Penelope Cole: "Straddling the Divide: the Institutionalization of Scotland’s Alternative Theatre(s)"

The National Theatre of Scotland (NTS) is currently celebrating its fifth anniversary year. This innovative national theatre is closely aligned with the company/production models and philosophies formulated in the 1970’s by the British alternative theatre companies in a myriad of ways. Capitalizing on the existing touring and production paradigms of Scottish theatre companies at the end of the 20th century, the working committee charged with creating the blueprint for the new National Theatre of Scotland consciously co-opted standard theatrical practice in Scotland. This standard practice of many late 20th century Scottish theatre companies was greatly inspired by John McGrath and 7:84 Scotland, meaning the very structure of the NTS is grounded in alternative theatre practices. What is occurring in Scotland is both a redefinition of national theatre and alternative theatre.

This paper seeks to examine this curious intersection of the institution of a national theatre and an existing theatre community that is primarily alternative in spirit and action. Questions to be explored include: Is the NTS itself an alternative theatre? Or is it an alternative national theatre within the construct of national theatres? What happens when a National Theatre takes advantage of the touring routes, theatrical traditions, and artistic partnerships of alternative theatres? Who benefits? How has the funding structure for theatre in Scotland changed with the creation of the NTS? How are the theatres that collaborate with the NTS viewed by fellow theatre artists and/or the audiences? Are artistic identities blurred by collaboration? Does the alternative become the mainstream in this construction, or has the mainstream become alternative, or has something new emerged?