From a nightclub on Glasgow’s Sauchiehall Street, to London’s West End, via 46 Scottish venues from the Borders to Shetland, the uniquely agile and itinerant National Theatre of Scotland (NTS) takes to the road again in 2025.

We are proudly offering a vivid and far-reaching programme featuring stellar Scottish talent, extraordinary stories, and surprising community interventions. Through exciting collaborations, and works ranging from the epic to the intimate, NTS presents world-class theatre, across Scotland and beyond for all ages.

Placing Scottish theatre talent centre stage and Caledonian stories at the programme’s heart, this 2025 theatrical season excavates seismic social and politic moments, whilst underlining the importance of community and self-expression, and continuing to open the doors for all to participate in their National Theatre company.

NEW PRODUCTIONS

• MAKE IT HAPPEN, an epic new satirical play by acclaimed playwright James Graham, directed by Andrew Panton marking the return of Brian Cox to Scottish stages for the first time in a decade. Make It Happen will open with a two-week run at the 2025 Edinburgh International Festival, following previews at Dundee Rep. A co-production between National Theatre of Scotland, Edinburgh International Festival and Dundee Rep Theatre, in association with Playful Productions and Neal Street Productions.

PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED

• THROUGH THE SHORTBREAD TIN, a new play written and performed by Martin O’Connor and directed by Lu Kemp. Performed in Scots, with Gaelic songs, the play explores Scottish culture, myths, history and identity and will tour to rural Scottish venues in April and May after opening in Melrose. Mairi Morrison, Josie Duncan and Claire Frances MacNeil join Martin on stage as a Gaelic chorus.
• KELI, a sharp and witty new play by Martin Green and directed by Bryony Shanahan, telling the story of a fiery teenager in a former mining town who performs in the local brass band. The show opens at the Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh before touring Scotland in May and June, reaching ex-mining communities 40 years on from the miners’ strike of 1984-5. Newcomer Liberty Black takes on the title role and Karen Fishwick (Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour and Romeo and Juliet for RSC) joins the cast as her mother. KELI will feature live brass band music from Green’s acclaimed album SPLIT THE AIR. Co-produced with Lepus Productions.

NEWLY ANNOUNCED WEST END TRANSFER

• THE FIFTH STEP, David Ireland’s thrilling and provocative play heads to the West End. Jack Lowden, star of hit television series Slow Horses and Olivier Award winner, will reprise his acclaimed performance. He is joined by Emmy, BAFTA and SAG award-winner Martin Freeman in this fast-paced two-hander. Directed by Finn den Hertog, The Fifth Stepwill transfer to @sohoplace in London’s West End for a strictly limited 11-week season, running from May until July. Co-production with Neal Street Productions and Playful Productions.

IN ASSOCIATION WITH PRODUCTIONS

• SMALL ACTS OF LOVE is a major new work about the bonds of friendship forged between the people of Lockerbie and the American relatives in the wake of the Pan Am 103 atrocity in December 1988. A new theatrical collaboration between playwright Frances Poet and composer Ricky Ross, directed by Dominic Hill, this production will mark the reopening of the Citizens Theatre and premiere in September 2025. Produced by the Citizens Theatre in association with National Theatre of Scotland.
  
• BLACK HOLE SIGN is a new play from Uma Nada-Rajah exploring the realities of working in the modern healthcare system. Directed by Gareth Nicholls, the play sees three generations of NHS nurses doing their best to stay afloat against a crumbling system which seems stacked against them and takes a razor-sharp scalpel to the absurdities, tragedies and hilarity within one of our most beloved but besieged institutions. Touring to Edinburgh and Glasgow in September and October 2025. Commissioned by the Traverse Theatre, co-produced with the Tron Theatre in association with National Theatre of Scotland.
  
• THE UNLIKELY FRIENDSHIPof Feather Boy and Tentacle Girlis a touching new show for younger audiences aged 9+. This dynamic and visually stunning show tells the story of a girl who wants to be a monster and a boy who wants to fly, created by Vee Smith and Sadiq Ali. Touring Scotland in May and June, alongside a run at the Edinburgh International Children’s Festival 2025. Produced by Catherine Wheels, commissioned by Imaginate in association with National Theatre of Scotland and supported by Assembly.
  
• AN ACCIDENT/A LIFE returns to stages in 2025 after touring Europe in 2024 to critical acclaim, with dates announced in the Spring. an Accident/a Life is a collaboration between Marc Brew and world-renowned choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui. This stunning visual theatre piece unravels moments in our lives, exploring difficult things using humour, storytelling, film, music, dance and a car. A Marc Brew Company and Eastman production. In co-production with: Perpodium; the Hessisches Staatsballett in the frame of Tanzplattform Rhein-Main a collaboration project between the Hessisches Staatsballett in Staatstheater Darmstadt and Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden and Künstler*innenhaus Mousonturm; Holland Dance Festival and Migros Culture Percentage Dance Festival Steps. In Association with National Theatre Scotland. Co-commissioned by Tramway and Sadler’s Wells.

CREATIVE ENGAGEMENT

• THANK U, NEXT, directed by 21Commoners Lucy Gaizely and Gary Gardiner, returns to Scottish schools in 2025 following the success of the project at Bellahouston and Cumbernauld schools in 2024.Thank U, Next is a dance theatre piece exploring the contemporary culture of cosplay, created with teenagers across Scotland. Each production of the show is unique and will be visiting high schools in Grangemouth and Cowdenbeath in February and March of 2025.
• CARING SCOTLAND is an ongoing listening project that will document the lives of and experiences of care experienced people in Scotland. A team of artists, led by playwright Nicola McCartney, continue to gather stories across Scotland, ahead of an immersive installation in 2026. In partnership with Who Cares? Scotland, National Library of Scotland and funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
• TROLLEYDARITY - Shona Reppe and Alan Grieve offer patients at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh, a unique Scratch ‘n’ Sniff staycation. The ultimate outdoor experience for the discerning static traveller. November 2025, in partnership with NHS Lothian Charity: Tonic Arts.
• THE NEIGHBOURHOOD PROJECT – two new projects for communities in North Glasgow. The Neighbourhood Variety Showreturns, this time to Sauchiehall Street giving the chance for the local community to take centre stage. In partnership wtih Sauchiehall Street: Culture and Heritage District in association with the Garage. New Artist in Residence (community), Rebecca Livesey Wright, embeds herself with Possobilites in Possil, with her food and nurture project Sow, Grow, Reap.
• THEATRE IN SCHOOLS SCOTLAND, National Theatre of Scotland and Imaginate’s successful schools touring project, continues to bring inspiring live theatre and dance performances to pupils in their schools. Four productions will be touring in 2025: Ginger by Tortoise in a Nutshell, Poggle and Meby Barrowland Ballet, Buff and Sheen by MoonSlide and A Home for Hamish by Just Us, presented by Scottish Theatre Producers.

ARTIST RESIDENCIES - ARTISTIC DEVELOPMENT

• Three new artists in residence will be developing projects in 2025. Owen Sutcliffe, Discover Writer Residency, will be working on a new play; Alex Rigg and Oceanallover, Discover Dumfries and Galloway Residency with the Stove Network and Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival, will be developing a new piece; Althea Young, Develop Extended Reality (XR) Performance Residency with University of West of Scotland will be developing a seagull simulator.

DIGITAL

• KINAARA (EDGE) is a short film telling the story of Adil, a carer to his elderly mother who has dementia. Written and directed by Kal Sabir after he was awarded a new short film commission, the film was shot in Glasgow, 2024, with a bilingual script, and will receive its official premiere in 2025.
  
• Other ongoing digital/broadcast projects from National Theatre of Scotland include Hope Dickson Leach’s BAFTA nominated filmThe Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Hyde, which is available to stream on Sky Arts/NOW in the UK and Marquee TV in the US, and Hannah Lavery’s award-winning audio drama Finding Seaglass available to stream on BBC Sounds.

ACCESS AND SUSTAINABILITY

• Theatre for Fivertickets are available for selected productions, for 14 to 26-year-olds and those on low-income benefits.
• A programme of accessible performances will be available for each production with audio described captioned, chilled and integrated BSL interpreted performances.
• All 2025 productions will be produced to the Theatre Green Book intermediate standard with 75% of all materials having been pre-used.

Full programme details here.

Photographed above: L - R – Lesley Howard, Natasha Gilmore, Martin O’Connor, Martin Green, Kal Sabir, Rebecca Livesey - Wright, Karen Fishwick, Andrew Panton, Jackie Wylie, Sam Cogdon Aletha Young, Ricky Ross, Finn den Hertog