Council and Edinburgh City Council.
• The Cheviot, The Stag & the Black, Black Oil visits the final stops on its Scotland-wide tour, including Skye, Aberdeen and Stirling, before beginning a two-week run at Newcastle's Live Theatre.

July

• Thank You Very Much is a new work from Claire Cunningham, using the phenomenon of Elvis tribute artists as a springboard to explore impersonation, identity, acceptance and the challenges of being yourself. It is commissioned and produced by Manchester International Festival and National Theatre of Scotland and premieres in Manchester in July 2019 before touring to Glasgow in October & November 2019.
• Them!, Stewart Laing and Pamela Carter's subversive and immersive new production, concludes its debut performances at Tramway, Glasgow.

August

• Total Immediate Collective Imminent Terrestrial Salvation, written by Tim Crouch and directed by Karl James & Andy Smith, is the first of two shows from the National Theatre of Scotland at the 2019 Edinburgh Festivals, running through August.
• Red Dust Road has its opening performances, the first stage production of Jackie Kay's heart-warming memoir, in an adaptation by Tanika Gupta and directed by Dawn Walton. The show premieres at the Edinburgh International Festival, before visiting Macrobert Arts Centre, Stirling and Eden Court, Inverness later in the autumn

September

• Red Dust Road follows its opening performances at the Edinburgh International Festival with a tour to the home of co-producing partners HOME, in Manchester.

October

• The Drift by performer and spoken-word artist Hannah Lavery, directed by Eve Nicol, tours Scotland from 02 to 12 October 2019, with visits to Aberdeen, Tobermory, Hawick, Edinburgh and Glasgow as part of Black History Month.

November

• Jenni Fagan adapts her hit novel The Panopticon for the stage. Directed by Debbie Hannan, the show will be presented at the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh and Platform, Glasgow.
• Thank You Very Much receives its Scottish premiere in Glasgow from 31 Oct to 03 November 2019, following its opening performances at Manchester International Festival in the summer.

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Throughout 2019

Theatre in Schools Scotland
National Theatre of Scotland and Imaginate. Touring a programme of acclaimed shows to nurseries and schools across Scotland.

Engine Room
Established in 2018, our Engine Room programme will continue to provide artistic development opportunities for artists throughout Scotland.

The Coming Back Out Ball
A year-long engagement programme from May 2019 created for the LGBTI elder community in Scotland, led by Lewis Hetherington, Tristan Meecham and Bec Reid. Presented by National Theatre of Scotland and All The Queens Men in partnership with Luminate.

How The Earth Must See Itself
A short film produced by the National Theatre of Scotland and Scottish Sculpture Workshop, created by Lucy Cash and Simone Kenyon, and based on the book - The Living Mountain by Nan Shepherd

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