The Traverse Theatre, Scotland's new writing theatre, once again takes centre stage amidst Edinburgh’s August Festivals, with a programme that reaffirms its unwavering commitment to discovering, developing, and showcasing the most vital new voices in theatre and sharing their stories with a national and international audience.
This year's TravFest promises a compelling and wide-ranging programme of theatre that underscores the Traverse's pivotal role in shaping the landscape of contemporary drama, both in Scotland and beyond. Carefully curated, the programme gives space to key issues on people’s minds today, from climate change to radicalisation, and loved ones developing dementia, to global conflict and dysfunctional family dynamics while also bringing joy, humanity, commonality and humour.
The 12 productions include 10 premieres, giving audiences the chance to be among the first to see some of the most groundbreaking, quality new theatre in Edinburgh this August.
HOME PRODUCTIONS
Among the world premieres is a deliciously honest, wicked and moving unpicking of that well-known Scottish theatre character – the Panto Dame - as brought hilariously and poignantly to life by Scotland’s Prince of post-modern panto himself, Johnny McKnight.
Stepping into the shoes of the glamorous Dorothy Blawna-Gale, Johnny’s glittery trip through the most unique of theatrical traditions helps us understand why dames are so close to our hearts. A new Traverse Theatre production presented in association with National Theatre of Scotland, and directed by the acclaimed John Tiffany, She’s Behind Youis a deliciously honest, wicked and moving unpicking of the significance of one of the most beloved and enduring characters in all of British theatre.
Chaos, rejection, addiction and self-discovery is Lucie’s experience of navigating life as a rockstar’s sister in the mid-2000s. In this world premiere of an autobiographical musical play written and performed by Lucie Barât – sister of The Libertines’ frontman and guitarist Carl Barât – she finds her voice and steps into the spotlight in Standing In The Shadows of Giants, directed by Traverse Associate Artist Bryony Shanahan in a Traverse Theatre & The Hale co-production.
The Traverse collaborates with Bristol Old Vic to present the Scottish premiere of The Beautiful Future is Coming – an urgent new play about the onrushing climate apocalypse. Spanning 250 years of real and imagined history through the eyes of three couples, the play takes us from 1850s New York to present-day London, and a future seed vault in storm-ravaged Svalbard. Flora Wilson Brown’s production, directed by Bristol Old Vic Artistic Director Nancy Medina, is a fast-paced and funny drama about the end of the world as we know it.
Gary McNair’s beloved solo fable A Gambler’s Guide to Dying returns to the Traverse 10 years on from its sell-out, award-winning debut and subsequent tours which took it to stages across Scotland, the UK, and the world. An intergenerational tale of what we live for and what we leave behind, written and performed by Gary and directed by Traverse Artistic Director Gareth Nicholls, the play will delight Edinburgh theatre-goers and Festival visitors once more with the hotly anticipated revival in Traverse 2 this August.
POWERFUL PREMIERES
Winner of the Women’s Prize for Playwriting 2022, Karis Kelly’s brand-new play Consumed, directed by Katie Posner, receives its world premiere on the Traverse stage this August, in a Paines Plough, Belgrade Coventry, Sheffield Theatres, Women's Prize for Playwriting co-production, in association with Lyric Theatre Belfast.
A pitch-black and twisted tale of dysfunctional family dynamics, generational trauma and national boundaries, Consumed brings together four generations of Northern Irish women, a house full of hungry ghosts and a 90th birthday party that no one wants.
A haunting exploration of complicity, consent, patriarchy and trauma in a post-#MeToo world, Red Like Fruit, brings audiences the latest work of award-winning Canadian playwright Hannah Moscovitch. This European premiere from 2b theatre company from Halifax Nova Scotia (Old Stock, Fringe 2017), directed by Christian Barry, sees Luke narrate Lauren’s life: her fraying mental health and the unease she feels in the world. Reporting on domestic violence and haunted by adolescent memories, Lauren begins to unravel.
All at once fast-paced and thought-provoking, Lost Lear lands us in the world of Joy, a woman with dementia, who is being cared for through a method where people live inside an old memory.
Following the tour of A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings, Dan Colley, Riverbank Arts Centre and Mermaid Arts Centre have turned their sights to a very (very) loose adaptation of Shakespeare’s enduring tragedy King Lear, examining the self and that part of us that’s inaccessible to others. This UK premiere comes with a raft of 5-star reviews from its opening at the Dublin Theatre Festival.
Inspired by playwright Gabriel Jason Dean’s relationship with his own brother, a currently-incarcerated high-level member of the alt-right, RIFT is a story of estrangement, ideological divide, and the fight to change our world. The UK premiere is directed by Ari Laura Kreith and is presented by Luna Stage & Richard Jordan Productions.
In Nowhere, an intricate and playful solo show, inspired by his involvement in the Egyptian revolution of 2011 and his experience of the counter-revolution that followed, Glasgow-born actor and activist Khalid Abdalla (The Crown, United 93, The Kite Runner) takes us on a surprising journey into his own history, set against a cartography of seismic world events. From colonialism to decolonisation; friendship and loss; protests and uprisings to the violence in Gaza post-October 2023, Khalid weaves the personal with the political. Nowhere is a Scottish premiere, written and performed by Khalid Abdallah, directed by Omar Elerian and is a Fuel production.
“In the 90’s sitcom Goodness Gracious Me, one of Nina Wadia’s many characters can make everything at home ‘with a small’… what?”
For questions like this and more, join us for Lucky Tonight! - a hilarious, interactive pub quiz-cum-theatre show written and performed by Afreena Islam-Wright. Audiences join the quizmaster Afreena, a former contestant on The Chase, as she unpacks her identity across cultures and generations, from Old Trafford to Chittagong. Expect rounds of trivia, rounds of drinks, personal storytelling, and a redefinition of ‘Britishness’. Lucky Tonight! is a Scottish premiere, directed by Julia Samuels.
In a new space upstairs - Traverse Above – is the UK premiere of a touching and achingly intimate performance which audiences will experience one-to-one with the artist. I’m Ready to Talk Now is set inside a hospital room, where audience members meet Oliver as he shares the story of being diagnosed with a severe immune condition—right after starting testosterone. Blending music, projection, and physical theatre, this performance event from the producers of 2024’s award-winning Traverse hit BATSHIT, blurs boundaries between audience and performer in the most profound way. Written and performed by Oliver Ayres and presented by Skint, in association with Quiet Riot.
The final production in TravFest25 is Deliverance, made by Brite Theatre, originally produced by Vanishing Point, written by Kolbrún Björt Sigfúsdóttir and performed by – you!
A stranger arrives at your door with your script – for the next 90 minutes, you dress up, dance, answer a mysterious phone call... and no one’s watching but you. Originally conceived and presented for audiences during lockdown and described as a fun and reflective night in and an exercise in self-knowledge and self-love, Deliverance has been brought back for audiences who missed this unique opportunity for self-reflection and journeying the first time around.
Edinburgh Beer Factory is this year’s TravFest partner.
Linda Crooks, CEO & Executive Producer of Traverse Theatre, said: “Writers are often one step ahead, regularly predicting future challenges as well as crystallising our morally complex world today and offering fresh insights and perspectives. This year’s TravFest programme gives us space to reflect on global issues from radicalisation to climate change, to incredibly personal experiences of loved ones with dementia and dysfunctional family dynamics. What shines through these voices and these stories, even when tackling hard topics, is the depth of humanity, a humour – sometimes black – and often a commonality and a joy.
“We present a programme that promises to be as vibrant and diverse as ever, and the place to come in August for the best in new writing.”
Gareth Nicholls, Artistic Director of Traverse Theatre and Director of A Gambler’s Guide to Dying, said: "In challenging times, more than ever, we need to hear new stories. And as Scotland’s engine room of new writing, working year-round to support and develop fresh voices alongside our partners and co-producers, the Traverse feels more energised and vital than ever in giving platform to artists here on our Edinburgh stages as well as across the world.
“Alongside championing unseen premieres the Traverse also plays a vital role in giving space to contemporary plays and writers which have made a huge impact on writing in Scotland, and there is barely a conversation goes by without someone reflecting forlornly that they did not see A Gambler’s Guide to Dying when it was originally produced in 2015.
“One of my favourite works, and a joy of a collaboration with Gary McNair, I am delighted that this story of hope, family and what we value in life is returning to its spiritual home to give audiences a chance to experience the play they’ve long heard about and that will, I’m sure, resonate more than ever.”
Laura Mackenzie Stuart, Head of Theatre, Creative Scotland said: “We are delighted to see another captivating programme of work this Traverse Festival, showcasing the best and most creative brilliance of artists from across Scotland and the world. This impressive collection of new work is underpinned by the work the Traverse undertakes year-round and their reinforces their vital position and role in ever a changing world.”