2009
TWS (Theatre Workshop Scotland) redefines its operational model in response to new opportunities and moves away from operating as a building based theatre company to become a high quality theatre and film production and development company, which gives a voice to marginalised groups. National Library of Scotland houses archive, making Theatre Workshop's history available to all.
2007 - 2008
TROUBLE SLEEPING - TW takes its inclusive practice and commitment into film and creates its first feature length film with participant beneficiaries from the refugee community, premieres at the Edinburgh International Film Festival, screens on BBC2 Scotland and wins five Best Film awards. Funded by the BBC, Scottish Screen, COOL (EU Social Fund) and Edinburgh City Council. Large scale tour of MARAT-SADE offers 100th part to a professional disabled actors since adopting our inclusive policy. The show creates a critical storm - loved and hated in equal measure!
2006 - 2007
TW collaborates with Kinetic sculpture company Sharmanka for Beckett's ENDGAME - sells out at Glasgow's Arches and popular national tour. The community company creates BABYLON BURNING to voice it's collective opposition to the war in Iraq. A co-production with Zendeh continues diverse Christmas tradition and the best of Disability Arts brought to Edinburgh Festival as DEGENERATE 4 expands its audiences. In national shake-up The Scottish Arts Council increases it's level of support for TWS touring work but rules out support for the Community Play and the building. In 2006 The G8 comes to town and TW stages its most ambitious community play to date BLACK SUN OVER GENOA. Thousands attend the Festival Theatre and Glasgow Tramway to see a spectacular recreation of the carnival and the tragedy of the Genoa protests where Carlo Giuliani is killed . Carlo's mother, Haidi, addresses audience after each performance.
2003 - 2005
Brecht's THREEPENNY OPERA - with additional support from the Scottish Executive TW celebrates The Year of The Disabled with a ground-breaking production that plays to full houses in Glasgow's Tramway, Aberdeen and Edinburgh's Festival Theatre. Nabil Shaban earns nomination for Best Actor for Macheath. JASMINE ROAD - tours and is then invited to Berlin Festival. Community company presents site specific piece set along the Waters of Leith CONSIDER RATHER THE RIVER. We host DEGENERATE 3 and acclaimed International Photographic Exhibition NEW YOUNG EUROPEANS. SAAME SITA and Dolina MacLennan's THE LAST LITTLE FISH IN THE NET amongst ever popular Christmas offerings.
2000 - 2003
In August 2000 with support of the SAC Lottery the Inclusive Company is established and TW becomes the first professional building based theatre in Europe to cast disabled actors in all its productions as a matter of policy. As well as offering continuing professional development the company devises a range of successful shows that address difficult subjects head-on including Anu Kumar's look at teenage suicide IF I DIE B4U WAKE and PORTADOWN BLUES which examines murderous sectarianism and elicits death threats against the theatre from paramilitary groups. Professional disabled and non-disabled actors come together to create series of popular Christmas shows including a collaboration with Japanese company Taihen KAGAYUHIME, Stanley Robertson's JACK IN THE LAND OF DREAMS and English/Gaelic production THE HOGMANAY BOYS. The Community productions include the classic OH WHAT A LOVELY WAR and Grace Barne's WAVE ME GOODBYE. The first bi-annual DEGENERATE in 2001 brings the best of Disability Arts to the Fringe.
1997 - 2000
TW continues to offer insight into different cultures at Christmas including a co-production with Indian Theatre company Spandana, BADI KAHANI and Ghassan Khanafani's Palestinain children's story THE LITTLE LAMP. Community Play JIMMY C! tells the story of Edinburgh's own James Connolly and Joyce Macmillan writes " the city will never be quite the same again" while DAVID'S GIFT - movingly recalls the holocasut. SQUEELIN' LIKE A PIG by Debbie Issit earns Newspaper headlines and national controvercy as the accompanying booklet documents experience of racism by young people in Scotland - one of the stories THE SCALDIE HOOSE by Gsy Gillhooney becomes a play and is first of many collaborations with Scottish Travellers.
1995 - 1997
Artistic Director/CEO Robert Rae is appointed, inherits a difficult financial and managerial situation, continues to present an eclectic fringe and receiving programme, while moving the company towards a producing theatre. As well as creating new opportunities for professional theatre makers the commitment to voluntary participation is strengthened by the extension of the Community Play into a year-round activity. STOCKAREE! features the local community in the story of their own village. D.A.R.E. opens and tours Scotland, England and Europe - featuring four disabled actors Nabil Shaban, Jim McSharry, John Hollywood and Daryl Beeton - it gains rave reviews and puts the voice of the radical disability movement centre stage. DIRIAMBA! a co-production with Nicaraguan Company Teatro Nixtayaleros earns five star reviews and a Fringe First.The National Lottery funded 'Positive Futures'. 3 youth groups - Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered, Disabled and Asian Young People - working over three years productions included the award-winning CONTRACTS.
1990 - 1994
A major refurbishment of the building began in December 1990 Hamilton Place now boasted full disabled access. Performance projects continued to be an important aspect of the programme, producing THE LIGHTENING PLEBICITE in conjunction with the local community of Leith (1990), BADENHEIM 1939 with over 150 participants from nine different countries (1992), VOICES, which worked closely with the communities of Craigmillar, Wester Hailes and Muirhouse (1993) and an adaptation of Gogol's THE NOSE with over 100 local people (1994). 1995 Fringe earns a Herald Angel Award
1987 - 1990
Looking beyond Scotland in early 1987 the company received an invitation to create a Performance Project in Jamestown, New York State. During this period visits to Poland began (Autumn 1988) along with a Performance Project in Nova Scotia (1989). In 1991 TW visited Gdansk and worked with projects in Bremen, Dublin and Hamburg. Always committed to training future theatre workers and, in 1988, the vocational training programme began in earnest. Women's experience became an important aspect of the company's project with members contributing to Women's Theatre Week, which was held as part of Edinburgh District Council's SPRING FLING (1989). Adapted by Janice Galloway, the stage version of Radclyffe Hall's THE WELL OF LONELINESS involved over 40 women.
1985 -1987
Adrian Harris became director in 1985 and a higher profile was given to workshops, classes and participatory activity. There was also a new emphasis on the relationship between community arts and professional theatre. Consequentially, the company produced M, based on Fritz Lang's seminal film, with a production team of over 130 volunteers (1987). In the same year PHANTOM OF THE OPERA became the first TW production to be part of the International Festival. Hamilton Place continues to develop its profile as a small-scale receiving venue.
1980 - 1985
Andy Arnold took up the post of director in 1980 and established Theatre Workshop as a prime venue for touring companies. With the production TABOO by Nigel Townsend, Arnold also began Theatre Workshop's long-standing commitment to Theatre-in-Education. Over the coming years Theatre Workshop produced some high quality, engaging work including THE YEAR OF THE CABBAGE by Tom Lennon, which established Theatre Workshop as a professional, small-scale touring company (1982). This year also saw significant improvements made to the Hamilton Place theatre, upgrading technical facilities and increasing seating capacity from 90 to 140. The Company produced SINBAD in 1983, establishing TW as a producer of high-quality alternatives to the Christmas pantomime
1976 - 1980
In 1976 Bob Palmer took the helm as director with a staff of 12 full-time members. The Carnegie Trust made a generous donation to enable Theatre Workshop to begin its work with disabled people. Under Bob's leadership TW develops engagement and particiption in all aspects of the arts - including the visual arts, photography, music and dance, as well as the establishment of the Edinburgh Film Workshop. “We cannot solve the problems of the 21st century with 19th century thinking...Today, improving our cities – and please note that for the first time in the history of humanity, half the planet will soon dwell in cities –, does not involve “building” something, but relying on cultural and intellectual capital. The true resources are not factories, banks, and service industries, but people, with their intelligence, passion, and imagination. It is the creativity of those who live in these cities, or who lead them that will ensure their future success.” Robert Palmer
1975
Fundraising began, hoping to acquire the necessary finances to buy the Stockbridge venue. Grants from a number of trusts, industries and private individuals meant that the premises could be purchased and in September 1975 the renovations began.
1971 - 1974
Reg Bolton was Director of Theatre Workshop Edinburgh between 1971-1974. TW ran community arts projects, workshops, trips to the zoo etc! During this time they also produced 10 original shows for children. Reg Bolton pioneers the concept of "new circus" when the days of the traditional large-scale tented circus were over, describing himself as "an enthusiast who became enthusiastic about the possibilities of using circus for education, self-fulfilment and community development". He was full of hope for the future of the circus and how circus skills could change the lives of young people. He developed theatre shows and projects for young people in the deprived outlying Edinburgh estates not touched by the traditional arts community or festival. Reginald Bolton, teacher, clown, director, actor and pioneer, born November 13 1945 died on July 14 2006
1973
At the end of 1973 Theatre Workshop moved from Hanover Street and began the search for a new home. The following year negotiations began to acquire 34 Hamilton Place in Stockbridge. 1974 also saw Neil Cameron take over as director.
1965
Theatre Workshop was founded in 1965 by Catherine Robbins and Ros Clark. It was Edinburgh's first drama centre for children. In 1970 Theatre Workshop moved from St Mark's Unitarian Church to its own premises at Hanover Street.