Traverse Theatre announces Breakfast Plays will go ahead as a series of podcast episodes
The Traverse is delighted to announce that one of the most-loved elements of its annual Traverse Festival programme, the Breakfast Plays, will be produced this year as a series of podcast episodes.
Article Source: Traverse Theatre
Last Updated: 6 August 2020 15:40
TRAVERSE THEATRE BRINGS NEW WRITERS FROM SCOTLAND INTO EARS AROUND THE WORLD WITH NEW APPROACH FOR ITS ICONIC BREAKFAST PLAYS
Breakfast Plays: New Tracks are five new short plays, four from writers who are Traverse Young Writers Group alumni, which will receive their world premiere as podcast episodes.
All plays will be available on demand and for free for listeners around the world for the very first time
The plays tackle what happens following an earth-shattering event
A new play will be released each day at the traditional Breakfast Play time of 9am from 24-28 August
The Traverse is delighted to announce that one of the most-loved elements of its annual Traverse Festival programme, the Breakfast Plays, will be produced this year as a series of podcast episodes, Breakfast Plays: New Tracks.
ABOUT BREAKFAST PLAYS: NEW TRACKS
Traditionally taking place at 9am during the Traverse Festival (and enjoyed with a breakfast roll), the bite-sized Breakfast Plays are a key element of the Traverse’s talent development programme for writers, bringing brand new short plays by early career writers, who are often alumni of the theatre’s Young Writers Group, to the world and showcasing the best new Scottish writing talent to the international audiences who flood Edinburgh in August.
Each writer is provided with dramaturgical support from the Traverse’s Artistic Team to evolve their play, which is then directed by a professional director and performed by professional actors. As well as receiving the opportunity to share their work with an international Festival audience, writers also receive invaluable audience and industry feedback to help them develop their skills even further.
Though a selection of previous Breakfast Plays have been broadcast on the BBC World Service, 2020 marks the first time that the plays have been written specifically for an audio format and been made available to global audiences on demand, so that Breakfast Plays: New Tracks can become the Lunch Plays, or Dinner Plays, or be enjoyed at any other time the listener would like.
As in 2018 and 2019, several of the 2020 plays will be by writers who have previously been part of the organisation’s acclaimed Young Writers Group programme. Each will tell a different story of the next step after an earth shattering event occurs, ranging from a former cult leader whose past comes back to haunt them, a murdered young woman who seeks revenge from the afterlife, and the very breakdown of time itself, amongst others.
WHO’S INVOLVED
The five writers of this year’s Breakfast Plays: New Tracks, who are based throughout Scotland, are Jamie Cowan (Carnock), Rebecca Martin (Inverness), Amy Rhianne Milton (Edinburgh), Uma Nada-Rajah (Kirknewton) and Conor O'Loughlin (Glasgow).
The plays are directed by the Traverse Theatre’s Co-Artistic Directors Gareth Nicholls and Debbie Hannan. Sound design is by Kim Moore, Oğuz Kaplangi and Mwen and the sound engineer is Richard Bell. The cast are Karen Fishwick, Robbie Jack, Reuben Joseph, Bhav Joshi, Helen Katamba, Laura Lovemore and Anna Russell Martin.
One play will be released via the Traverse’s website and wherever you get your podcasts each day at 9am from Mon 24 – Fri 28 August and each play will be available to listen to on demand and for free for 14 days after it has premiered.
Eleanor White, Literary Associate at the Traverse said:
“I am thrilled that we will be able to share the brilliant and visionary work of the writers involved in our 2020 Breakfast Plays: New Tracks with the entire world! The Breakfast Plays are a crucial part of our talent development programme, and there was never a question of them not happening this year. We are proud that the skills many of the writers have developed through their involvement in our Young Writers Group programme mean that they can tell compelling and thought-provoking stories in formats far beyond what we might consider conventional theatre. Delivering this year’s plays in an audio format is a natural progression and has allowed the writers to grow new skills in multiple areas of storytelling. Listen out in August – and remember to have a breakfast roll ready for the true Breakfast Play experience!”
Conor O’Loughlin, Breakfast Plays: New Tracks writer said:
“The Breakfast Plays offer a dream provocation to any writer, practically demanding a response primed with enough adrenaline to see Festival audiences through the rest of the day. It’s a testament to the Traverse’s own reserves of energy and resilience that this year not only continues that tradition, but does so on an even grander scale and with unlimited scope. It may be a new form and platform, with rehearsal Zooms in place of rehearsal rooms, but the artistic team has at every turn provided the same incredible levels of support and bespoke development that make the Traverse the new writing haven it has always been. I knew my play was in the safest of hands thanks to brilliant collaborators who devoted endless time, patience and expertise from the first draft right through to the recording. It is a real thrill to be part of the Digital Festival and contribute to an exciting collection of plays that capture this moment in time while also breaking new ground, both for myself as a playwright and for my favourite theatre in the world.”
Uma Nada-Rajah, Breakfast Plays: New Tracks writer said:
“Participating in the Breakfast Plays gave me the opportunity to take a new and experimental idea from its conception to a second draft. It is a welcome opportunity to put raw, of the moment work in front of a virtual audience. I received meticulous notes and had the joy of working with a cracking artistic team.”
LISTINGS INFORMATION
The Breakfast Plays: New Tracks will be released as individual podcast episodes, with one premiering each day from Mon 24 – Fri 28 August at 9am – the traditional starting time of our Breakfast Plays performances.
Each episode can be listened to on demand and for free for 14 days after its premiere.
Episodes can be listened to on the Traverse website, Spotify, iTunes and Soundcloud.
ABOUT THE PLAYS
Contemporary Political Ethics (or, How to Cheat) by Jamie Cowan
A failed politician and carer are showing Kev, a young lad on academic probation, the in’s and out’s of running a polling station. The splendour of democracy in action! Except no one’s coming to vote, so there isn’t much in the way of action, that is, until they discover a forgotten ballot on the floor.
Rabbit Catcher by Rebecca Martin
Dead in the woods, Ren of Ord clears her windpipe of soil, earth and rot. Sworn to enact vengeance, she rises to protect her land and her sisterhood from the fate that befell her that day upon the hill. Rabbit Catcher is a lyrical, mythical lore set within the dark, dense woods of Ord Hill, Inverness.
Matterhorn by Amy Rhianne Milton
A cathedral at the edge of time, at the end of the world. A few hundred cling to life within its thick, safe walls. Humanity’s final outpost. The cathedral bells ring out in the hopes of finding more lost souls to bring to sanctuary but is there anyone actually left to save?
The Watercooler by Uma Nada-Rajah
Two co-workers meet in the staff room of non-descript corporate office. As one colleague struggles with current events across the Atlantic hitting home, the other is tasked with assessing her mental fitness. Uma Nada-Rajah’s The Watercooler addresses racism with a searing streak of surrealism.
Doomsdays by Conor O’Loughlin
21st December 2012, the day the world was meant to end. The day a cult leader’s apocalyptic predictions failed. Faye and Felix devoted themselves to a doomsday that didn’t come and now, having seen the world get continually worse over the past nine years, they’re confronting their former leader with their findings.
Sponsored Links
Latest Edinburgh News
Dinosaur Day at Dobbies
Children attending Dobbies Little Seedlings Club will get the chance to travel back hundreds of millions of years to learn about prehistoric plants and talk about their favourite dinosaurs!
READ MORE
Manran to headline as Innis & Gunn bring the best of Scotland to the Mound for Fringe 2025
Scottish trad supergroup Mànran will headline a one-off live show on the Mound this month, as part of the return of Innis & Gunn's popular Edinburgh Festival Fringe takeover.
READ MORE
SUSHISAMBA Edinburgh launches the summer edition of its famed Champagne Afternoon Tea
SUSHISAMBA Edinburgh launches its famed Champagne Afternoon Tea, with a refreshing summer spin, whilst guests enjoy unparalleled views from the restaurant’s home on the 10th floor of W Edinburgh!
READ MORE
Traverse Theatre announces Autumn 2025 season
Hot on the heels of a thrilling TravFest25 programme, the Traverse Theatre has announced the first details of the exciting work audiences can look forward to seeing in the venue from September.
READ MORE
New Edinburgh hotspot, The West End Garden, opens in the grounds of St Marys Cathedral
Edinburgh's West End has welcomed an exciting new destination as Don't Tell Mama, the beloved local coffee shop, officially opens The West End Garden.
READ MORE
Virgin Hotels Edinburgh Launches Search for Director of Mischief
Virgin Hotels Edinburgh is excited to announce the creation of a brand new role, adding the first-ever 'Director of Mischief' position to its team.
READ MORE
Edinburgh Zoo welcomes only sloth bear in Scotland
Edinburgh Zoo has welcomed Scotland’s only sloth bear, Cipísek, from Zlin Zoo in the Czech Republic.
READ MORE
Summer long celebration of the 90s and britpop launched
PubLife, a UK-wide summer celebration of the '90s will take place in over 500 pubs, including 7 in Scotland.
READ MORE
Family days out just got better with free entry for kids at Scone Palace
This summer, as school holidays get underway, families are invited to enjoy a day out at Scone Palace with their Kids Go Free promotion.
READ MORE
Scone Palace International Horse Trials
The inaugural Scone Palace International Horse Trials will take place from 21st–24th August 2025 in the stunning grounds of Scone Palace and Perth Racecourse.
READ MORE
Collective opens new programme inspired by the original panorama invented on Calton Hill
Today, Collective is delighted to announce and open a new programme, Panorama: New Views of a City, running from Wednesday 9 July to Sunday 21 December 2025.
READ MORE
Get Creative at the LEGO Edinburgh Store this Summer
This summer, The LEGO Group is excited to bring its new Summer Fun with Music Creativity Workshop directly to families in Edinburgh!
READ MORE
Countdown begins: The AJ Bell Great Scottish Run returns to Glasgow in October
Scotland's greatest running event, the AJ Bell Great Scottish Run, will return to Glasgow on Sunday 5th October and they want everyone to 'Be Your Greatest'.
READ MORE
Meet Elphaba, Glinda and Stitch inspired characters at Fort Kinnaird this summer
Families will have the chance to meet some of this year’s biggest blockbuster-inspired characters for free at Fort Kinnaird this summer, as part of a series of exciting meet and greet sessions.
READ MORE
The Famous Spiegeltent announces Edinburgh summer programme
This week, the globally acclaimed venue, The Famous Spiegeltent makes her grand return to St Andrew Square after almost a decade away from her spiritual home.
READ MORE
Community spirit is blooming in Newtongrange as award winning gardens are revealed
Newtongrange Community Council is now pleased to reveal the names of the green-fingered locals that stood out in this historic garden contest.
READ MORE
Dive into fun at Ocean Commotion Soft Play
Dynamic Earth launches its Toddler Tidal and Deep-Sea Discovery Zones in a bid provide accessible enrichment for little ones across the Capital.
READ MORE
DofE Gold Award holders were guests of honour at The Palace of Holyroodhouse
His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh welcomed Gold DofE Award holders to The Palace of Holyroodhouse this morning at a very special event to mark their achievements.
READ MORE
BTS fans take the spotlight in latest K Pop documentary heading to Vue
BTS Army: Forever We Are Young, a brand-new documentary celebrating the fans that helped catapult 21st century pop icons BTS into global stardom comes to Vue.
READ MORE
Plenty of summer family fun at Vue venues across Scotland
Family favourites and animated adventures are heading to the big screen this summer holiday at Vue venues across Scotland.
READ MORE
Capital Theatres celebrates history of Kings Theatre with launch of The Peoples Archive
Capital Theatres has today launched The People’s Archive, a digital exhibition that celebrates the rich history and cultural legacy of the King’s Theatre.
READ MORE
Mother and Daughter duo crowned ultimate Stitch fans in Edinburgh
A Disney-loving mum and her one-year-old daughter have been crowned Edinburgh’s biggest Stitch fans after winning a competition hosted by Fort Kinnaird.
READ MORE
Dinosaurs roar to life in a Jurassic takeover at Livingston Designer Outlet
Livingston Designer Outlet goes Jurassic crazy this July with lifelike dinosaurs, ranger training and endless photo opportunities for the whole family to enjoy.
READ MORE
Fife & Forth Bridge Steam Train Journey Announced
Departing on Saturday 29th November 2025 at from Edinburgh Waverley, this enchanting lunchtime journey will be led by the iconic 60532 Blue Peter.
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Film Festival announces 2025 Programme
Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) has today announced its programme of screenings and events for its 2025 edition.
READ MORE
GreenFox Energy powers up Party at the Palace with first solar festival stage in Scotland
Party at the Palace will host Scotland’s first solar-powered festival stage, the GreenFox Energy Breakthrough Stage, twinning clean energy and the joy of live music.
READ MORE
Gilded Balloon announce a star studded line up for special 40th anniversary shows
Gilded Balloon has unveiled a huge line-up of comedy stars to take part in a special ‘40 Years of Fringe’ in conversation series, to celebrate the venue’s 40th anniversary.
READ MORE
SAY Award opens submissions for eligible albums
Scotland’s national music prize – the Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award – has opened submissions for 2025’s £20,000 prize.
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Film Festival announces 2025 Festival Footprint
Ahead of its programme launch on 2 July, EIFF venues will include Filmhouse, Cameo Cinema, Vue Omni and a new pop-up screen at National Galleries Scotland: National.
READ MORE
New dining chapter begins at Edinburgh restaurant inspired by famous author
One of Edinburgh’s most popular city centre restaurants has started a new dining chapter at its famous Castle Street venue.
READ MORESponsored Links
Sponsored Links