The Traverse today announces the first shows of their 2023 programme, including the return of Manipulate with two UK premieres, National Theatre of Scotland’s Dear Billy by Traverse Associate Artist Gary McNair, Family TreebyMojisola Adebayo from Actors Touring Company,Love the Sinner from Vanishing Point and performance poet Imogen Stirling, surrogate productions’ acclaimed staging of Édouard Louis’ shattering novel, Who Killed My Father, and the welcome return of award-winning TravFest 19 smash-hit How Not To Drown from ThickSkin and Traverse Theatre Company, with support from Theatre Royal Stratford East.
Also featured throughout the season are the Traverse’s current Breakthrough Writers In Residence cohort, showcasing the pieces which they have been developing with mentorship from the Traverse’s Artistic Team, as they move towards production-ready scripts. Over the next five months, audiences will get the chance to enjoy pieces from Lydia Sabatini, Eliza Gearty, Liam Moffat, Beth Westbrook and Fatima Jawara, whom the Traverse has identified as some of the UK’s most promising new dramatic voices.
Further shows and events in the Spring 2023 season and beyond, including a new season of A Play, A Pie and A Pintproductions, will be announced in the new year, including details of a range of Traverse Theatre Company projects and events celebrating the Traverse’s 60thanniversary year.
And before 2023 events kick off, the Traverse and EPAD are inviting those from across the performance sector are invited to a series of free co-working mornings in the Traverse Bar throughout December. Artists are invited to plug in, log on and connect with one another, as well as the Traverse team, and enjoy a warm space and a steady supply of caffeine. Registrations of interest for these sessions can be made on the Traverse website.
Traverse Theatre Executive Producer, Linda Crooks, said:
“We are very excited to start 2023 by welcoming such a wide range of innovative companies to the Traverse, with many more to be announced in the new year, including some extremely exciting expansions of well-loved Traverse projects. Though we are all operating under the most difficult of circumstances, it is bolstering to see how much brilliant and meaningful work is still being produced, and how much it is valued by audiences. As we move into one of the most challenging periods in the Traverse’s history, we are incredibly grateful for the support and the collaboration of the artists, companies and individuals who share our determination to deliver hope, connection and life enhancing emotional experiences - and particularly to our loyal audiences, without whom we would not still be here. We hope that we can offer you the solace, entertainment and excitement you so deserve, now more than ever.”
Traverse Theatre Artistic Director, Gareth Nicholls, said:
“After six months of artistic mentorship from the Traverse Artistic Team, we are delighted to share works in progress from our five Breakthrough Writers In Residence. Each month we will be highlighting a different writer, culminating in a public reading of the play which we have been supporting them to develop throughout their time with us. From underwater cities to life changing puppies, and how social media can explode a child’s privacy in a way that can never be undone, over the next five months these groundbreaking voices will tell the stories we need to look forward, reflect, expand our understanding and challenge our expectations. We can’t wait for you to meet them as they take flight.”
You can browse all currently announced 2023 shows on our What's On page.