Now in its sixth year, the National Theatre of Scotland’s Exchange returns for a week-long festival of youth theatre at macrobert arts centre in Stirling from Tuesday 3rd to Saturday 7th July, 2012. Seven youth theatre groups from all over Scotland, and across the world, will come together for an exciting week of workshops and masterclasses, and to perform seven new pieces of theatre to a public audience. The groups have worked in collaboration with a team of accomplished theatre-makers and creatives.

This year’s participating groups are:

The Citizens Young Co., Glasgow (creative partner Jen Edgar)

macrobert, Stirling (creative partner Gary McNair)

Rusty Boat, Port Glasgow (creative partner Lynda Radley)

Knox Academy, Haddington (creative partner Brian Hartley)

The Saber Players, Uncommon Charter High School, Brooklyn, New York City

Seanachas, Skye (creative partner Graeme Roger)

Play Havoc, Buckhaven, Fife (creative partner Thomas Small)

Kildare Youth Theatre, Kildare, Ireland

Working closely with leading creatives, and given access to unique theatre master classes along the way, each group has been encouraged to explore new approaches and to take risks in their theatre-making. Based at macrobert in Stirling, the 100+ participants will continue to exchange ideas, share experiences and build relationships over the course of the week. They’ll attend a series of workshops introducing skills, techniques and information relating to a range of theatre-making specialisms, including Chinese Opera, Film & Video in Theatre, Short Attention Span Theatre, Movement, Theatre Critics, Audience Participation, Theatre Design and many more. For audiences, the result of this seed-planting, cross-pollination and firing of imaginations is a programme of groundbreaking new work, with two groups each night unveiling their creations.

Since the inception of Exchange, National Theatre of Scotland has worked with over 500 young theatre makers from Skye to Kolkata, Dumfries to New York City, run over 60 workshops and seen the creation of 41 devised productions. Inspired by the programme, numerous Exchange participants have gone on to pursue careers in theatre and the arts; having participated in Exchange 2010, four boys from Eastwood Park Theatre went on to form The Real Men Company, performing their popular show Real Men Dream in Black and White at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2011 and touring with the National Theatre of Scotland’s current community engagement project, Jump.

In addition to the young people’s productions, Exchange typically features two performances from established theatre-makers. This year offers a double bill of new National Theatre of Scotland productions from exciting young talents, Gary McNair (Count Me In – also touring Fife and Glasgow this September) and Molly Taylor (Love Letters to the Public Transport System – also playing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this August).

Exchange 2012 also sees the return of ExchangeTV, which, for the first time ever, will be live-streaming every Exchange2012 performance, as well as broadcasting a nightly highlights package from the previous day’s events. ExchangeTV offers aspiring young filmmakers the opportunity to acquire filming, editing and broadcasting skills and experience. Each night, between perfomances, Exchange TV broadcasts a round-up of the previous day’s activities, including workshop and performance footage, cast and crew inteviews along with quirky, fun pieces exploring the local area. Catch up with ExchangeTV at vimeo.com/groups/ExchangeTV and watch each performance live at www.fiveminutetheatre.com.

In the foyer at macrobert this year, a photography exhibition entitled Exchange: A Snapshot illustrates how the festival has grown and developed over the past six years. Photography by Eamonn McGoldrick, Ewen Weatherspoon and Tim Morozzo.

Gillian Gourlay, Director of Exchange 2012, said:

‘Now in our sixth year, the energy and excitement surrounding Exchange is constantly building, with 2012 no exception. We have over 100 young theatre-makers coming together from all over the country, and beyond, to share skills and experiences that will influence their theatre making for years to come and it’s a great feeling to know we have played a part in that. I can honestly say, I look forward to Exchange Festival week every year as much as I do Christmas, it’s that much fun!’

Source: National Theatre of Scotland