I’ve been going to the theatre in Scotland for most of my adult life, and I’ve seen some extraordinary work. The Traverse in Edinburgh, the Citizens in Glasgow, the Lyceum, the Tron: these are venues that punch far above their weight. They produce bold, challenging, often brilliant theatre. And yet they’re constantly fighting for scraps while institutions south of the border hoover up funding.
It’s not that Scottish theatre is lacking in talent. Far from it. We’ve got world-class directors, writers, actors, designers. The problem is money. Or rather, the lack of it. When you look at the funding that goes to the National Theatre in London or the Royal Shakespeare Company compared to what Scottish venues receive, the disparity is staggering. And it’s not just about the big names. Smaller companies, experimental work, emerging voices: they’re all struggling to survive.
Personal Experiences That Stick With You
I remember seeing a production at the Traverse a few years ago, a one-woman show about grief and memory. It was performed in a tiny space, maybe 80 seats, and it was one of the most powerful pieces of theatre I’ve ever experienced. The kind of performance that stays with you for weeks. And I remember thinking: this deserves to be seen by thousands of people, not just the handful of us lucky enough to get tickets that night.
That’s the frustration. Scottish theatre is producing work that’s every bit as good as anything in London, but it doesn’t get the same platform, the same resources, the same recognition. The Citizens Theatre in Glasgow has been putting on incredible productions for decades, often with budgets that wouldn’t cover a week’s catering at the National. It’s remarkable what they achieve, but it’s also exhausting. Artists shouldn’t have to perform miracles just to keep the lights on.
Why This Matters Beyond Scotland
Theatre isn’t just entertainment. It’s culture, identity, storytelling. It’s how we make sense of the world and our place in it. When Scottish theatre is underfunded, we lose voices. We lose stories that deserve to be told. We lose the next generation of talent because they can’t afford to work in an industry that doesn’t pay properly.
I’m not asking for Scottish venues to be handed blank cheques. But I am asking for fairness. For recognition that theatre north of the border is just as vital, just as valuable, as anything being produced in England. The Traverse, the Citizens, the Lyceum: these places are national treasures. They deserve to be treated like it.
Scottish theatre has been making do with leftovers for too long. It’s time to give it the support it actually needs.
