The National Theatre of Scotland ESEA Research Project, led by NTS Fellow,Hannah Low, in partnership with ESEA Creatives, is seeking 10 artists with East or Southeast Asian heritage to take part in a paid focus group exploring how Scottish theatre can better support, amplify, and identify ESEA artists, audiences, and communities.

These sessions will take place in-person at the NTS’s building, Rockvilla on the Forth and Clyde Canal, Glasgow, across July 2026.  

The aim of these sessions is to bring ESEA artists together to reflect on current research findings, brainstorm ideas for ESEA artist and audience development, and help shape recommendations for the wider theatre sector in Scotland.

Specific dates and times will be set dependent on applicant availability. 

Who is it for?

Artists and creatives who:

• Are aged 18+
• Are currently based in Scotland
• Work across theatre, performance, dance, music, film and TV, or related creative disciplines
• Are interested in conversations around representation, access, visibility, and sector change
• Have East and/or Southeast Asian heritage
• Are not currently in full-time education

We recognise that “ESEA” is not a term used or preferred by everyone, and you do not need to use this term to take part. In this project, we use ESEA to describe people with heritage from East and Southeast Asian countries including Brunei, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, North Korea, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam. 

What’s included?

The focus groups will be led by NTS Fellow Hannah Low and involve group discussions around the data gathered from her research so far, brainstorming sessions to generate new ideas for future artist and audience development, and space for artists to reflect on their own experiences.

There will be no more than 5 participants in each session. Each participant will receive:

• £121.92 fee for a 2.5-hour session
• Travel and access costs covered
• Tea, coffee, and light refreshments

How to apply

Please express your interest using the sign-up form below:

You’ll be asked to answer a few short questions about your practice and why you would like to take part, as well as select which dates and times across July 2026 might work for you.

If we receive more applications than available places, participants will be selected based on:

• Which session dates have the greatest applicant availability
• Ensuring the groups reflect a broad range of experiences, backgrounds, and artistic practices

Expressions of interest will close on Tuesday 30 June 2026 and applicants will be contacted by Thursday 2 July 2026. 

Access

Rockvilla is an accessible building, including:

• Full wheelchair access throughout the building
• Two quiet spaces available throughout the day
• Gender-neutral and single-occupancy bathroom facilities

Access support for the focus groups is available on request, including support for caring responsibilities and BSL interpretation.

For more detailed information about our access facilities, please click here (link to access recruitment statement).

For any questions about the focus groups, access requirements, or the ESEA Research Project, please contact Hannah Low at: hannah.low@nationaltheatrescotland.com.