The Federation of Scottish Theatre (FST) is a membership organisation with over 50 full members as well as associate members and individuals, says Heather Baird.
Our membership includes organisations as large as Scottish Opera and as small as Wee Stories Theatre Company, and is spread across the country from Grey Coast Theatre Company on the North Coast of Scotland to the Gaiety Theatre in Ayr. We represent a wide range of theatre work and practice ? main stream rep, touring theatre, those working in schools and communities, experimental work, new writing, work for children and those working with people with special needs.
One of the main functions of FST is to be the voice of theatre in Scotland and to represent the interests of members to funding bodies and those with power and influence. You would imagine that it would be difficult, if not impossible, to achieve consensus on the issues with such a diverse membership. Surprisingly that is not the case. Those working in theatre are able put aside their own agendas and are increasingly willing to work together for the greater good of theatre in Scotland.
This has been made easier because of a sense of community that exists in a small country like Scotland, and it is that sense of community that FST has tried to foster. Meetings of members held six times a year are where decisions are made, usually preceded by full and frank discussion of all the issues. Issues requiring on-going research and development have their own sub-committees to take things forward. Current sub-committees include: audience development, industrial relations, touring, new writing and membership.
Last year the FST put together its own proposals for a Scottish National Theatre. It was recommended that the Scottish National Theatre should be a commissioning body that can celebrate and utilise the existing talent and theatre infrastructure to mount quality productions for audiences throughout Scotland, as well as having the status of a flagship national organisation that will facilitate the promotion of Scottish theatre overseas. This model was recommended by the Education and Culture Committee of the Scottish Parliament, was included in the Cultural Strategy produced by the Scottish Executive and has now been recommended following work on the feasibility, by the Scottish Arts Council.
To advance the interests of Scottish theatre at home and abroad is the mission statement of the FST. This means we must have an effective PR strategy that can target everyone from politicians to funders, from foreign promoters to theatre goers and potential theatre goers as well as promoting best practice among our member organisations. Two established events in the FST calendar are Scottish Theatre Market Day and The Edinburgh Festival Reception. The Market Day, held in spring, is an opportunity for promoters and producers to exchange information about future programming, including rehearsed readings and best practice seminars. The Festival Reception is an event where politicians and other VIPs are invited to join us to celebrate the successes of Scottish Theatre. This year the event is being held in association with the Theatrical Management Association, hosted by Liz Lockheed and our guest of honour is Allan Wilson MSP, Deputy Minister for Sports and Culture.
Heather Baird is Director of FST t: 0131 467 2525 e: fst@cableinet.co.uk