Class Act

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

Beginning in 1990, Class Act is central to the Traverse Theatre’s commitment to connecting with, nurturing and unlocking the creative potential of young people. Every year we are blown away by the inspiration, insight and dedication they bring to the project.

Class Act has gained ground over the last 30 years, and the pandemic forged change to create an elevated digital model alongside in-person facilitation. This approach - established in consultation with the teachers - allowed us to work more responsively to individual schools’ needs. Through Class Act, young people are supported to enact positive, tangible change in their lives – a legacy that will support them, and our society in years to come.

Class Act Edinburgh

Within our Autumn 2024 iteration of Class Act we are working with City of Edinburgh Council schools; Firrhill High School, Tynecastle High School, Trinity Academy as well as Intercultural Youth Scotland.

We’re working with these groups, to support young people to unleash their creativity and unique voice. Each group has a dedicated facilitator who is working with them to realise their creative ideas alongside a programme of digital tasks by guest artists who work with writing as part of their practice. The Class Act model allows young people to work with and be inspired by some of Scotland's most exciting creatives. Each script will be brought to life by a team of professional theatre-makers on the Traverse stage.

Class Act On Tour

The Traverse is immensely proud of Class Act's success over the past 30 years, leading us to tour the project around Scotland.

Throughout 2023 and 2024 Class Act has been delivered to young people across Scotland, travelling to Aberdeenshire, Ayrshire, the Highlands, Mull and Dumfries & Galloway. This endeavour has lead to partnerships with Aberdeen Arts Centre, Aberdeen Performing Arts, The Gaiety Theatre, Eden Court, An Tobar and Mull Theatre and Theatre Royal Dumfries, such that young people have created meaningful connections with their local theatre and even had their own work performed professionally on their stages.

Class Act's Impact

Class Act is a key part of the Traverse Theatre’s work and we are immensely proud of the past 30 years. Since 1990 we have:

• Worked with over 100 school groups
• Created over 2,000 young writers
• Produced over 1,000 scripts

We’ve also taken Class Act to India, Russia and Ukraine, working internationally with young people and schools in these countries.

The project has involved playwrights such as Stef Smith, David Greig, Nicola McCartney, Douglas Maxwell and Gregory Burke. Plays have been brought to life by actors including Molly Innes, Colin McCredie, Kevin McKidd, Ryan Fletcher, Greg McHugh, Cora Bissett and Katrina Bryan.