Theatre, Talks & Lectures

Scottish Theatre History Weekend - Talks

Edinburgh 900

(Sat 30 Nov from 2pm & Sun 1 Dec from 1:30pm)

A weekend of talks and performance exploring Edinburgh’s rich theatre history, presented as part of the Edinburgh 900 celebrations.

On Sat 30 Nov we present a series of free talks with input on the Theatre Royal and Walter Scott’s dramas by Helen Graham, development of Edinburgh theatres and the Festivals by David Pollock and Donald Smith and the restoration of the Kings Theatre with Charlotte di Corpo.

On Sun 1 Dec we are pleased to welcome biographer Priscilla Barlow to give a pre-curtain talk on her research into Scotland’s vibrant theatre scene in Macrae’s lifetime.

As part of the weekend, enjoy Michael Daviot’s performance as Duncan Macrae in A Noble Clown, his solo play which tells the gripping public and private story of the man considered Scotland’s greatest actor. Sat 30 Nov (7pm) and Sun 1 Dec (3:30pm)

Full Schedule

Sat 30 Nov

2pm: Walter Scott's National Dramas, Charles Mackay and the Theatre Royal
(with Helen Graham, author of The Real Mackay: Walter Scott's Favourite Comedian)

3:20pm: Restoring the King's Theatre
(with Charlotte di Corpo, Capital Theatres Trust)

4pm: Edinburgh's Theatres and the Edinburgh Festivals
(with David Pollock, author of The Edinburgh Festival: A Biography and Donald Smith, author of Edinburgh: Our Storied Town

Sun 1 Dec

1:30pm: Duncan Macrae: Writing his Life
(with Priscilla Barlow author of Wise Enough to Play the Fool: A Biography of Duncan Macrae, and Iain Wotherspoon)

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This event is also part of Fair Saturday, a global mobilisation that aims to create a positive social impact every last Saturday of November, the day following Black Friday, the greatest expression of consumerism. Artists and cultural organisations from all over the world get together in a global festival of arts for change.