Article Source: Traverse Theatre
Last Updated: 6 May 2021 15:26
• Schools involved are Craigroyston Community High School, Boroughmuir High School, Broughton High School, Royal High School
• Pieces will premiere on YouTube on Wed 12 May and Thu 13 May at 7.30PM then be available on demand
• Activity is part of the Traverse’s flagship Class Act programme, which is approaching its 30th anniversary
The Traverse is delighted to be bringing a series of 17 short scripts, created by the student participants of their Class Act 2020 programme, to audiences around the world for the first time in a pair of digital premieres, which will be available to watch on demand for three weeks.
The scripts have been created by students from four local secondary schools - Craigroyston Community High School, Boroughmuir High School, Broughton High School and Royal High School – who participated in the Traverse’s flagship education project, Class Act, in 2020.
Pieces written by students from Boroughmuir High School and Broughton High School will premiere on Wed 12 May at 7.30pm, with pieces from Craigroyston Community High School and Royal High School following the next day, Thu 13 May at 7.30pm. The premieres will take place on YouTube, where the performances can then be watched on demand until Wed 2 June.
Class Act provides creative support and a safe space for participants to write about whatever may be affecting them, or they feel passionately about, and encourages free expression and uninhibited creation. The result is a range of short scripts bursting with energy, featuring many unusual and amusing situations and vivid characters (some of whom you may recognise!). Covering a multitude of subjects – from mental health to current politics, killers on the run to reality TV, and everything in between – these pieces are a true, honest and insightful reflection of the concerns and excitements of Scotland’s young people.
Many of the performances were filmed (following Covid 19 regulations) in locations such as Jupiter Artland’s house and grounds, Pyramid in Glasgow, and on the Traverse 1 stage. Others use animation, puppetry and other digital tools to deliver performances.
Class Act 2020 has engaged over 70 freelance artists, and casting for these performances includes Rebekah Lumsden, Cristian Ortega, Shyvone Ahmmad, Martin Donaghy, Aidan Kerr, Rebecca Elsie, Fiona McNeill , Éimi Quinn, Lydia White, Oat Jenner, Angus Taylor, Hannah Visocchi, Caleb Hughes , Steven Rae, Lucy Greenway, Gary Robson, Davy Kirkwood, Rebecca Robin, Saskia Ashdown, Jack Stewart, Grayson Pender, Tara McGirr, Millie Innes, Lucianne McEvoy , Pete Collins, Petre Dobre, Amy Helena, Craig McCulloch, Ali Kerr , Ben Taylor Muir, Tiger Mitchell and Hannah Low.
Wezi Mhura and Robbie Gordon, the Traverse’s Creative Development Producers, said:
“Not even a global pandemic has been able to suppress the incredible creativity of the young people we’ve had the privilege to work with throughout Class Act’s 2020 programme. We were delighted to be able to bring these scripts to streets across Edinburgh City Centre last month as a taste of what was to come, and now we’re even more thrilled to be able to share these bombastic and thought-provoking pieces online, brought to life by an incredibly enthusiastic cast in some well-loved locations. The imagination and creativity of all the participants deserves a wide audience, who will be enriched by their unique take on the world around us, and everything that’s happening within it – and we couldn’t be more pleased that people around the world will have the chance to experience these performances for the first time.”
About Class Act
Class Act is the Traverse’s annual creative learning programme, which pairs established playwrights with students from secondary schools across the city to transform them into writers, creative original short plays which would usually then be performed on the Traverse’s main stage. It has also been run in international locations including Ukraine and India. In 2021, the programme will celebrate its 30th anniversary.
For the first time, participants in Class Act’s 2020 edition also took part in workshops from Scottish and Scotland-based creatives across a range of disciplines, including:
• Rising music star Be Charlotte
• Dave Hook of alternative hip-hop group Stanley Odd
• Acclaimed playwright May Sumbwanyambe
• Award-winning theatremaker and actress Apphia Campbell
• Playwright and director Davey Anderson
• Writer, actor and director Maryam Hamidi
• Physical theatre company Groupwork
• Dancer and performer Petre Dobre
You can find out more about Class Act HERE
Listing Info
Class Act 2020: Showcase
Wed 12 and Thu 13 May @ 7.30PM – premieres
Available to watch on demand until Wed 2 June
Free, but ticketed
Traverse 3 (our online venue)
Book at: https://www.traverse.co.uk/whats-on/event/class-act-showcase-performances
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 MOREGilded 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 MOREScotland’s national music prize – the Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award – has opened submissions for 2025’s £20,000 prize.
READ MOREAhead 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 MOREOne of Edinburgh’s most popular city centre restaurants has started a new dining chapter at its famous Castle Street venue.
READ MOREIHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG) today announces the opening of Garner Hotel Edinburgh - Haymarket, a 195-room flagship hotel bringing a fresh energy to the city’s West End.
READ MOREPupils from local Edinburgh primary schools swapped the classroom for beekeeping as they had the chance to visit Fort Kinnaird’s thriving beehives for a day buzzing with educational fun.
READ MOREEdinburgh started to unwrap its annual Christmas present, with the announcement of this year’s festive celebration dates and a first hint of what to expect this year.
READ MOREEdinburgh International Festival Director and Scottish violinist Nicola Benedetti performed alongside guitarist Plínio Fernandes as part of a series of NHS Festival Sessions.
READ MORECineworld has today announced £1 Family Films, running every week from July 25, so that families can be more childish together all summer long.
READ MOREThis summer, gather the whole family and head to Dobbies Garden Centres for a day of fun-filled activities that will keep costs down.
READ MOREFamily favourites and animated adventures are heading to the big screen this summer holiday at Vue venues across Scotland.
READ MOREThe Bothy Boutique in central Edinburgh is the retail arm of The Breakfast Bothy, a small grassroots charity supporting people in the community who are experiencing homelessness.
READ MOREDrummohr Camping and Glamping Site at Musselburgh was named Camping Site of the Year in the 2025 Scottish Hospitality Awards.
READ MOREWith the Fringe Festival right on the doorstep, Virgin Hotels Edinburgh is once again hosting a fantastic array of shows and activities!
READ MOREPupils at Newtongrange Primary School have even more reason to celebrate the end of a successful academic year, having just been awarded the UNICEF UK Gold Award.
READ MOREEdinburgh’s landmark cinema Filmhouse has today revealed images of its new screens and spaces ahead of its public reopening tomorrow Friday 27 June.
READ MORESummerfest, the FREE family festival at Loch Lomond Shores, is back on the 5th and 6th of July with lots of things to see and do!
READ MOREDrawings by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Titian will be among 45 Italian Renaissance drawings going on display in Scotland for the first time this October.
READ MOREEdinburgh Climate Festival returns on 28th June. A free festival that aims to celebrate & inspirate climate action in our local communities.
READ MOREThe biggest show of its kind in Scotland returns with Earlybird tickets and a give-away with headline sponsor Border Caravans!
READ MOREThis weekend, in celebration of Edinburgh Pride, Pret A Manger is turning up the sparkle with an in-shop glow-up station!
READ MORECheck out July at Dobbies with it's Little Seedlings Club on rainforests and Grow How on pest control and healthy gardens!
READ MORECafe Calton, located at the top of Calton Hill and offering panoramic views of Edinburgh, has opened in Edinburgh.
READ MOREMichael Harrison, in association with Cameron Mackintosh, is delighted to announce the full casting for a major UK and Ireland tour of MISS SAIGON, including a run at Edinburgh Playhouse.
READ MOREA lineup of world-class musicians at the forefront of their fields are today added to the Edinburgh International Festival programme.
READ MOREA community-owned woodland in East Lothian is undergoing a remarkable transformation thanks to a grassroots replanting project supported by Loganair’s GreenSkies Community Fund.
READ MOREDuck & Waffle Edinburgh is proud to announce its vibrant celebration of Edinburgh Pride, honouring the city's LGBTQIA+ community.
READ MORELost Shore Surf Resort, Scotland’s most exciting new holiday destination, is making waves for families this summer - with free surf lessons and sessions for kids throughout July.
READ MOREEdinburgh International Film Festival has announced that the six short films created as part of the inaugural NFTS Sean Connery Talent Lab will have their World Premieres this year.
READ MORE