Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 02 May 2012
02 May 2012 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
National Performing Companies
The same themes can be reiterated with reference to the National Theatre of Scotland and the orchestras. We all know of the outreach work that they do. The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, for example, does outreach work that reaches young people and holds performances in healthcare settings, including hospices and paediatric healthcare settings. It also has a massive geographic reach and has covered many of the regions in Scotland on its various tours.
The National Theatre of Scotland, too, has performed all over Scotland. I am told that during the five-year period of direct funding, 81 per cent of the Scottish population has been within 20 miles of a National Theatre of Scotland event. The events have been held in venues ranging from the Playhouse theatre in Edinburgh to a converted drill hall in Dumfries. The National Theatre of Scotland has also toured internationally, most famously with “Black Watch” in New York. I am sure that most of us have enjoyed seeing that great production, as well as others such as “The Bacchae”.
I was struck by another initiative, which I did not know about, to my shame: the five-minute theatre project that took place in summer 2011. It was intended as a participatory and creative celebration of the National Theatre of Scotland’s fifth birthday year. Joyce McMillan said in The Scotsman:
“this brave and ground-breaking event has subtly changed the landscape of Scottish theatre for ever, reconnecting with a myriad of grassroots impulses to dramatic expression that have long been undervalued or marginalised. Completely original in concept, performed live yet mediated through the internet and through a constant babble of online comment, this was a 21st century event that expressed and celebrated the wild and beautiful diversity of Scotland today in a thousand different voices”.
I wanted to quote that to show the range of work that the National Theatre of Scotland has been involved in. I also wanted to quote Joyce McMillan, because she is always right about the theatre and is usually right about politics, too, so I am happy to leave the last word to her.
15:51
The National Theatre of Scotland, too, has performed all over Scotland. I am told that during the five-year period of direct funding, 81 per cent of the Scottish population has been within 20 miles of a National Theatre of Scotland event. The events have been held in venues ranging from the Playhouse theatre in Edinburgh to a converted drill hall in Dumfries. The National Theatre of Scotland has also toured internationally, most famously with “Black Watch” in New York. I am sure that most of us have enjoyed seeing that great production, as well as others such as “The Bacchae”.
I was struck by another initiative, which I did not know about, to my shame: the five-minute theatre project that took place in summer 2011. It was intended as a participatory and creative celebration of the National Theatre of Scotland’s fifth birthday year. Joyce McMillan said in The Scotsman:
“this brave and ground-breaking event has subtly changed the landscape of Scottish theatre for ever, reconnecting with a myriad of grassroots impulses to dramatic expression that have long been undervalued or marginalised. Completely original in concept, performed live yet mediated through the internet and through a constant babble of online comment, this was a 21st century event that expressed and celebrated the wild and beautiful diversity of Scotland today in a thousand different voices”.
I wanted to quote that to show the range of work that the National Theatre of Scotland has been involved in. I also wanted to quote Joyce McMillan, because she is always right about the theatre and is usually right about politics, too, so I am happy to leave the last word to her.
15:51
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith)
Lab
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-02738, in the name of Fiona Hyslop, on the national performing companies. I call Fiona Hyslop to speak to...
The Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs (Fiona Hyslop)
SNP
I welcome the opportunity to debate and celebrate the significant achievements of the five national performing companies during the first five years of direc...
Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (Lab)
Lab
I am delighted to have the opportunity to debate our national performing companies, and I am sure that the debate will be consensual.Scottish Labour decided ...
Fiona Hyslop
SNP
The member might be reflecting some coverage that the audience figures received when they were released. She might also be aware that the chief executive of ...
Patricia Ferguson
Lab
I entirely accept the point that the cabinet secretary makes, but I think that it suggests that the publications that give us those facts and figures need to...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
I call Annabel Goldie, who has a very generous six minutes.15:30
Annabel Goldie (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
I thank the minister for bringing the motion to the chamber for debate, and I am pleased to speak in the debate because I, too, want to pay tribute to the br...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
We come to the open debate, for which we have a little bit of time in hand. Speeches of a generous six minutes can be made by everyone in the debate.15:37
Clare Adamson (Central Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
Unsurprisingly, I open with a quotation from Tennessee Williams, describing the creative process as he saw it. He said:“I believe the way to write a good pla...
Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (Lab)
Lab
I commend the cabinet secretary for bringing this debate to the chamber and I join her in praising the outstanding work of the national performing companies ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
I can be more generous.
Malcolm Chisholm
Lab
The same themes can be reiterated with reference to the National Theatre of Scotland and the orchestras. We all know of the outreach work that they do. The R...
Jean Urquhart (Highlands and Islands) (SNP)
SNP
Our big five—Scotland’s five national performing companies—with their singing, dancing, music and storytelling to gladden the heart, are things of which we o...
Sandra White (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP)
SNP
I align myself with the remarks made by Annabelle Ewing—sorry, I mean Annabel Goldie. She has changed.
Annabel Goldie
Con
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. Some errors made in the chamber are justifiable and acceptable, but others are much more difficult to thole.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
That is not really a point of order.
Sandra White
SNP
I accept Annabel Goldie’s explanation, given that we are talking about the performing companies. I align myself with some of her remarks, as I, too, have bee...
Fiona Hyslop
SNP
Sandra White makes an important point. I refer her to a report that I think I brought to the Parliament’s attention when answering a question from Annabel Go...
Sandra White
SNP
I thank the cabinet secretary for that and look forward to seeing that strategy in the future.The link with education is important. It is great that the Roya...
Claudia Beamish (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
For a number of reasons, I am delighted to have the opportunity to participate in this debate. I will start by focusing on what I see as the significance of ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott)
Con
I would be grateful if you would draw to a close sometime soon, please.
Claudia Beamish
Lab
I am just about to, Presiding Officer. Thank you.The Scottish Government states that cultural engagement also“helps reinforce our resilience in difficult tim...
Annabelle Ewing (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP)
SNP
I am very pleased to have been called to speak in this debate on Scotland’s national performing companies and, indeed, to follow on from the very considerate...
Jenny Marra (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
As we have heard, the national performing arts companies have an important role. Not only do they allow Scots of all ages to experience the very best in thea...
Joan McAlpine (South Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to speak in this debate on the work of our national performing companies. All the companies do sterling wor...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
We move to the closing speeches. Annabel Goldie has a generous six minutes.16:32
Annabel Goldie
Con
The debate has been interesting and genuinely helpful. What our creative industries and NPCs do for Scotland and our economy has been universally recognised;...
Fiona Hyslop
SNP
I gently point out to Annabel Goldie that we have gone through the credit crunch and the recession. Interestingly, the arts and business figures for Scotland...
Annabel Goldie
Con
I thank the cabinet secretary for that observation. I value what the sponsors and fund-raisers are doing; I simply point out that, if we cannot explain that ...
Patricia Ferguson
Lab
I, too, thank colleagues around the chamber for their interesting and thoughtful contributions to what has been a very good and consensual debate. That is a ...