The Traverse mission is to nurture, develop and produce the work of contemporary playwrights from Scotland to the highest possible standards.

Alongside this, the Traverse develops and presents high-quality translations of leading International plays.

To these ends, the company commissions new writers from Scotland and around the world.

Unsolicited scripts
Unsolicited scripts are accepted all year round and are read and reported on by the Literary Department. The Traverse accepts original plays only – no adaptations, please! We prioritise the work of writers living in Scotland, but all eligible scripts will be read and will receive a response. 

If you would like to submit a script to us, contact Louise Stephens, Literary Assistant, on louise@traverse.co.uk/0131 228 3223.

Writers from the United States of America who wish to submit a script are strongly advised to submit a synopsis via email before posting their play. Due to the quantity of U.S.A. scripts we receive, we are not always able to read these submissions.  In all other cases, if you would like to submit a play, please send it – along with a cover letter – to the Traverse Theatre, 10 Cambridge Street, Edinburgh, EH1 2ED.  If you would like us to return your play to you, please include an A4 SAE (with adequate postage!) so that it can be returned at the end of the process.

Casting
The Traverse uses its own internal databases and personnel to fulfil its casting requirements for all our productions, readings and other work with writers.  At present, we do not send out casting breakdowns.  If you are an actor or agent and would like to submit a CV for inclusion in our database, you can do this at any point in the year.  You can post materials (marked ‘Casting’) to Traverse Theatre, 10 Cambridge Street, Edinburgh, EH1 2ED, or email them to casting@traverse.co.uk. Our casting personnel also welcome updated CVs or relevant news of upcoming productions received this way.

Please note Unfortunately, CVs with inadequate postage costs will be automatically returned to sender.

Commissions
Each year the Traverse commissions at least six new plays by writers based in, or from Scotland, and a select number of new translations/versions by leading Scottish writers of contemporary international plays under our groundbreaking Playwrights in Partnership scheme.

Recent Traverse commissions have included Nova Scotia, Damascus, ENGLAND, Carthage Must Be Destroyed, I was a Beautiful Day, East Coast Chicken Supper, The People Next Door, Iron and Outlying Islands. Previous full productions of Playwrights in Partnership work have included the Girl on the Sofa, Olga, 15 Seconds, Strawberries in January, In the Bag and Broke.

In-house script development & playreadings
Where appropriate and desired, commissioned writers are offered the possibility of individual script-development workshops on their commissions, with directors from the Traverse and beyond working with leading actors.

Script exchange & Networking
The Traverse actively participates in national, UK and international script exchange and networking. We introduce and share new plays with other leading theatres and companies who are committed to producing new work. We also facilitate writers’ events around the world to showcase Scotland’s playwrights.

Public Playreadings
We continue to premiere contemporary plays from Scotland and around the world in brand new translations. These are performed as playreadings by prominent actors and offer a rare chance to meet major international playwrights in person.

One-to-one Dramaturgy
In select cases, a writer may be offered a one-to-one meeting with a member of the Artistic Team or with a Traverse Associate Playwright where they can be offered personal encouragement, feedback and advice on their writing.

Young Writers Group
New writers aged 18-25 can join our fortnightly Young Writers Group, led by a professional playwright. The Young Writers Group culminates in First Bite, a chance to work with Traverse directors, actors and the Literary Team on their plays.

Writer & Audience Encounters
The Traverse hosts regular informal post-show discussions and Encounter events that offer audiences and artists the chance to hearleading writers and theatre-makers talking about their work and inspirations.

Public Writers’ Workshops
Each season the Traverse runs a number of public playwriting workshops led by major playwrights and practitioners. These are targeted at a range of experience and offer writers a great chance to meet and to further their skills. To find out what workshops are happening next, look on the What's On section of this website.

Learning and Participation
The Traverse provides a wide range of inclusive learning and participatory possibilities, including:

- A Teachers’ Forum providing information on forthcoming productions and encouraging dialogue between Educators and the Traverse. This forum allows teachers to hear about and discuss the nature, interest and suitability of productions as well as possible ancillary workshops prior to bringing groups of students to Traverse and visiting company productions.

- Flexible and bespoke projects or workshops that tie in with curricular or course elements

- In-house and outreach talks, writing workshops and post-show discussions with professional writers, directors and actors for school and college students.

- Class Act, our annual schools’ playwrighting project gives students the opportunity to work with professional Playwrights, in order to write their own short plays. The plays are then produced and performed by a team of professional directors and actors on the Traverse main stage.

For information on Class Act, Learning, College and school opportunities at the Traverse, please contact Noelle O'Donoghue, Learning & Participation Officer on noelle.o'donoghue@traverse.co.uk/ 0131 228 3223.

Nova Scotia Learning Resource Pack (April 2008)

A resource pack specifically designed to target students of Higher Drama and enhance their experience of John Byrne's Nova Scotia.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD PDF VERSION OF THE NOVA SCOTIA LEARNING RESOURCE PACK (2.5MB).