National Theatre of Scotland Unveils Ambitious 2027 Programme Rooted in Scottish Stories, Global Conversations and Community Connection

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The National Theatre of Scotland has revealed a bold and far-reaching 2027 programme that speaks directly to the company’s distinctive “theatre without walls” ethos, bringing work not only to stages across Scotland and beyond, but into schools, hospitals, communities and public spaces. The season combines world premieres, large-scale public art, major touring productions, digital innovation and grassroots storytelling, reaffirming the organisation’s unique position at the heart of Scotland’s cultural life.

At a time when arts organisations continue to navigate financial uncertainty and changing audience habits, the breadth of the new programme is striking. From celebrated Scottish literature and contemporary working-class stories to climate activism, mental health, colonial history and community participation, the season demonstrates an organisation determined to use theatre as a space for both reflection and collective experience.

Announcing the programme, Jackie Wylie, Artistic Director of National Theatre of Scotland, described a season that celebrates Scotland in all its complexity.

“Our 2027 programme truly celebrates what Scotland is made of as well as NTS’s unique without walls model, as we take to the streets, to stages, to screens and into schools, hospitals, and communities.”

A Reunion with a Scottish Classic

Among the flagship productions is a major revival of The Trick Is to Keep Breathing, adapted by Michael Boyd from Janice Galloway’s landmark novel. The production, directed by Caroline Hall, will tour Edinburgh, Glasgow and Pitlochry in spring 2027.

More than three decades after the novel first emerged as one of the defining works of modern Scottish literature, the story retains a remarkable urgency. Exploring grief, mental health and survival through the experience of Joy Stone, the production promises to introduce a new generation of audiences to a work that has become a touchstone of Scottish writing.

The revival also serves as a tribute to the late Michael Boyd, whose original adaptation was widely acclaimed and whose contribution to British theatre remains immense.

New Voices and World Premieres

The 2027 season places fresh Scottish work at its centre.

When Our Time Comes, a new thriller written and directed by acclaimed theatre-maker Adura Onashile, will receive its world premiere in Edinburgh following previews at the Citizens Theatre in Glasgow. The production explores the politics of caste, colonialism and intergenerational trauma through an intensely personal story set against the backdrop of seismic political change.

Meanwhile, playwright Kieran Hurley adapts Graeme Armstrong’s acclaimed novel The Young Team for the stage in a major co-production with Lyric Hammersmith Theatre. Premiering at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe before transferring to London and Glasgow, the production confronts questions of masculinity, belonging and gang culture through one of the most influential Scottish novels of recent years.

What is particularly encouraging is the extent to which National Theatre of Scotland continues to invest in Scottish writers and stories that emerge directly from lived experience. Rather than chasing familiar adaptations or commercial certainty, the company appears committed to nurturing work that reflects the realities and complexities of contemporary Scotland.

Perhaps no project captures the company’s wider ambitions better than THE HERDS, the internationally celebrated public art and climate initiative arriving in Scotland for the first time. Produced in partnership with The Walk Productions, the free event will transform Edinburgh city centre in June 2027 with life-sized animal puppets (maybe a Goose…?), community participation, live music and environmental storytelling.

Bringing Theatre Beyond the Stage

The project highlights climate change, migration and habitat loss through a visual spectacle designed to engage audiences who might never normally encounter theatre. Its arrival in Scotland feels particularly timely as cultural organisations increasingly explore how art can contribute meaningfully to public conversations about environmental responsibility.

Elsewhere, the organisation continues its commitment to creative health and wellbeing through Trolleydarity: Scratch ‘n’ Sniff Staycation for the Discerning Static Traveller. Following a successful pilot, the project returns to hospitals and hospices, creating sensory experiences designed to reduce stress, improve mood and offer moments of escape for patients, families and healthcare staff.

The statistics from the original pilot are remarkable, with reported improvements in wellbeing and relaxation across participants, underlining the increasingly important role that arts organisations can play in supporting public health.

Celebrating Community Storytelling

One of the season’s most compelling strands is True Story, a project launched to mark the company’s twentieth anniversary.

Following more than 200 submissions from across Scotland, two real-life stories have been selected for development into public presentations: The Story of Force K6, which explores the overlooked history of Muslim soldiers stationed in the Highlands during the Second World War, and The Story of Hamey and Dan, a moving account of dementia, care and unexpected companionship.

Supported by broadcaster Lorraine Kelly, the initiative reflects National Theatre of Scotland’s ongoing commitment to placing ordinary people and extraordinary local stories at the centre of its work.

At a time when public discourse often feels increasingly fragmented, projects such as these demonstrate theatre’s unique capacity to foster empathy, preserve hidden histories and connect communities through shared experience.

Investing in the Future

The season is equally notable for its investment in future generations.

The ten-year celebrations for Theatre in Schools Scotland will bring more than 100 free performances to schools across the country, reaching over 10,000 children and young people. The programme continues a longstanding commitment to ensuring access to high-quality theatre regardless of geography or economic circumstance.

Alongside this, initiatives including The Next Stage, the Fellows programme, the South Asian Playwrights’ Programme and a range of development opportunities for artists emphasise that National Theatre of Scotland remains as focused on building Scotland’s creative future as it is on presenting finished productions.

A Season That Reflects Scotland

Taken as a whole, the National Theatre of Scotland’s 2027 programme feels both ambitious and deeply rooted. It spans major productions, intimate community work, artistic development, public participation and digital innovation while continuing to champion Scottish voices at every level.

Crucially, it also demonstrates the enduring value of National Theatre of Scotland’s founding vision. Nearly two decades after its creation, the company continues to prove that a national theatre does not require a permanent building to make a lasting impact. Instead, its strength lies in its ability to meet audiences where they are: in theatres, classrooms, hospitals, streets and online spaces.

For audiences, artists and communities across Scotland, the 2027 season offers something increasingly rare: a cultural programme that is nationally significant and accessible, rooted in local stories while engaging with global issues. It is a season that honours the past, interrogates the present and looks confidently towards the future.

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