REPORT ON NATIONAL PERFORMING COMPANIES
Audiences top one million in first two years of direct funding
Scotland's five national companies performed to over a million people in their first two years of direct Scottish Government funding.
In 2007/08 and 2008/09, the National Theatre of Scotland, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Scottish Ballet, Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Scottish Opera gave 1,939 performances, reaching a combined audience of 1,007,812 people.
Over the same period, the companies provided 5,425 education and outreach events, attracting and involving 202,370 participants.
The figures are contained in a report published today on the operation of the national performing companies.
Culture Minister Fiona Hyslop said:
"I congratulate all five companies on their tremendous achievements over the first two years of direct funding from Government.
"This report has been compiled as part of this Government's commitment to transparency, setting out our return on investment in the national companies.
"Individually and collectively, the companies make a huge contribution to Scotland's cultural life. Their performances and educational programmes are bringing the benefits of increased access to cultural activities to all parts of Scotland.
"The five companies are also excellent ambassadors for Scottish culture. Their overseas touring has introduced international audiences to the wealth and breadth of artistic talent that is nurtured and developed in modern Scotland."
Notable achievements include:
- The National Theatre of Scotland has had international success with 'Black Watch', performed in Los Angeles, Toronto, Virginia, Sydney and London. The production won four Olivier Awards and the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Foreign Play.
- The Royal Scottish National Orchestra broadened its appeal and brought a whole new audience to the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, through imaginative collaborations with artists Elvis Costello, hip-hop DJ Beni G and leading video games composers.
- In recognition of its impressive track-record for commissioning and programming, Scottish Ballet won the company prize for Outstanding Repertoire (Classical) at the Critics' Circle National Dance Awards, the Oscars of the dance world.
- Through its skills development programme, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra developed a relationship with renowned Indian composer Amjad Ali Kahn, culminating in the creation of a new work - Samaagam - the centrepiece of a ground-breaking tour of India.
- Scottish Opera's Music Director Francesco Corti made his debut with Smetana's The Two Widows, for which the company won a Herald Angel Award. Its production of Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor was one of the featured productions of the Marinsky Opera of St Petersburg's 2009 season.
Background
The national performing companies report 2007/09 is available at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/04/21140911/0
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