2024 is off to such a rollicking start here at the Traverse that we thought it worth taking a wee look back at all we've achieved in this first quarter.
Since January we are delighted to have staged 31 productions comprising of 75individual performances, of which 68% were led by Scottish artists and 20% were brought by international creatives. On top of this, we had the pleasure of welcoming more than 9,000 audience members through our doors to experience the range of dynamic and innovative performances that have taken to our stages.
Within our programme the Traverse has had a hand in producing 9 productions including leading on the Class Act Edinburgh Showcase and associate producing Don't. Make. Tea. by Rob Drummond, with 6 music acts also joining us as part of our inaugural Music at the Traverse season. We were also pleased to team back up with our friends at Manipulate Arts to partner on 6 performances as part of Manipulate Festival.
Having spent more than 100 hours working with the young people of Edinburgh in schools and youth group settings, we brought 77 of the subsequent scripts, songs and screen plays to life in the Traverse 1 with the help of professional actors, directors, film-makers and musicians as part of our Class Act Showcase.
It's been great as well to offer our space in kind to 66 artists developing work, rehearsing new scripts and for educational purposes. Having our spaces maintain multiple purposes like this throughout the year is important to us in order to support creatives in Scotland and foster new work for the future.
During a sold-out A Play, A Pie & A Pint season we have served over 2,500 pies and pints alongside some tasty lunchtime theatre.
With our travels continuing around Scotland with Class Act On Tour we have started working with 7 schools in the Highlands, Dumfries & Galloway and Mull to develop creative writing with young people across the country, looking ahead to their respective showcases in June.
On top of this we have supported 3 further creative engagement initiatives including the International Musical Theatre Residency with Dundee Rep and Cove Park, the initial stages of Positive Stories For Negative Times Season 4 and launching a new multi-disciplinary doctorate with Edinburgh University.
It was also announced that we will be creating a new podcast with writer Fergus Morgan about the history of Scottish playwrighting, with more information to come later this year!
And if all that weren't enough, the cherry on top of the cake was the phenomenal Lauryn Redding winning Lead Performance In A Musical at the Off West End Awards for their performance in Bloody Elle.