View From Here: Scotland was the first incarnation of View From Here, and the first of the festivals to be held at Theatre503. It took place across two weekends in August 2016, and showcased the work of several emerging and established writers born or living and working in Scotland.

Established writers that contributed work to the festival included Rob Drummond (Bullet Catch; Traverse, National Theatre), Oliver Emanuel (The 306:Dawn; National Theatre of Scotland) and Johnny McKnight (Wendy Hoose; Soho Theatre & Random Accomplice).

Rosanna Hall, Morna Young, Julie Tsang, Philippa Mannion, Ciarán Myers and Maryam Hamidi were all also approached as emerging writers, all of whom shared previously written, or specially commissioned, short pieces or extracts.

The end result brought 9 new pieces to the London stage, developed by 6 directors and 25 actors. The plays were a mix of script-in-hand and more staged productions, with subjects ranging from border walls to high school proms, from forbidden love to all-out-war.

At the end of the first weekend there was also panel discussions on new writing, with invited guests: Lisa Spirling (Artistic Director, Theatre503), Louise Stephens (Deputy Literary Manager, Royal Court) and Jennifer Tuckett (London Writers’ Week) discussing the landscape for new writing across the UK.

 

Programme

14th/15th August

The Headland – Morna Young

A Perfect Stroke – Johnny McKnight

Troon – Julie Tsang

Prom – Oliver Emanuel

21st/22nd August

Silk (21st only) – Ciaran Myers

Wrecking Ball (22nd only) – Philippa Mannion

Builders – Maryam Hamidi

Tick – Rosanna Hall

Sleeping Beauty (Syndrome) – Rob Drummond

 

 

Company

Holly Oxinou

Lucy Goldie

Molly Vevers

Rose Akroyd

Moir Leslie

Amy Dier

Joshua Manning

Karl Wilson

Rufus Graham

Jenni MacKenzie-Jones

Gemma Stroyan

Carla Rose

Matthew Romain

Larner Taylor

Emma Ballantine

John Scougall

Edward Way

Isabel Sharman

Tyrone Purling

Pamela Wernham

Alexis Leighton

James Sutherland

Michael Harkin