Year of Creative Scotland 2012
A year long programme of events to celebrate Scotland’s world class culture and creativity will run throughout 2012.
Opera, Theatre & Dance in Scotland
Scotland has a long standing theatrical tradition going back to the middle ages and continuing to the present day. No discussion of Scottish theatre would be complete without a mention of the Edinburgh International Festival and the associated Fringe Festival, the largest arts festival on Earth. As a showcase and proving ground for new work its reputation is unrivalled: conquer Edinburgh, conquer the world.
Scotland's reputation for theatrical excellence at home and abroad is as great now as it has ever been. Not only is Scotland an eminent venue for home-grown and international talent, but Scottish actors and directors are in demand worldwide at the very highest levels.
Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall is home to three of Scotland's major classical companies: The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Scottish Ballet and Scottish Opera. Scotland has two other world-calibre national orchestras – the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
2006 saw the launch of the National Theatre of Scotland. Scotland's National Theatre does not have a single central location, but is committed to bringing theatre to the people throughout Scotland, not only in the major theatres of Glasgow and Edinburgh, but in community centres, sports halls, and even car parks, across the length and breadth of the nation.
Scotland's conservatoire is The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (RSAMD) which provides a wonderful launching pad for new talent, with names like Janis Kelly, Felicity Hammond, Lisa Milne and Patrick Doyle all moving from the Academy onto greater things at both the Royal Opera and the Scottish Opera.
Thinking of visiting Scotland?
Go to VisitScotland for more information.
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Did you know...
Burns correctly predicted the fate of the new bridge built by Robert MacAdam in his poem "The Brigs of Ayr". The new bridge was swept away in 1877, but the Auld Brig is still there, proving the prophetic words "...I'll be a brig when ye're a shapeless cairn".