2016 Traverse Theatre Festival Brings Down the Curtain on Another Successful Year

The end of Traverse Theatre's Festival 2016 on 28 August brought the curtain down on another successful year for the theatre and its programme, with productions which have been embraced by audiences, brought brand new artists to international attention and pushed the boundaries of contemporary drama.

Amongst the 14 productions presented were 9 world premieres, 4 Scottish premieres and 1 European premiere, and this year's programme emphasised the Traverse's dedication to bringing the best new work to its stages during the Festival and throughout the year. Audiences responded enthusiastically to the diversity of productions presented, with 74% of the 232 production performances reaching over 80% paid capacity.

Milk, which was discovered by the Traverse during its annual Open Submission scheme last year, completed its remarkable journey by proving itself to be the most successful Traverse Theatre Company production in recent years - with a 20% increase in audience numbers from our 2015 festival production, Swallow - and both launched and accelerated the career of its first-time writer Ross Dunsmore. Milk has come to represent the ideal, and very real, opportunity the Traverse can provide for an unknown and unsolicited writer and we could not be more thrilled by its popular and critical success.

The Breakfast Plays: Tech Will Tear Us Apart (?), written by Traverse Associate Artists Rob Drummond, Morna Pearson, Tim Price and Stef Smith, invited lively discussion amongst audiences about the increasingly involved role that technology plays in our lives, as well as gaining critical acclaim.

In addition to welcoming back established artists such as Daniel Kitson and Mark Thomas and returning organisations such as London's Gate Theatre, the Traverse has been delighted to be able to open its stages and lend its support to brand new artists and companies with productions which have received great critical and audience acclaim, with an additional four shows being produced in association with the Traverse Theatre. These productions include Expensive Shit by Adura Onashile, produced by Scottish Theatre Producers in association with the Traverse Theatre Company, part of the Made in Scotland Showcase 2016, which was recipient of a Fringe First Award as well as being shortlisted for the Amnesty International Freedom of Expression Award; Greater Belfast by Matt Regan, produced by Little King and Tron Theatre in association with the Traverse Theatre; In Fidelity by Rob Drummond, produced by High Tide in association with the Traverse Theatre; and Leith's dynamic Village Pub Theatre collective sold out their run of three shows in the Traverse Bar on Monday mornings, giving local amateur playwrights exposure to a wider audience than ever before alongside more established artists.

The Traverse's programme was recognised with numerous awards and prizes including 3 Scotsman Fringe Firsts, 2 Stage Acting Awards (Actor and Special Award) and the Scottish Arts Club Award. A number of shows were also nominated and shortlisted for the amnesty International Freedom of Expression, Holden Street Theatres Award and Total Theatre Awards.

Orla O'Loughlin, said today; "I think it's the emotional response of our audience that will be the over-riding legacy for us all at the Traverse this year. There have been a lot of tears, a lot of laughter and overall a real gut and heartfelt response to the work that we are very proud of.

It's important to recognise that as well as being a theatre with a deep political engagement, a theatre dedicated to exploring big, contemporary ideas, we are also a theatre of passion and of feeling. This year I see that as absolutely being a response to the broken and complex political and social upheaval that we find ourselves in. And much of the work has in some way allowed a response and release in relation to where we find ourselves as both individuals and as a society that speaks directly to both the head and to the heart.

We believe in new work, dreaming the future, reflecting on where we are going and who we are. Our devotion to new work and the promotion of new talent means risk taking is in our DNA. We are also an organisation under intense scrutiny and weight of expectation especially in August. The marriage of these two factors is a constant challenge for us. We are proud that our programme this year comprising of so many new companies alongside many old festival friends and so much homegrown talent has achieved all it has, and conversations are already underway regarding a number of Traverse commissions and collaborations with several of the year's writers and artists.

In particular we thank our audience whose response to the work has been so overwhelming and whose turnout and advocacy has made it such a successful festival, and extend heartfelt thanks to everyone involved in making it such a success - the artists and theatre companies who brought their work to our stages and the team at the Traverse who make it all work."

The Traverse Theatre's Autumn Season gets underway on 22 September with F*cked.com - A Tale of Bubbles and Crashes by Crook. It is followed by a full and varied programme of theatre, festivals and the Traverse's winter productions Grain of the Blood by Rob Drummond and Black Beauty created by Andy Manley, Andy Cannon and Shona Reppe, Traverse Theatre Company and Red Bridge.

The Traverse's annual Open Submission scheme, through which its 2016 festival production Milk was discovered is now open for writers to submit their scripts until 30 September.

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Traverse Festival: Awards 2016:

Scotsman Fringe First Awards

Expensive Shit Adura Onashile, Scottish Theatre Producers in Association with Traverse Theatre Company

Daffodils Bullet Heart Club New Zealand

The Red Shed Lakin McCarthy in Association with West Yorkshire Playhouse

Amnesty Freedom of Expression Award

Short List

Expensive Shit Adura Onashile, Scottish Theatre Producers in Association with Traverse Theatre Company

The Scottish Arts Club Theatre Award - First Prize

Expensive Shit Adura Onashile, Scottish Theatre Producers in Association with Traverse Theatre Company

Carol Tambor Award

Nominated

Greater Belfast Little King & Tron Theatre in Association with Traverse Theatre Company

Diary of a Madman Gate Theatre Notting Hill

The Stage Award for Acting Excellence (Best Actor)

Liam Brennan Diary of a Madman Gate Theatre Notting Hill

The Stage Special Award

Mark Thomas The Red Shed Lakin McCarthy in Association with West Yorkshire Playhouse

Total Theatre Award

Nominated

Greater Belfast Little King & Tron Theatre in Association with Traverse Theatre Company

Holden Street Theatres Award

Nominated

Mark Thomas The Red Shed Lakin McCarthy in Association with West Yorkshire Playhouse

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The Traverse is Scotland's new writing theatre. Formed in 1963 by a group of passionate theatre enthusiasts, the Traverse was founded to extend the spirit of the Edinburgh festivals throughout the year. Today, under Artistic Director Orla O'Loughlin, the Traverse nurtures emerging talent, produces award-winning new plays and offers a curated programme of the best work from the UK and beyond, spanning theatre, dance, performance, music and spoken word.

The Traverse has launched the careers of some of the UK's most celebrated writers - David Greig, David Harrower and Zinnie Harris - and continues to discover and support new voices - Stef Smith, Morna Pearson, Gary McNair and Rob Drummond.

With two custom-built and versatile theatre spaces, the Traverse's home in Edinburgh's city centre is a powerhouse of vibrant new work for, and of, our time. Every August, it holds an iconic status as the theatrical heart of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Outside the theatre walls, it runs an extensive engagement programme, offering audiences of all ages and backgrounds the opportunity to explore, create and develop. Further afield, the Traverse frequently tours internationally and engages in exchanges and partnerships - most recently in Quebec, New Zealand and South Korea.