SPONSORED BY
P H O T O :
I
C H R S T O P H E R B O W E N
the HOT 100 Ones to watch
P H O T O :
I
D A V D M O N T E T H - H O D G E
I
Arusa Qureshi picks out those whose doings in 2017 suggest a very exciting 2018 is ahead
Every year, there are people, organisations, venues and more that don’t quite make our Hot 100 list but who we believe are worth keeping an eye on in the coming year. A list as i ercely debated as this one can’t of course include every creative project in Scotland but we’re always taking note of any omissions who have works in the pipeline. The National Theatre of Scotland is
second on the list thanks to a storming year but actor Adam Kashmiry, the star of and inspiration behind NTS’ powerful and moving Adam, is certainly one to look out for in 2018. Edinburgh- born actor Lewis MacDougall gave a terrii c performance in January drama A Monster Calls and with a few projects currently in the works, he’ll likely pop up in a future blockbuster.
Former Scottish Comedian of the
Year i nalist Gareth Waugh had a fairly successful run at the Fringe this year with his debut solo show Honestly? so we’re eager to see what he returns with next August. In the world of books, look out for news of follow-ups from Saltire Society First Book of the Year nominee Ever Dundas as well as up-and-coming spoken word and short story writer Chris McQueer. Glasgow-based three piece Still House Plants, who released their full-length debut earlier this year, will hopefully be back with more in 2018, while Edinburgh trio The Honey Farm will no doubt be taking over the Scottish rap scene with their upcoming debut. Glasgow DJ, radio host and librarian Sofay, part of Optimo 20 this year, will imminently be on lineups around the country and we’re also really keen to hear what producer Cucina Povera serves up next.
The Aberdeen Art Gallery,
which has been closed for a major redevelopment, will be open by the end of the year and it’ll be interesting to see what their 2018 programme brings. Finally, the V&A Dundee, Scotland’s i rst design museum, opens its doors in 2018, celebrating Scottish creativity as well as design from around the world.
1 Nov 2017–31 Jan 2018 THE LIST 41
JACKIE WYLIE & NATIONAL THEATRE OF SCOTLAND PLAYS FOR TODAY
With a touring programme that crossed Europe and the US, a project exploring national identity through Scotland’s diverse languages, a successful Fringe that discussed vital contemporary issues, and the introduction of Jackie Wylie as artistic director, the National Theatre of Scotland continues to build on its success as a ‘theatre without walls’. Since its foundation in 2006, the NTS has pursued a policy that places artists and collaboration at the heart of its projects, and in 2017 it demonstrated the strength of that vision.
With the adaptation of Let the Right One In currently visiting Dublin, the NTS’ recent productions ranged from an Edinburgh International Festival remounting of Zinnie Harris’ epic version of Oresteia to Adam and Eve at the Traverse, which addressed personal stories of trans people with sensitivity and theatrical l air. The Last Queen of Scotland, meanwhile, explored the African diaspora through the i lter of Dundee, and How to Act challenged notions of power and truth through the history of oil production in Nigeria.
The appointment of Jackie Wylie suggests an exciting future: best known for her time at the Arches, establishing the venue as a haven for experimental theatre and live art, Wylie brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her role. With the NTS’ historical enthusiasm for collaboration, her presence promises more innovation, inclusivity and diversity. From Oliver Emanuel’s The 306: Dawn, through The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart to the site-specii c Submarine Time Machine, the NTS speaks of a vibrant Scottish theatrical culture that recognises how a modern nation is never dei ned simply by a single heritage. (GKV)