One of the favourite parts of the normal Traverse Festival programme is the feature of their Breakfast Plays. Traditionally taking place at 9am, with breakfast roll included, it is a part of the Traverse’s talent development programme that showcases new short plays by early career writers who are often alumni of the theatre’s Young Writers Group,
This year, adapting to new circumstances of the pandemic, the plays have been written specifically for an audio format to be made available to global audiences on demand and called Breakfast Plays: New Tracks.Because of the global element and necessary time difference, they could also be called Lunch, Supper or Dinner Plays!
Literary Associate at the Traverse Eleanor White, said, “I am thrilled that we will be able to share the brilliant and visionary work of the writers involved in our 2020 Breakfast Plays: New Tracks with the entire world! The Breakfast Plays are a crucial part of our talent development programme, and there was never a question of them not happening this year. We are proud that the skills many of the writers have developed through their involvement in our Young Writers Group programme mean that they can tell compelling and thought-provoking stories in formats far beyond what we might consider conventional theatre. Delivering this year’s plays in an audio format is a natural progression and has allowed the writers to grow new skills in multiple areas of storytelling. Listen out in August – and remember to have a breakfast roll ready for the true Breakfast Play experience!”
The five writers of this year’s Breakfast Plays: New Tracks, are Jamie Cowan, Rebecca Martin, Amy Rhianne Milton, Uma Nada-Rajah and Conor O’Loughlin. Based throughout Scotland, they are each provided with dramaturgical support from the Traverse’s Artistic Team, which is then directed by the Traverse Theatre’s Co-Artistic Directors Gareth Nicholls and Debbie Hannan. The cast of professional actors are Karen Fishwick, Robbie Jack, Reuben Joseph, Bhav Joshi, Helen Katamba, Laura Lovemore and Anna Russell Martin with sound design from Kim Moore, Oğuz Kaplangi Mwen and sound engineer Richard Bell.
As well as having the opportunity to share their work with an international Festival audience, the writers also receive invaluable audience and industry feedback to help them develop their skills even further. Each will tell a different story of the next step after an earth -shattering event occurs. The plays are:
Contemporary Political Ethics (or, How to Cheat) by Jamie Cowan
Rabbit Catcher by Rebecca Martin
Matterhorn by Amy Rhianne Milton
The Watercooler by Uma Nada-Rajah
Doomsdays by Conor O’Loughlin
Using the traditional starting time of the Breakfast Plays performances, the new digital Breakfast Plays: New Trackswill showcase the best new Scottish writing talent to the international audiences and will be released as individual podcast episodes with one premiering each day at 9am from Monday 24th to Friday 28th August 2020.
Each episode, that is free for 14 days after its premiere, can be listened to on demand via the Traverse website, Spotify, iTunes and Soundcloud.
So get the kettle on, warm up the toaster and get your best jar of marmalade out ready to enjoy this Traverse favourite later in August!
Radio Summerhall Arts 