Scottish theatre needs ‘long-term strategy’ to fend off ‘exhaustion’ – report

The report identifies nine “themes” from the event, including a “widespread sense of exhaustion” and “desire for renewal”, a wish for “greater trust, transparency and clarity”, a frustration with the lack of support for freelancers and “a strong appetite for collaboration".

Other “themes” include a frustration with the “economic and instrumental” framing of the value of theatre in “national conversations”, a lack of infrastructure away from Scotland’s central belt, increased strain among organisational leaders and a concern over declining arts journalism.

The report states: “If the structural pressures identified… are not addressed, Scotland risks losing significant cultural, social and economic value generated by its theatre sector.”

The report makes 11 recommendations, including the introduction of “a long-term, coherent framework shaped collectively by the people who make and sustain Scottish theatre".

It suggests that such a framework could be produced by a “representative working group” that would consult across the industry and “produce a draft strategy for consultation within 12 to 18 months".

The report also recommends establishing “a national, searchable directory of rehearsal spaces, studios, technical equipment, desk space training opportunities and specialist support”.

Other recommendations include schemes to “strengthen freelance representation”, to “incentivise collaboration” and to “embed well-being and sustainable leadership practice”.

The report also suggests that theatres and companies should “support early-career critics”, “develop partnerships with journalism schools and digital media platforms” and “explore co-commissioned criticism models” to “strengthen the presence of arts journalism” in Scotland.

A series of online “gatherings” will be convened this autumn by An Tobar and Mull Theatre, the Federation of Scottish Theatre and Playwrights’ Studio Scotland, at which the report’s recommendations will be discussed, with details of these events to be announced in September.