Over the last twenty years, the National Theatre of Scotland (NTS) has gained a world-wide reputation for turning compelling real life Scottish stories into unique new plays that have been shared with audiences, earning plaudits on stages in Scotland and beyond.
From shows like Black Watchabout soldiers serving in Iraq; Glasgow Girls about a group who fought to save a friend from deportation; Make it Happen about Fred Goodwin and the rise of fall of RBS to its upcoming play Stand and Deliver: The LeeJeans Sit In about theLee Jean’s Factory workers, NTS has delivered ground breaking work to theatres across Scotland.
Now, for the first time ever, NTS is inviting the public to share real-life stories that deserve to be told on Scotland’s stages. These can be stories rooted in history, place, or community; personal and family narratives that have shaped lives, or authentic tales that resonate through humour, resilience, struggle, triumph or hope but they have to be true.
From a shortlist, one story will be selected by public vote and brought to life by a team of leading Scottish theatre artists for public presentation in 2027. The call out will be live until 13th May 2026 with a short list announced to the public in September 2026, with the winner announced in November 2026.
Scottish television presenter, journalist and Sunday Times bestselling authorLorraine Kelly is joining the team as a True Story Ambassador and will be involved in the call out and judging process.
Lorraine said “Ever since I started out as a teenage reporter on the East Kilbride News, and later as a presenter and author, I have been fascinated by real life stories. I am a naturally curious person, and I have had the privilege of listening to thousands of stories over the years, allowing me insight into the personal, the extraordinary and the sometimes, dramatic. I am thrilled to be an Ambassador for the National Theatre of Scotland’s True Story project and to support their call out to the great Scottish public to find a special story that will resonate with Scottish audiences. I can’t wait to sit with the True Story submissions later this year and immerse myself in what I imagine will be a treasure trove of compelling testimonies and exceptional stories.”
Joining Lorraine as True Story Champions are crime writer Val McDermid; actorand writer Greg McHugh; broadcaster Shereen Nanjiani; poet and Scots language performer Len Pennie and writer and novelist, screenwriter and filmmaker Irvine Welsh.
Shereen Nanjiani said “In my 40-year career as a news broadcaster I have reported on hundreds of Scotland’s stories, big and small. I was the first person of Asian heritage to become a TV newsreader in Scotland, and that’s made me acutely aware of the need to tell stories that reflect our country in all its rich diversity, and to hear from those whose voices often don’t get heard. I’m also passionate about the power of theatre to bring us together, to make us think, to move us, to make us laugh and cry.”
Irene Brown
Radio Summerhall Arts 