Traverse Theatre

TravCast is the Writer's Podcast from the Traverse, Scotland’s New Writing Theatre. Associate Director, Emma Callander, interviews well known playwrights whose work features in the year round programme at the Traverse.

In this episode, Emma speaks to Ross MacKay. Ross is a director, puppeteer, magician and sometimes a blend of all three. He has previously worked alongside Joe Douglas as puppetry director on 'The Last Polar Bears' (National Theatre of Scotland).

Ross is currently artistic director of Tortoise in a Nutshell where he most recently directed Scotsman Fringe First winning 'Feral' (co-produced by Cumbernauld Theatre). Other directorial credits for the company include 'Grit' and 'The Last Miner' which have previously received Total Theatre Award, Grunshnabel Award and Arches Brick Award nominations. The productions have toured nationally and in to Europe.

Other credits include Puppetry Director on 'The BFG' (Dundee Rep) Assistant Director on 'Christmas Carol' (National Theatre of Scotland) and 'Moonlight and Magnolias' (Perth Theatre). Ross also directed Suzie Miller’s 'In The Heart of Darby Park' (Oran M’or/Perth Theatre).

Original music by James Iremonger www.jamesiremonger.co.uk

Produced and engineered by Cian O Siochain

TravCast is the Writer's Podcast from the Traverse, Scotland’s New Writing Theatre. Associate Director, Hamish Pirie, interviews well known playwrights whose work features in the year round programme at the Traverse.

In this very special episode, Hamish speaks to Emma Callander, the newly appointed Associate Director of the Traverse.

Emma is a freelance director and Co-Artistic Director of Theatre Uncut. She was resident at the National Theatre of Scotland 2009/10 through the Regional Theatre Young Directors Scheme. She has developed and directed a number of plays for A Play, A Pie and A Pint in Glasgow including Dalgety by David Greig, Supply by Cathy Forde and most recently, The Queen of Lucky People by Iain Heggie, which was performed at the Traverse Theatre in April 2014. She has regularly directed new plays for the Bristol Old Vic and Tobacco Factory Theatre. Following its sell out run at the Edinburgh Festival 2013, her most recent production Banksy: The Room In the Elephant by Tom Wainwright played at the Arcola in London then toured nationally throughout Spring 2014.

*Warning this episode does contain language which may not be suitable for children*

Original music by James Iremonger www.jamesiremonger.co.uk

Produced and engineered by Cian O Siochain

TravCast is the Writer's Podcast from the Traverse, Scotland’s New Writing Theatre. Associate Director, Emma Callander, interviews well known playwrights whose work features in the year round programme at the Traverse.

In this episode, we bring you a Class Act 2014 special. Class Act is the Traverse Theatre’s flagship education project which introduces pupils from five schools across Edinburgh to playwriting. Aged between 15 and 17, Class Act participants have tried their hand at writing a short play, with the help of five professional playwrights. At all stages of the project, the young writers have been treated in the same way as a Traverse commissioned playwright would be.

This year Class Act has engaged with 70 pupils, whose hard work and imaginations have produced 49 fantastic plays – which were performed at the Traverse at the end of January. The five schools who have been part of Class Act 2014 are Broughton High School, Craigmount High School, James Gillespie’s High School, Trinity Academy and Wester Hailes Education Centre. They have worked with professional playwrights’ Peter Arnott, Catherine Grosvenor, Nicola McCartney, Stef Smith and Gerda Stevenson. Throughout Class Act, the Traverse team has been hugely impressed by the inspiration, insight and dedication that the young writers have given to the project.

In this TravCast, we speak with professional playwrights Peter Arnott, Nicola McCartney and Stef Smith about their experiences as playwright/tutors on the Class Act project. We also hear from three pupil playwrights from Trinity Academy; Josie Bage (Turbulence), Alistair Clarke (Smoke & Mirrors) and Alex McIntosh (Bella, Horrida Bella).

Original music by James Iremonger www.jamesiremonger.co.uk

Produced and engineered by Cian O Siochain

TravCast is the Writer's Podcast from the Traverse, Scotland’s New Writing Theatre. Associate Director, Hamish Pirie, interviews well known playwrights whose work features in the year round programme at the Traverse.

In this episode, Hamish Speaks to Eilidh MacAskill and Fiona Mason.

Eilidih MacAskill is a Glasgow-based performer and theatre-maker, and artistic director of Fish & Game. She is an associate artist with Imaginate and National Theatre Studio. Recent projects include: Songs of Scotland (Arches Live), Everyone's a Winner Baby! (Merchant City Festival and Glasgow Life), Wonder Rooms (Peter Potter Gallery), What's My Sound? and Swap Shop (National theatre of Scotland, Learn), Near & Far (Tramway).

Fiona Mason's most recent project's have included The Red Shoes (Tranway), Swap Shop and What's my Sound? (National theatre of Scotland), Tick Tock Machine (Royal Scottish National Orchestra). Her performances for young audiences with Fish & Game have taken her to to both Imaginate and Take Off theatre festivals.

Original music by James Iremonger www.jamesiremonger.co.uk

Produced and engineered by Cian O Siochain

TravCast is the Writer's Podcast from the Traverse, Scotland’s New Writing Theatre. Associate Director, Hamish Pirie, interviews well known playwrights whose work features in the year round programme at the Traverse.

In this episode, Hamish Speaks to Oliver Emanuel. Oliver has written over 30 productions for radio and theatre including The Little Boy that Santa Claus Forgot (Macrobert), Dragon (Vox Motus/National Theatre of Scotland/Tianjin People’s Arts Theatre, China), The Day I swapped My Dad For a Goldfish (National Theatre of Scotland), Titus (Macrobert/Playwright’s Studio Scotland/Imaginate/Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2013), End of The World (Red Note Ensemble), Random Objects Flying Through The Air (Royal Conservatoire of Scotland/Playwrights’ Studio, Scotland), Spirit of Adventure (Dundee Rep/Oran Mor), The Spare Room (BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play), Thirteen Minutes in Cairo (BBC Radio 4, From Fact to Fiction) and The Other One (BBC Radio 4, 15 Minute Drama).

He is continuing work on The Dragon (Vox Motus/National Theatre of Scotland) which will tour in China in the new year. The Little Boy who Forgot Santa Claus is also about to run at Macrobert. He is currently developing a show with Visible Fictions and the Kennedy Center.

Original music by James Iremonger www.jamesiremonger.co.uk

Produced and engineered by Cian O Siochain

TravCast is the Writer's Podcast from the Traverse, Scotland’s New Writing Theatre. Associate Director, Hamish Pirie, interviews well known playwrights whose work features in the year round programme at the Traverse.

In this episode, Hamish Speaks to three playwrights whose work features in the Write Here 2013 – Triple Bill Performances running from the 25th and 26th of October 2013.

John McCann is based in Dundee. Previous plays include The Clean Room (Tinderbox Theatre Company), The Next of It (Steller Quines Rehersal Room) and Is Feidir Linn (Tinderbox Theatre Company). He was previously on attachment with the National Theatre Studioand the National Theatre of Scotland. His play Spoiling, directed by Orla O’Loughlin, features in the Triple Bill.

Lachlan Philpott is based in Sydney. His previous plays include Bustown (shortlisted for the 2009 Australian Writers Guild Best Play Award) and Silent Witness (Griffin Theatre Company, Australian Theatre for Young People and HotHouse Theatre). He is currently developing the screenplay of Silent Disco and is under commission at Australian Theatre for Young People, Bell Shakespeare and Canberra Youth Theatre. His play In 3D, directed by Hamish Pirie, features in the Triple Bill.

Ellie Stewart is based in Bathgate. Current writing projects include Gala, My Heavy Heart (Imaginate Ideas Exchange, October 2013) and There is Mischief (Village Pub Theatre). Her play Strictly, directed by Zinnie Harris, features in the Triple Bill.

Original music by James Iremonger www.jamesiremonger.co.uk

Produced and engineered by Cian O Siochain

Please Note: This episode contains reference to adult themes.

TravCast is the Writer's Podcast from the Traverse, Scotland’s New Writing Theatre. Associate Director, Hamish Pirie, interviews well known playwrights whose work features in the year round programme at the Traverse.

In this episode, Hamish Speaks to Robert Softley. Robert is an established figure in the Scottish arts scene, with over ten years of experience in diverse and varied roles - including disability rights activist, actor and performer, writer, artistic director and supporter and advocate of equality of access to the arts for disabled people whether as artists or audiences.

Robert's professional acting debut was with Theatre Workshop (Edinburgh) in ‘Nothing Ever Burns Down By Itself’ in 2002 and since then has appeared in many productions and has developed his own artistic practice - most recently instigating, co-writing and performing in ‘Girl X’ for the National Theatre of Scotland, directed by Pol Heyvaert of Belgium’s Campo. In 2011 he was awarded and undertook a Creative Scotland residency which allowed him to develop ‘If These Spasms Could Speak’.

A graduate of Glasgow University with an MSc (Hons) in Business & Management, Robert’s other role is as a director of flip – disability equality in the arts (http://www.flip.org.uk/) which works across Scotland to support individuals and organisations in the arts sector. Robert is also an Artistic Director of Birds of Paradise Theatre Company, Scotland’s touring company that promotes the work of disabled artists in partnership with non-disabled artists and mainstream theatre venues and companies.

Other acting credits include: ‘The Hogmanay Boys’, ‘Asylum’, ‘I Have Before Me…’, ‘The Threepenny Opera’, ‘The Last Little Fish in the Net’ and ‘Hans Christian Andersen: A Christmas Tale’ (Theatre Workshop); ‘The Irish Giant’ and ‘Brazil 12 – Scotland 0’ (Birds of Paradise), ‘Heelz n Wheelz’ (Fittings Multimedia); ‘A (Gay Disabled Transsexual) Love Story...’ (Boygirlfruitflower) and ‘Private Dancer’ (Janice Parker). Film and television credits include ‘Out of Order’ (MacInnes Films), ‘Trouble Sleeping’ (Makar Productions) and ‘River City’ (BBC Scotland). He has recorded a number of dramas for BBC Radio 4.

Original music by James Iremonger www.jamesiremonger.co.uk

Produced and engineered by Cian O Siochain

TravCast is the Writer's Podcast from the Traverse, Scotland’s New Writing Theatre. Associate Director, Hamish Pirie, interviews well known playwrights whose work features in the year round programme at the Traverse.

In this episode, Hamish Speaks to Alexander Devriendt. Alexander is the artistic director and founder of the Belgian theatre performance group, Ontroerend Goed. His past work includes the creation of the individual theatre trilogy (‘The Smile Off Your Face’, ‘Internal’ & 'A Game of You'), the direction of the three celebrated teenage plays ‘Once, and for all we’re gonna tell you who we are so shut up and listen’, 'Teenage Riot' & 'All that is wrong', and his two latest creations ‘A History of Everything’ and 'Fight Night'.

His plays have won several awards around the world, and is performed all over Europe, Australia and America, recently visiting the Middle East and Singapore.

Original music by James Iremonger www.jamesiremonger.co.uk

Produced and engineered by Cian O Siochain

TravCast is the Writer's Podcast from the Traverse, Scotland’s New Writing Theatre. Associate Director, Hamish Pirie, interviews well known playwrights whose work features in the year round programme at the Traverse.

In this episode, Hamish Speaks to Omphile Molousi. Omphile was born in the village of Bodibe in 1981, where he was raised by his Grandmother. He is a freelance writer/actor/director. He graduated at the Market Theatre Laboratory. He’s been doing theatre since 2001. His theatre acting credits include: Cadre, Itsoseng, Shakespeare dreaming at the zoo, Sizwe Bansi is dead, Animal farm, Robben Island Bible, Romeo and Juliet, The mirror, Caucasian chalk circle, Much ado about nothing, Echoes, Blurring Shine, Julius Caesar, Sharpeville 1&2 and others.

His writing credits for Theatre: Cadre (Published by Junkets publishers and Oberon books UK, World premiere at the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, SA premiere at the Market Theatre, Grahamstown National arts Festival Main program, Currently performing at the 2013 Edinburgh Festival in Scotland), Itsoseng (Published by Junkets publishers and Oxford University Press SA, adapted for a BBC radio play, and performed at various local and international venues including Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, 2008 Edinburgh festival in Scotland, 2011 Dublin Festival in Ireland, 2013 Adelaide Festival in Australia.), Balalatladi (Rehearsed reading at Washington DC’s Kennedy Centre, Performed at the Family Season Festival in Cape Town, Performed at the National School of The Arts Festival), Informal (Performed at the Market Theatre Lab and National School of the Arts, For the right reasons (Published by Oxford University Press SA and Junkets Publishers, Staged reading at the Adelaide Festival in Australia), Daddy comes tonight (Published by Junkets Publishers) The sweet door (Performed at Windybrow Theatre), Ijo! (Performed at the Market Theatre Laboratory and Grahamstown National Arts Festival 2005), Pozeng (Resident project at the Market Theatre Laboratory) Short Story: Bargain (Published by Penguin publishers).

Writing for TV; Zone 14 series 2, 3, 4 and 5.

His Theatre Directing credits include: Cadre, Informal, Balalatladi, Ijo and Pozeng

Omphile was the first recipient of the Bret Goldin Bursary Award which gave him an opportunity to intern at the Royal Shakespeare Company as an actor in the UK. He also won the Scotsman Fringe First Award 2008 for Itsoseng, at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland. He won the Andre Deshields award for Itsoseng, best performance at the Black theatre alliance awards 2010 in Chicago. He taught the Cicely Berry voice technique and acting at the Actors Centre and is currently teaching at the Market Theatre Laboratory.

He is also a field worker at the Market Theatre Laboratory since 2010. As a fieldworker he travels throughout the whole country assisting community theatre groups to develop their stories.

He is a founder of Mowa Art Fields, a Not for Profit Organization that teaches teachers in rural public schools to teach creative arts. The organization also has an annual festival for Grade 5-7 learners in the North West Province.

Original music by James Iremonger www.jamesiremonger.co.uk

Produced and engineered by Cian O Siochain

TravCast is the Writer's Podcast from the Traverse, Scotland’s New Writing Theatre. Associate Director, Hamish Pirie, interviews well known playwrights whose work features in the year round programme at the Traverse.

In this episode, Hamish Speaks to David Leddy. David has been described as a ‘theatrical maverick’ with ‘propensity for fearless experiment’ by the Financial Times a ‘site-specific genius’ by The Scotsman and an Edinburgh Fringe Festival ‘institution’ by The Independent. His most recent show Long Live The Little Knife is part of the festival programme at the Traverse in 2013. Previous work includes Sub Rosa, Susurrus, White Tea, Untitled Love Story, Home Hindrance, Pater Noster, Reekie, Tympanic, In The Shade, Through The Night, On The Edge, I.D., Flowers, People’s Parties and Remember Me.

He is the founder and Artistic Director of Fire Exit Theatre Company based in Glasgow. He was also the first person in Scotland to complete a practice-based PhD in theatre and is much sought-after as a mentor and leader of masterclasses.

Original music by James Iremonger www.jamesiremonger.co.uk

Produced and engineered by Cian O Siochain