Last year we announced the creation of our new creative cultural leader Fellowship programme, designed to support creatives to experiment, be bold, brave and take creative risks within a supportive environment. Today, we are thrilled to announce the three appointed fellows who will be working with us over the next 18 months.

The Fellowship programme is designed to help us embed cultural democracy decision-making within the organisation. The three Fellows will be part of the Creative Engagement team where they will develop their skills in Producing, Dramaturgy, and Directing.

Andrea Ling joins us, as our Directing Fellow. Andrea is a director, writer and dramaturg working across theatre, installation and visual arts. Her personal work explores the intersection of culture, capitalism, colonialism and Ecology. Andrea specialises in devising, supporting writers, and is excited by experimental forms, advocacy, and plays that take us to uncharted places.

Andrea Ling said

‘Art has the power to incite change, but for that to happen, we must confront structural and financial challenges. This fellowship presents an opportunity to research, engage in inspiring—and sometimes difficult—conversations, forge new connections, and collaborate with others.

As a director, I look forward to building meaningful relationships and contributing to the evolving landscape of contemporary theatre in Scotland.’

Hannah Low joins in the role of Dramaturgy Fellow.

A Chinese/Scottish writer, actor and dramaturg based in Edinburgh; Hannah makes vibrant, narrative-led, interdisciplinary work for stage.

Most recently, she has been commissioned by the Traverse Theatre and Wonder Fools as part of Positive Stories for Negative Times season 4, and by F–Bomb Theatre for Monumental, which will be part of the Edinburgh 900 celebration.

Hannah Low said

‘As an early career artist working in Scotland, who graduated into a difficult funding and cultural climate, I am delighted that so many established artists and organisations have still found ways to champion and support my work so far.

I want to make sure that other creatives like me get to have the same, or better opportunities and experiences in the future, and this fellowship programme is a huge part of making sure that can happen.'

Our new Producing Fellow is Leah Byrne.

Leah is a playwright, producer, dramaturg and composer. After researching trauma-informed creative process, she's currently working with a range of international theatre-makers to examine how identity and marginalisation affect the commissioning, development and production of new writing from both personal and professional perspectives.

Leah Byrne said

‘I’m so honoured to get to spend the next 18 months in the brilliant company of the other fellows - and excited to work towards creating an equitable and sustainable producing landscape.

I’m really looking forward to digging into de-marginalising both intersectional theatre-makers and those who feel as though they live on the margins of the current theatre economy.'

The Fellowship Programme is supported by Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.