A History Of Scottish Drama In Six Plays

About A History Of Scottish Drama In Six Plays

Written drama has existed in Scotland since the sixteenth century. This is its story. A History Of Scottish Drama In Six Plays is a new podcast from journalist and critic Fergus Morgan, charting the story of Scottish drama from the sixteenth century to today. Over six episodes - plus a panel discussion recording - the podcast will travel from pre-Reformation Scotland to the present day, alighting on seminal plays along the way – including A Satire Of The Three Estates, Men Should Weep, Losing Venice, Passing Places, and Black Watch – and discussing their significance in the extraordinary, ongoing evolution of Scottish drama. Featuring insights and memories from playwrights, performers, academics, critics and others, the podcast journeys from the turbulent court of King James V in the 1540s, to the bustling Traverse Theatre in the 1980s, to the uncertain industry of 2024. A History Of Scottish Drama In Six Plays is written and produced by Fergus Morgan, with the support of the Scottish Society of Playwrights as part of their SSP@50 Fellowships, which are supported by Creative Scotland, and Bespoken Media. It is made in association with the Traverse Theatre. Episodes 2, 3 and 6 are also supported by the National Theatre of Scotland. For more information, follow the below links. Fergus Morgan: https://www.fergusmorgan.com/ Scottish Society of Playwrights: http://www.scottishsocietyofplaywrights.co.uk/ Traverse Theatre: https://www.traverse.co.uk/ Bespoken Media: https://www.bespoken.media/ National Theatre of Scotland: https://www.nationaltheatrescotland.com/

Publisher

Fergus Morgan

Category

arts · history · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

9 Oct 2024

Latest episode

15 Dec 2025

Latest episodes

9 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   15 Dec 2025

   Live at the Edinburgh Fringe

   This bonus episode of A History Of Scottish Drama In Six Plays features a live panel discussion recorded at the Traverse Theatre during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025. What do Scotland's playwrights want to write about? What challenges do they face in doing so? And how does The Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities' fellowship help? All this and more is explored by former IASH fellows Michael John O'Neill, Isla Cowan, and Apphia Campbell, plus Traverse Theatre artistic director Gareth Nicholls. *** Written drama has existed in Scotland since the sixteenth century. This is its story. A History Of Scottish Drama In Six Plays is a new podcast from journalist and critic Fergus Morgan, charting the story of Scottish drama from the sixteenth century to today. Over six episodes - plus a panel discussion recording - the podcast travels from pre-Reformation Scotland to the present day, alighting on seminal plays along the way – including A Satire Of The Three Estates, Men Should Weep, Losing Venice, Passing Places, and Black Watch – and discussing their significance in the extraordinary, ongoing evolution of Scottish drama. Featuring insights and memories from playwrights, performers, academics, critics and others, the podcast journeys from the turbulent court of King James V in the 1540s, to the bustling Traverse Theatre in the 1980s, to the uncertain industry of 2024. A History Of Scottish Drama In Six Plays is written and produced by Fergus Morgan, with the support of the Scottish Society of Playwrights as part of their SSP@50 Fellowships, which are supported by Creative Scotland and Bespoken Media. It is made in association with the Traverse Theatre. Episodes 2, 3 and 6 are also supported by the National Theatre of Scotland. For more information, follow the below links. Fergus Morgan: fergusmorgan.com (https://fergusmorgan.com/) Scottish Society of Playwrights: scottishsocietyofplaywrights.co.uk (https://www.scottishsocietyofplaywrights.co.uk/) Traverse Theatre: traverse.co.uk (https://www.traverse.co.uk/) Bespoken Media: bespoken.media (https://www.bespoken.media/) National Theatre of Scotland: nationaltheatrescotland.com (https://nationaltheatrescotland.com/)

2. 

   9 Dec 2024

   Live from the Traverse Theatre

   Fergus Morgan, Isla Cowan, Nicola McCartney, and Gareth Nicholls discuss the most remarkable Scottish plays of the last decade and the challenges of producing new drama in a live discussion from the Traverse Theatre.

3. 

   2 Dec 2024

   Black Watch

   Fergus Morgan explores the significance of Gregory Burke's 2006 play Black Watch in the history of Scottish drama, featuring insights from Muireann Kelly, Joyce McMillan, Trish Reid, and Nicola McCartney.

4. 

   25 Nov 2024

   Passing Places

   Journalist Fergus Morgan explores the influence of Glasgow's 1990 European City of Culture designation on Scottish theatre with playwrights Stephen Greenhorn and Nicola McCartney, and critics Mark Fisher and Joyce McMillan.

5. 

   18 Nov 2024

   Losing Venice

   Episode Four of A History Of Scottish Drama In Six Plays focuses on Jo Clifford's 1985 play Losing Venice. What happened in Scottish theatre in the 1980s? How was the country's staunch opposition to Margaret Thatcher expressed on stage? How did a new generation of boundary-breaking playwrights emerge at the Traverse Theatre? What happened when arts cuts began to bite? All this and more is explored by Professor Trish Reid, critic Joyce McMillan, playwright Peter Arnott, director Paul Miller, and Jo Clifford herself. *** Written drama has existed in Scotland since the sixteenth century. This is its story. A History Of Scottish Drama In Six Plays is a new podcast from journalist and critic Fergus Morgan, charting the story of Scottish drama from the sixteenth century to today. Over six episodes - plus a panel discussion recording - the podcast travels from pre-Reformation Scotland to the present day, alighting on seminal plays along the way – including A Satire Of The Three Estates, Men Should Weep, Losing Venice, Passing Places, and Black Watch – and discussing their significance in the extraordinary, ongoing evolution of Scottish drama. Featuring insights and memories from playwrights, performers, academics, critics and others, the podcast journeys from the turbulent court of King James V in the 1540s, to the bustling Traverse Theatre in the 1980s, to the uncertain industry of 2024. A History Of Scottish Drama In Six Plays is written and produced by Fergus Morgan, with the support of the Scottish Society of Playwrights as part of their SSP@50 Fellowships, which are supported by Creative Scotland and Bespoken Media. It is made in association with the Traverse Theatre. Episodes 2, 3 and 6 are also supported by the National Theatre of Scotland. For more information, follow the below links. Fergus Morgan: fergusmorgan.com (https://fergusmorgan.com/) Scottish Society of Playwrights: scottishsocietyofplaywrights.co.uk (https://www.scottishsocietyofplaywrights.co.uk/) Traverse Theatre: traverse.co.uk (https://www.traverse.co.uk/) Bespoken Media: bespoken.media (https://www.bespoken.media/) National Theatre of Scotland: nationaltheatrescotland.com (https://nationaltheatrescotland.com/)

6. 

   11 Nov 2024

   The Cheviot, The Stag And The Black, Black Oil

   Episode Three of A History Of Scottish Drama In Six Plays focuses on John McGrath and 7:84's 1973 play The Cheviot, The Stag And The Black, Black Oil. What happened in Scottish theatre in the 1950s and 1960s? How did Scottish drama explode in the 1970s? What role did 7:84 play? What happens in The Cheviot, The Stag And The Black, Black Oil, and why is it so celebrated? All this and more is explored by Professor Trish Reid, Dr Linda Mackenney, critic Joyce McMillan, and actor Bill Paterson, who helped create and starred in the original production. The clips in the episode are from the National Theatre of Scotland's 2019 production of Men Should Weep, which was made in association with Dundee Rep and Newcastle's Live Theatre. You can find out more about the show here (https://www.nationaltheatrescotland.com/past-performances/the-cheviot-the-stag-and-the-black-black-oil). *** Written drama has existed in Scotland since the sixteenth century. This is its story. A History Of Scottish Drama In Six Plays is a new podcast from journalist and critic Fergus Morgan, charting the story of Scottish drama from the sixteenth century to today. Over six episodes - plus a panel discussion recording - the podcast travels from pre-Reformation Scotland to the present day, alighting on seminal plays along the way – including A Satire Of The Three Estates, Men Should Weep, Losing Venice, Passing Places, and Black Watch – and discussing their significance in the extraordinary, ongoing evolution of Scottish drama. Featuring insights and memories from playwrights, performers, academics, critics and others, the podcast journeys from the turbulent court of King James V in the 1540s, to the bustling Traverse Theatre in the 1980s, to the uncertain industry of 2024. A History Of Scottish Drama In Six Plays is written and produced by Fergus Morgan, with the support of the Scottish Society of Playwrights as part of their SSP@50 Fellowships, which are supported by Creative Scotland and Bespoken Media. It is made in association with the Traverse Theatre. Episodes 2, 3 and 6 are also supported by the National Theatre of Scotland. For more information, follow the below links. Fergus Morgan: fergusmorgan.com (https://fergusmorgan.com/) Scottish Society of Playwrights: scottishsocietyofplaywrights.co.uk (https://www.scottishsocietyofplaywrights.co.uk/) Traverse Theatre: traverse.co.uk (https://www.traverse.co.uk/) Bespoken Media: bespoken.media (https://www.bespoken.media/) National Theatre of Scotland: nationaltheatrescotland.com (https://nationaltheatrescotland.com/)

7. 

   4 Nov 2024

   Men Should Weep

   Episode Two of A History Of Scottish Drama In Six Plays focuses on Ena Lamont Stewart's 1947 play Men Should Weep. What did theatre look like in the nineteenth century? What role did amateur activity play in Scottish drama in the early twentieth century? What did Glasgow Unity Theatre do? Who was Ena Lamont Stewart? How did she write a classic piece of social realism - and how was it forgotten about for over thirty years? All this and more is explored by critic Joyce McMillan and experts Dr Linda Mackenney and Professor Trish Reid. The clips in the episode are from the National Theatre of Scotland's 2011 production of Men Should Weep, which you can find out more about here (https://www.nationaltheatrescotland.com/past-performances/men-should-weep). *** Written drama has existed in Scotland since the sixteenth century. This is its story. A History Of Scottish Drama In Six Plays is a new podcast from journalist and critic Fergus Morgan, charting the story of Scottish drama from the sixteenth century to today. Over six episodes - plus a panel discussion recording - the podcast travels from pre-Reformation Scotland to the present day, alighting on seminal plays along the way – including A Satire Of The Three Estates, Men Should Weep, Losing Venice, Passing Places, and Black Watch – and discussing their significance in the extraordinary, ongoing evolution of Scottish drama. Featuring insights and memories from playwrights, performers, academics, critics and others, the podcast journeys from the turbulent court of King James V in the 1540s, to the bustling Traverse Theatre in the 1980s, to the uncertain industry of 2024. A History Of Scottish Drama In Six Plays is written and produced by Fergus Morgan, with the support of the Scottish Society of Playwrights as part of their SSP@50 Fellowships, which are supported by Creative Scotland and Bespoken Media. It is made in association with the Traverse Theatre. Episodes 2, 3 and 6 are also supported by the National Theatre of Scotland. For more information, follow the below links. Fergus Morgan: fergusmorgan.com (https://fergusmorgan.com/) Scottish Society of Playwrights: scottishsocietyofplaywrights.co.uk (https://www.scottishsocietyofplaywrights.co.uk/) Traverse Theatre: traverse.co.uk (https://www.traverse.co.uk/) Bespoken Media: bespoken.media (https://www.bespoken.media/) National Theatre of Scotland: nationaltheatrescotland.com (https://nationaltheatrescotland.com)

8. 

   28 Oct 2024

   A Satire Of The Three Estates

   Episode One of A History Of Scottish Drama In Six Plays focuses on Sir David Lyndsay's sixteenth-century play A Satire Of The Three Estates. What did theatre look like in pre-Reformation Scotland? Who was David Lyndsay? Why did he write A Satire Of The Three Estates? What makes it such a remarkable play? And what came next, after the Reformation? All this and more is explored by experts including critic Joyce McMillan, director Gregory Thompson, and academics Professor Trish Reid and Dr Lesley Mickel. The clips in the episode are from Gregory Thompson's 2013 staging of A Satire Of The Three Estates at Linlithgow Palace, which was organised by The University of Edinburgh and Brunel University, and funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council. You can watch it here: http://stagingthescottishcourt.brunel.ac.uk/filmed-performances/asatireofthreeestates/index.html *** Written drama has existed in Scotland since the sixteenth century. This is its story. A History Of Scottish Drama In Six Plays is a new podcast from journalist and critic Fergus Morgan, charting the story of Scottish drama from the sixteenth century to today. Over six episodes - plus a panel discussion recording - the podcast will travel from pre-Reformation Scotland to the present day, alighting on seminal plays along the way – including A Satire Of The Three Estates, Men Should Weep, Losing Venice, Passing Places, and Black Watch – and discussing their significance in the extraordinary, ongoing evolution of Scottish drama. Featuring insights and memories from playwrights, performers, academics, critics and others, the podcast journeys from the turbulent court of King James V in the 1540s, to the bustling Traverse Theatre in the 1980s, to the uncertain industry of 2024. A History Of Scottish Drama In Six Plays is written and produced by Fergus Morgan, with the support of the Scottish Society of Playwrights as part of their SSP@50 Fellowships, which are supported by Creative Scotland and Bespoken Media. It is made in association with the Traverse Theatre. For more information, follow the below links. Fergus Morgan: fergusmorgan.com (https://fergusmorgan.com/) Scottish Society of Playwrights: scottishsocietyofplaywrights.co.uk (https://www.scottishsocietyofplaywrights.co.uk/) Traverse Theatre: traverse.co.uk (https://www.traverse.co.uk/) Bespoken Media: bespoken.media (https://www.bespoken.media/)

9. 

   9 Oct 2024

   Coming soon: A History Of Scottish Drama In Six Plays

   Episode One arrives Monday 28 October! Written drama has existed in Scotland since the sixteenth century. This is its story. A History Of Scottish Drama In Six Plays is a new podcast from journalist and critic Fergus Morgan, charting the story of Scottish drama from the sixteenth century to today. Over six episodes - plus a panel discussion recording - the podcast will travel from pre-Reformation Scotland to the present day, alighting on seminal plays along the way – including A Satire Of The Three Estates, Men Should Weep, Losing Venice, Passing Places, and Black Watch – and discussing their significance in the extraordinary, ongoing evolution of Scottish drama. Featuring insights and memories from playwrights, performers, academics, critics and others, the podcast journeys from the turbulent court of King James V in the 1540s, to the bustling Traverse Theatre in the 1980s, to the uncertain industry of 2024. A History Of Scottish Drama In Six Plays is written and produced by Fergus Morgan, with the support of the Scottish Society of Playwrights as part of their SSP@50 Fellowships, which are supported by Creative Scotland, and Bespoken Media. It is made in association with the Traverse Theatre. Episodes 2, 3, and 6 are also supported by the National Theatre of Scotland. For more information, follow the below links. Fergus Morgan: fergusmorgan.com (https://fergusmorgan.com/) Scottish Society of Playwrights: scottishsocietyofplaywrights.co.uk (https://www.scottishsocietyofplaywrights.co.uk/) Traverse Theatre: traverse.co.uk (https://www.traverse.co.uk/) Bespoken Media: bespoken.media (https://www.bespoken.media/) National Theatre of Scotland: nationaltheatrescotland.com (https://www.nationaltheatrescotland.com)

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