Throughout 2012 STC is collaborating with many local and international theatre companies to produce an engaging season of theatre. In this series of profiles, we'll take a look at the inspiring (and often dramatic) evolution of some of these companies and venues. First up is the Traverse Theatre, who have brought us the wonderful Midsummer [a play with songs], currently playing at the Sydney Opera House.
The spirit of invention was alive and well among artists living in
Edinburgh in the early 1960s, so it seemed natural when an
abandoned brothel in Lawnmarket was turned into a tiny theatre
space. Using discarded benches from a local cinema for seating,
John Calder, Jim Haynes and Richard Demarco banded together to
create a theatre company that was charged with the spirit of the
Edinburgh Festival, but ran all year around.
Terry Lane was appointed the company's first artistic director and,
inspired by the seating arrangement, which featured two banks of
seating installed on opposite sides of the stage, he named it the
Traverse Theatre. It was some time before he realised the correct
description for this style of staging is 'transverse', by which
time the name had already stuck.
The early days at the Traverse were exciting with more than 100
productions opening there in the first three years, including 33
world premieres. The theatre featured a gallery in the early days,
which later broke away and became the Richard Demarco Gallery.
Actors, writers and directors were drawn to the company, which
helped to launch the careers of many. During the 1970s the theatre
attracted actors including Bill Nighy, Timothy Dalton, Billy
Connelly, Robbie Coltraine, Simon Callow, Bill Patterson and
Stephen Berkoff. In the 1980s it was Tilda Swinton, Forbes Masson
and Alan Cummings. Writers who have worked with the company include
John Byrne, Gregory Burke, David Greig, David Harrower and Liz
Lochhead.
Like any theatre company, the Traverse has not been immune to a bit
of real-life drama, with an actress being accidentally stabbed with
a real knife in the company's first year (as they couldn't afford a
prop knife), and several threats of police raids due to fears of
homosexuality and the possibility of indecency.
The Traverse has long since moved on from its humble home in
Lawnmarket. Structural concerns forced a shift to a larger and more
flexible space in Grassmarket in 1969, a former sailmaker's loft,
and the Traverse stayed at this venue until 1992 when it moved to a
purpose built, multi-million dollar, two-theatre space in Cambridge
Street.
The Traverse has become a particular institution in Edinburgh
during festival season, with the theatre hosting 18 shows during
the 2010 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. It is also a festive venue in
itself, hosting the Manipulate Visual Theatre Festival, the Bank of
Scotland Imaginate Festival and its own Autumn Festival.
The company has had an extensive youth development program for more
than two decades and is particularly focused on encouraging new
playwriting from an educational level through to nurturing
fledgling and established writers.
Alex Lalak
www.traverse.co.uk
Midsummer [a play with
songs], plays 6 February until 10 March, 2012,
at the Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House