Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 02 May 2012
02 May 2012 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
National Performing Companies
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 contribution that Claudia Beamish made to the debate.
As we have heard during the debate, Scotland, a country of 5 million people or thereabouts, can be very proud to host five separate national companies, which I would just like to list for the record, although we all know who they are. It is enjoyable to repeat this diverse list. We have Scottish Ballet, Scottish Opera, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and, last but by no means least, the National Theatre of Scotland. Each of those five companies is a centre of excellence and I pay tribute at the outset to the dedication and commitment of all those involved. I also pay tribute to all those involved in the national youth companies. I should perhaps declare an interest because my niece, Ciara Ewing, and my nephew, Jamie Ewing, are both members of the national youth choir. They are enjoying their experience enormously.
I also have to confess, like the other Annabel in the chamber—we have been the subject of mistaken identity today and I hope that the other Annabel will not be too horrified by that state of affairs—my ballet days are well and truly behind me. However, until fairly recently, I used to list under the heading “Hobbies and interests” in a curriculum vitae, “Going to the theatre.” I have had to drop that one, though, to reflect factual accuracy, because I do not seem to get to the theatre very much these days and certainly not as much as I would like, due to other calls on my time. However, I hope to rectify that in the years to come.
Unusually, I was at a local play a couple of weeks ago. It would be remiss of me not to mention that it was called “Off the Hook”, and the production was put on by the Crieff drama group. It played to full houses over three nights and was very much enjoyed by all who attended it. Having mentioned the Crieff drama group, it would be remiss of me and perhaps somewhat risky for me not to mention the Comrie drama group. Comrie is, of course, the fantastic village that I am very pleased to call home. Comrie drama group puts on successful plays throughout the year, together with an excellent panto every Christmas. Like Crieff drama group, Comrie drama group always plays to full houses. As in Crieff, many people in Comrie are involved in one way or another in productions, and they are to be commended for their commitment.
I mention those local examples to highlight the appetite across Scotland for theatre and other performing arts and to flag up the importance of the national touring that the national companies undertake, which is a key feature of their role in our country’s cultural life. I ask the cabinet secretary to ensure that the locations that the fantastic national tours cover are constantly reviewed, to ensure that none of Scotland’s communities—however large, medium-sized, small or dispersed it is—is left out of the fantastic programmes. I assure her that there is an audience out there for such visits and I am sure that such audiences would be enthusiastic.
In addition to national touring, the national companies do extensive international touring. I was pleased to hear the cabinet secretary confirm the £350,000 for the international touring fund. International touring is not just important to the national economy; it is also about showcasing on the world stage Scotland’s cultural excellence and diversity and the modern and innovative productions for which our national companies are famed. In touring, our national companies act in effect as cultural ambassadors, and they do Scotland proud. We shall see further evidence of that in this year of creative Scotland, when our national companies will play a significant role in attracting international tourism and investment to Scotland. I am sure that the whole Parliament wishes them well in that endeavour.
The national companies’ work has many international aspects in addition to international touring. We have heard about the excellent success of the National Theatre’s production of “Black Watch”. Having seen it, I agree that it is fantastic. I think that it is the best play that I have seen, save perhaps the 7:84 Theatre Company’s “The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil”, which I hope will make a comeback fairly soon.
We see internationalism in the work of all our national companies. Guest conductors are invited to perform with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and the RSNO and artistic exchange partnerships take place—between the National Theatre and China, for example. We heard about the National Theatre’s work in Chicago and its great work in Brooklyn with the extreme ceilidh, to which the cabinet secretary referred. Malcolm Chisholm referred to the five-minute theatre project, which rightly excited the well-known arts commentator Joyce McMillan.
The cultural scene in Scotland is innovative and vibrant. The internationalism of our national companies is to be as treasured as the work that they do in Scotland is. The national companies contribute enormously to feeding the soul, as well as the national economy, and they are key players on the world stage. We should all be enormously proud of them. I sincerely believe that, as Scotland continues its journey to independence, we shall see increased global interest not only in our political endeavours but in our exciting cultural scene.
16:18
As we have heard during the debate, Scotland, a country of 5 million people or thereabouts, can be very proud to host five separate national companies, which I would just like to list for the record, although we all know who they are. It is enjoyable to repeat this diverse list. We have Scottish Ballet, Scottish Opera, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and, last but by no means least, the National Theatre of Scotland. Each of those five companies is a centre of excellence and I pay tribute at the outset to the dedication and commitment of all those involved. I also pay tribute to all those involved in the national youth companies. I should perhaps declare an interest because my niece, Ciara Ewing, and my nephew, Jamie Ewing, are both members of the national youth choir. They are enjoying their experience enormously.
I also have to confess, like the other Annabel in the chamber—we have been the subject of mistaken identity today and I hope that the other Annabel will not be too horrified by that state of affairs—my ballet days are well and truly behind me. However, until fairly recently, I used to list under the heading “Hobbies and interests” in a curriculum vitae, “Going to the theatre.” I have had to drop that one, though, to reflect factual accuracy, because I do not seem to get to the theatre very much these days and certainly not as much as I would like, due to other calls on my time. However, I hope to rectify that in the years to come.
Unusually, I was at a local play a couple of weeks ago. It would be remiss of me not to mention that it was called “Off the Hook”, and the production was put on by the Crieff drama group. It played to full houses over three nights and was very much enjoyed by all who attended it. Having mentioned the Crieff drama group, it would be remiss of me and perhaps somewhat risky for me not to mention the Comrie drama group. Comrie is, of course, the fantastic village that I am very pleased to call home. Comrie drama group puts on successful plays throughout the year, together with an excellent panto every Christmas. Like Crieff drama group, Comrie drama group always plays to full houses. As in Crieff, many people in Comrie are involved in one way or another in productions, and they are to be commended for their commitment.
I mention those local examples to highlight the appetite across Scotland for theatre and other performing arts and to flag up the importance of the national touring that the national companies undertake, which is a key feature of their role in our country’s cultural life. I ask the cabinet secretary to ensure that the locations that the fantastic national tours cover are constantly reviewed, to ensure that none of Scotland’s communities—however large, medium-sized, small or dispersed it is—is left out of the fantastic programmes. I assure her that there is an audience out there for such visits and I am sure that such audiences would be enthusiastic.
In addition to national touring, the national companies do extensive international touring. I was pleased to hear the cabinet secretary confirm the £350,000 for the international touring fund. International touring is not just important to the national economy; it is also about showcasing on the world stage Scotland’s cultural excellence and diversity and the modern and innovative productions for which our national companies are famed. In touring, our national companies act in effect as cultural ambassadors, and they do Scotland proud. We shall see further evidence of that in this year of creative Scotland, when our national companies will play a significant role in attracting international tourism and investment to Scotland. I am sure that the whole Parliament wishes them well in that endeavour.
The national companies’ work has many international aspects in addition to international touring. We have heard about the excellent success of the National Theatre’s production of “Black Watch”. Having seen it, I agree that it is fantastic. I think that it is the best play that I have seen, save perhaps the 7:84 Theatre Company’s “The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil”, which I hope will make a comeback fairly soon.
We see internationalism in the work of all our national companies. Guest conductors are invited to perform with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and the RSNO and artistic exchange partnerships take place—between the National Theatre and China, for example. We heard about the National Theatre’s work in Chicago and its great work in Brooklyn with the extreme ceilidh, to which the cabinet secretary referred. Malcolm Chisholm referred to the five-minute theatre project, which rightly excited the well-known arts commentator Joyce McMillan.
The cultural scene in Scotland is innovative and vibrant. The internationalism of our national companies is to be as treasured as the work that they do in Scotland is. The national companies contribute enormously to feeding the soul, as well as the national economy, and they are key players on the world stage. We should all be enormously proud of them. I sincerely believe that, as Scotland continues its journey to independence, we shall see increased global interest not only in our political endeavours but in our exciting cultural scene.
16:18
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 ...