Mayday, The Singer and more…
Mayday Line-up Announced
Cora Bisset and Hannah Lavery ©Peter Dibdin
A one-night-only response to the times we are living through, presented by a host of leading Scottish artistic talent from the fields of theatre, music, poetry, comedy and dance.
Curated and directed by Cora Bissett and Hannah Lavery
With visuals by Lucas Chi-Peng Kao
On 1 May at Edinburgh Central Hall at 7pm.
Featuring Comedy: Sanjeev Kohli(Still Game) / Tia Rey; Music: Dala by Heir of the Cursedperformed by Djana Gabrielle / Cora Bissett, Kathryn Joseph and Joan Clevillé & Kassichana Okene-Jameson of Scottish Dance Theatre / Kitti / Loud and Proud Choir / Soapbox / Declan Welsh; Poetry: Shasta Hanif Ali / William Letford / Michael Mullen; Theatre & Dance; An artistic response to Talat Yaqoob’s International Women’s Day Speech (2026) - led by Janice Parker / Apphia Campbell / Reuben Joseph / Hannah Lavery / Uma Nada-Rajah / Sara Shaarawi / Dawn Sievewright performing It’s No a Weans Choice
Live band: Isaac Savage (keyboards/vocals) / Adam Scott (bass) / Djana Gabrielle (guitar/vocals) / Signy Jacobsdottir (drums and percussion) / MJ McCarthy (musical direction).
TICKETS:
https://www.nationaltheatrescotland.com/latest/mayday-lineup-announced
The Singer
An exhilarating new gig-theatre drama created by Dundee Rep Theatre and Solar Bear, in collaboration with Aberdeen Performing Arts and Traverse Theatre.
Written by Cora Bissett with Jamie Rea, and featuring original songs by the multi-award-winning KT Tunstall, The Singer follows the story of Joe, a Deaf artist who “sings” with his hands, and Andy, a washed-up musician desperate for a comeback. When their worlds collide, an unlikely creative partnership sparks something extraordinary.
For more information:
https://www.traverse.co.uk/news/the-singer-to-make-world-premiere-at-traverse-festival-2026
The Burns Project - US Tour
Following its sold-out run at the 2025 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, The Burns Project—an interactive, intimate theatrical experience created by the National Trust for Scotland in collaboration with theatremaker James Clements, award-winning director Cora Bissett, and musician Lisa Rigby—is heading to the U.S. this March, offering audiences a closer look at Robert Burns through his letters, poems, and personal items from the Trust’s Burns collections, staged in an intentionally up-close setting inspired by a Burns Supper around a dining table.
To book for Washington, D.C. (March 15, 2026), New York City (March 19, 2026), or Chicago (March 22, 2026) use the link below.
The Lost and Found: Mentoring and Development
I have recently been helping support the brilliant young artist Taya Sian (pictured above), whom I first mentored during SYT's Trajectories programme last year. I assisted Taya in developing her 20-min solo work, The Lost and Found into a full-length play (a site-specific piece set in the messy after hours of a pub function room). Taya has packed out the pub on two occasions now to rapturous responses. This is a beautifully crafted multi-role, one-woman show which looks at the experience of a young working-class woman stuck between the worlds of a small working-class town and her drama college life. Trying to work out where she truly belongs, fighting the imposter syndrome screaming in her head and trying to stay true to who she is whilst claiming her space in the world.
We are actively looking for presenting opportunities for this show
Ben and Lucy: Film plans afoot
Steven Cree - OURTESY OF FINITE FILMS & TV
I was invited to direct Steven's first feature film. When I first read the script, I was left in bits. I connected viscerally with the Father-Daughter narrative. I found it touching, painful and incredibly authentic. A father who is stil in recovery, fighting his own demons and trying to re-build a damaged relationship with his art school daughter who is now developing dangerous addictions. It's surprisingly tender and raw in equal measure.
Read more about it here: