Welcome to the Traverse Theatre Website
This is a text only version of our regular website that contains core information on the Traverse Theatre such as what's on, who we are, what we do, how to book tickets, access information, etc.
It also contains a link to the current season brochure in a text only format.
Please click on one of the following 4 links to jump to the information you need or just scroll down the page:
3 What is the Traverse Traverse?
4 Contacting the Traverse Theatre
1 What's on at the Traverse Theatre
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How to Book Tickets
In person
Traverse Box Office, Cambridge Street, Edinburgh EH1 2ED
By phone
0131 228 1404
Monday to Saturday, 10am to 6pm (or 8pm if if there is a performance happening that night).
The Box Office is only on a Sunday if a performance is taking place; it will open two hours prior to the performance.
If you have any queries, please call us on 0131 228 1404 or you can email us at boxoffice@traverse.co.uk.
By internet
If you want to book tickets securely on-line - click on the logo to go to www. tickets.com. There will normally be a direct link on every event page to book online for that specific performance.
Payment
By cash, cheque, Mastercard, Visa, Maestro, Delta, Solo and Visa Electron cards.
Tickets can be reserved initially without payment, but please remember they must be paid for within five days or one hour before the performance time (which ever is the shorter). Group bookings are also welcome and should be paid for a fortnight in advance.
Ticket Prices
Vary by production, see each individual show's information for full details.
Ways to Save
Concessions are available for students, under 18s, over 60s, members of entertainment
unions, StagePass and Young Scot card holders. The unemployed concession is
available for anyone in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance or Disability Living
Allowance. Please remember to bring proof of your concession status when you
pick up your tickets
Early Bird or Apex tickets
These are available on selected performances if tickets are purchased one week
in advance. Check individual events for more information.
Facilities
for people with disabilities
Level access, automatic doors at Cambridge Street entrance, lift with
Braille signage and audible announcer, adapted toilets at ground and Traverse
Bar Café levels, wheelchair spaces, assistance dogs welcome, infra red
and induction loop systems (headsets available from the Box Office). See show
pages for full details of audio described, sign language and Stagetext captioned
performances.
To book a wheelchair space or for any further access queries/requirements contact
Martin Duffield, Box Office Manager on 0131 228 1404 or email boxoffice@traverse.co.uk.
Copies of the season brochure are available in Braille, large print and audio
formats from the Traverse Box Office. Please contact us if you would like to
join our mailing list to receive any of these formats in the future. Artlink offers an escort service to help people with disability to enjoy the
arts – contact them directly at www.artlinkedinburgh.co.uk or 0131 229 3555.
Traverse
Theatre Guided Tours
Explore the inner workings of the Traverse Theatre, walk on the stage, visit
the dressing rooms and see where the sets are built. To book your own Guided
Tour of the Traverse telephone Kath Lowe, Front of House Manager, on 0131 228
3223. Groups from 5 to 30 people can be accommodated.
Playscripts
& Merchandise
The Traverse sells playscripts of all plays produced by the Traverse Theatre
Company at £3 each, plus many other Scottish plays. As this list constantly
changes, please contact the Box Office for the most up-to-date list.
If you're trying to track something down - try us! We also sell various Traverse t-shirts. Contact the Box Office for full details of what we've got in stock at the moment.
How to get
to the Traverse
The Traverse is located in central Edinburgh, just a few minutes walk from Princes
Street. We are just off Lothian Road and next to the Usher Hall and the Lyceum
Theatre.
Bus routes
Directly opposite the Traverse are 1, 10/10A, 11, 15, 16, 17, 24, 34
and 36. Many other bus routes are only a short walk away. There
are several taxi ranks nearby, some on-street car parking and an NCP car park
across the road at Castle Terrace.
Usher Hall
Redevelopment
During 2007 & 2008 there is major redevelopment work happening at
the Usher Hall. The Traverse will be open for business as usual during this
time but there are restrictions in place for both parking and deliveries. Please
contact our Box Office on 0131 228 1404 or email boxoffice@traverse.co.uk
for the most up-to-date information.
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3 What is the Traverse Theatre?
Now in its 45th year, Edinburgh's Traverse Theatre is Scotland's new writing theatre, with a record of excellence since 1963. With quality, award-winning productions and programming, the Traverse receives accolades at home and abroad from audiences and critics alike.
"One of the most important theatres in Britain" (The Observer quote)
The Traverse has an unrivalled reputation for producing contemporary theatre of the highest quality, invention and energy, commissioning and supporting writers from Scotland and around the world and facilitating numerous script development workshops, rehearsed readings and public writing workshops. The Traverse aims to produce several major new theatre productions plus a Scottish touring production each year. It is unique in Scotland in its exclusive dedication to new writing, providing the infrastructure, professional support and expertise to ensure the development of a sustainable and relevant theatre culture for Scotland and the UK.
Traverse Theatre Company productions have been seen worldwide. Recent tours and transfers include:
Damascus by David Greig (Canada, USA, Russia - 2008)
Petrol Jesus Nightmare 5 (In the Time of the Messiah) by Henry Adam (Kosovo - 2006)
When the Bulbul Stopped Singing by Raja Shehadeh and adapted by David Greig (Scotland, Iran, New York, Jordan - 2004/05/07)
The People Next Door by Henry Adam (Scotland, England, Germany, the Balkans, USA - 2003/05)
Outlying Islands by David Greig (Scotland, England, Canada - 2002/03)
Iron by Rona Munro (Scotland, England - 2002/03)
Gagarin Way by Gregory Burke (Scotland, England, Norway, Sweden - 2001/02)
"The Traverse can be relied
upon to produce more good-quality new plays than any other Fringe venue"
(Daily Telegraph quote)
During the Edinburgh Festival the Traverse is one of the most important venues, regularly picking up coveted Fringe Firsts and Herald Angels, with world class premieres playing daily in our various theatre spaces. In the 2007 Festival, the Traverse's programme collected 12 awards.
The Traverse also incorporates site-specific productions into our programme. These have taken place in locations such as a public toilet (Ladies & Gentlemen, 2003), sports car (A Mobile Thriller, 2004), Indian restaurant (Curry Tales, 2004), hotel room (Chamber Made, 2005), department store (The Devil's Larder, 2005), the University of Edinburgh's Medical Faculty (Dr Ledbetter's Experiment, 2006) and the Fruitmarket Gallery (ENGLAND, 2007).
An essential element of the Traverse Company's activities takes place within the educational sector, concentrating on the process of playwriting for young people. The Traverse flagship education project Class Act offers young people in schools the opportunity to work with theatre professionals and see their work performed on the Traverse stage. January 2008 marks the 18th year of Class Act.
In addition to Class Act, the Traverse Young Writers group, led by professional playwrights, has been running successfully for several years.
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Traverse Theatre, 10 Cambridge Street, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH1 2ED
Box Office 0131 228 1404
Administration 0131 228 3223
Bar Café 0131 228 5383
Fax 0131 229 8443
If you have any comments or suggestions about this text only version of the Traverse website, please send them to our Marketing Department using 031 228 3223 or update@traverse.co.uk.
Registered in Scotland SC 076037
Registered Charity SC 002368
VAT Registration No. 356 0682 47