Class Act Is Back!  

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IYS is delighted to announce our annual partnership programme with Traverse has returned! During Tuesday nights at The Block, IYS will play host to the programme for the first few sessions, and then move to Traverse Theatre where young people will work with theatre professionals and actors to create a production for Traverse Theatre Class Act.

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This year we have the amazing Uma Nada-Rajah as the IYS playwright mentor. Uma Nada-Rajah was a member of the Young Writers' programme at the Traverse Theatre and a recipient of a New Playwrights' Award from Playwrights' Studio Scotland. She is a graduate of École Philippe Gaulier and was recently the Starter Female Political Comedy Writer-in-Residence at the National Theatre of Scotland.

What is Class Act?

Class Act is the Traverse Theatre's flagship education project, challenging young people from across Edinburgh to become artists and writers, creating brand new creative work to be premiered by the Traverse.

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Last year, young people from IYS participated in this awesome annual 7 session programme, which led to a brilliant showcase of live theatre performances by professional actors, such as The Scot’s Laura Lovemore and Dunkirk's Fionn Whitehead. Our young people wrote scripts and directed their own plays with theatre professionals to support them to make their vision a reality. The programme was mentored by award winning playwright Sara Shaarawi, and Creative Engagement Director, Robbie Gordon. All plays are published in time for the live showcase for young playwrights too!  

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Who is Class Act aimed at?  

Anyone with a story to tell! You will be guided weekly to allow you to develop your script and characters. You can create something individually or collaborate as a group. You’re not limited to create a stage production either. You can make an animation, a music video or a short film – Traverse theatre will source professionals to support to make it!

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Does it cost to sign-up?

Class Act is free to participate. IYS collaborate with Traverse Theatre so that young people that access our services can easily be part of the Class Act programme. Last year, we combined The Block with the Class Act programme to make this easier for our young people to participate. Theatre professionals came to our headquarters to meet young people and started developing their ideas then and there. Later the projects were moved to the actual theatre to scope out the production and work with actors! If travelling into Edinburgh, we can cover travel too.

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When and where does Class Act start?  

Tuesday 3rd October 2023 at The Block, which takes place in our office at 48 Palmerston Place, EH12 5DE.

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The seven Tuesday sessions included are on the following dates (don't worry if you can't make one or two dates, just let us know which on the form):

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- October 3rd

- October 10th

- October 17th

- October 24th

- October 31st

- November 7th

- November 14th

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The programme wraps up for Pre-Winter festivities and family and friends are invited to the theatre to see your scripts performed on stage with the date TBC.

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Where do I register?  

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You can sign up through the form here.

Our awesome Youth Work team will oversee the programme with Traverse, but if you have any questions, please contact our Youth Work Lead, Samir at samirem@interculturalyouthscotland.org for more details.  

We hope to see some new faces and some more incredible new stage productions this year!  

Break a leg! - but please don’t.

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