Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities
United Kingdom
event
National Theatre of Scotland at 20: Culture, Democracy, and the Stateless Nation
Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1SR, Scotland
Organised in collaboration with the National Theatre of Scotland, The British Academy Early Career Researcher Network (BA ECRN), Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities at the University of Edinburgh, Research Institute of Irish and Scottish Studies at the University of Aberdeen, LLSETI Research Laboratory at Université Savoie Mont Blanc and Robert Gordon University. Funded by the University of Edinburgh, British Academy ECRN Development Fund, LLSETI Research Laboratory and Robert Gordon University.
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Marking the National Theatre of Scotland’s twentieth anniversary, this one-day Unconference invites participants from across academia, theatre, literature, politics, activism, as well as cultural and community organisations to explore the role of theatre, literature, and cultural institutions in shaping democratic life in Scotland as a stateless nation.
Over the past two decades, the NTS’s repertoire has contributed powerfully to Scotland’s national storytelling, interrogating national myths and amplifying voices previously marginalised or absent from the national landscape. Still, as democratic norms come under strain globally and regressive nationalisms fuel division across Europe and beyond, cultural institutions find themselves operating within an increasingly complex political environment, further compounded by unprecedented financial pressures.
This Unconference asks what forms of storytelling, representation, and cultural participation are most needed now and how Scotland’s avowedly innovative and ‘radical’ national theatre might contribute to the formation of an inclusive, equitable, and democratically engaged public space.
The event embraces an open, conversational format which seeks to dissolve traditional hierarchies and academic–practitioner divides, fostering collective reflection, debate, and opportunities for cross-party and cross-community collaboration. Highlights include a conversation between former First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon MSP and theatre critic Joyce McMillan, as well as roundtables, video provocations, panel discussions and more.
In-person tickets are sold out. Sign up here for online attendance: Teams Webinar