Manifesto

The National Theatre of Scotland's Manifesto

Scottish theatre has always been for the people, led by great performances, great stories or great playwrights. We now have the chance to build a new generation of theatre-goers as well as reinvigorating the existing ones; to create theatre on a national and international scale that is contemporary, confident and forward-looking; to bring together brilliant artists, composers, choreographers and playwrights; and to exceed our expectation of what and where theatre can be.

The National Theatre of Scotland has no building; there has been no great capital project involving architects and contractors. Instead, we are taking theatre all over Scotland, working with the existing venues, touring and creating work within the theatre community. We have no bricks-and-mortar institutionalism to counter, nor the security of a permanent home in which to develop. All our money and energy can be spent on creating the work. Our theatre will take place in the great buildings - Edinburgh's Royal Lyceum and Glasgow's Citizens - but also in site-specific locations, community halls and sports halls, car parks and forests.

As well as producing our own work, we will collaborate with the best companies and individuals working here already. We will travel all over Scotland taking work to school and communities, offering plays for adults, young adults and family theatre. We will be able to create large-scale work, music and spectacle. There will be opportunities for our great playwrights to write big, important plays and to do new versions of those which have not been seen in Scotland for many years. This will create parts for the great Scottish actors spread over the world and at home. We will tour internationally and bring international work into Scotland.

We have spent many hours debating the notion of a "national theatre" and the responsibility that entails. It is not, and should not be, a jingoistic, patriotic stab at defining a nation's identity through theatre. In fact, it should not be an opportunity to try to define anything. Instead, it is the chance to throw open the doors of possibility, to encourage boldness. I hope our programme goes some way to realising these ambitions. I hope we will make Scotland proud.

In summary

•   The National Theatre of Scotland has no building but instead will tour work to venues large and small all around Scotland, from Shetland in the north to Dumfries and Galloway in the south.

•   We will produce our own work and collaborate with other companies and individual artists, creating large-scale productions through to theatre specifically made for the smallest venues.

•   We are working across Scotland, independently and with local authorities, to bring drama in all its forms to schools and communities.

•   The National Theatre of Scotland will tour work internationally and will work in collaboration with the best international companies.

•   We are working with playwrights, designers, directors, youth theatres and many other artists to help further develop the pool of talent in Scotland.