This week we have had the joy of celebrating the writing and storytelling of the young people of Edinburgh with the Class Act Showcase making it's monumental return to the Traverse 1 stage!

Having worked with and welcomed stories from young people at Firrhill High School, Leith Academy, Trinity Academy, Craigroyston Community High School, Tynecastle High School as well as Intercultural Youth Scotland, it was as refreshing as ever to hear young voices take to the stage and instil power within their opinions and perspectives live on stage.

For two nights, professional actors, musicians, film-makers and directors took the stories that these young people had created and transformed them from page to stage for a live audience.

With each group having had a dedicated facilitator working with them since Autumn 2023 to realise their creative ideas alongside a programme of digital tasks by guest artists who work with writing as part of their practice, Class Act allows young people to work with and be inspired by some of Scotland's most exciting creatives. The pieces presented this week were full of hope, humour, critical thinking and playfulness proving there's a bright light for the future of the creative industries in Scotland.

Evenings like these are invaluable in re-emphsising the importance of community within theatre, ensuring that young people know that they are welcome within the communal space that we hold and subsequently that a range of voices are heard on our stages.