Robbie Gordon
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Since 1990, Class Act has been the Traverse Theatre's flagship education project. I have had the privilege to lead the project since 2020.

Class Act

Creative Engagement Director
Since 1990, Class Act has been the Traverse Theatre's flagship education project. I have had the privilege to lead the project since 2020.

Since 1990, Class Act has been the Traverse Theatre's flagship education project. I have had the privilege to lead the project since 2020.

Class Act challenges school pupils to become artists and writers, creating brand new creative work to be premiered on some of Scotland’s most loved stages.

During the pandemic, we created 20 digital works employing over 60 creatives (including 30 actors) when our industry was ground to a halt. We used the momentum building behind the project to consult with all of our key beneficiaries about what Class

During the pandemic, we created 20 digital works employing over 60 creatives (including 30 actors) when our industry was ground to a halt. We used the momentum building behind the project to consult with all of our key beneficiaries about what Class Act could look like in the future through a national rollout.

The 30th-anniversary edition acted as a post-pandemic return to the stage in style and allowed us to really raise our ambition with a cohort of 150 young people involved. Our biggest number of playwrights yet.

The 30th-anniversary edition acted as a post-pandemic return to the stage in style and allowed us to really raise our ambition with a cohort of 150 young people involved. Our biggest number of playwrights yet.

The ambition has always been to give young people the opportunity to work with the most exciting artists in Scotland and during my time on the project, we have worked with Blazing Griffin, May Sumwanyambe, Sara Shaarawi, Sam Heughan, Maryam Hamidi,

The ambition has always been to give young people the opportunity to work with the most exciting artists in Scotland and during my time on the project, we have worked with Blazing Griffin, May Sumwanyambe, Sara Shaarawi, Sam Heughan, Maryam Hamidi, James Ley, Raisah Ahmed, Greg McHugh, Fionn Whitehead and BeCharlotte.

Our locations for year one of the project have been Aberdeen, Ayrshire and Edinburgh: 94% of participants reported increased confidence in creative writing  97% felt more knowledgeable about theatre 95% felt more connected to local cul

Our locations for year one of the project have been Aberdeen, Ayrshire and Edinburgh:

  • 94% of participants reported increased confidence in creative writing 

  • 97% felt more knowledgeable about theatre

  • 95% felt more connected to local cultural/arts spaces

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“The Traverse is fast becoming my favourite ever partnership – you guys are offering so much for pupils (and teachers). It’s incredible!” -Rachel Alexander (Teacher at Tynecastle)

“The Traverse is fast becoming my favourite ever partnership – you guys are offering so much for pupils (and teachers). It’s incredible!” -Rachel Alexander (Teacher at Tynecastle)

‘I think by ensuring that the projects that work really well in big urban centres further south can be brought up north, I think that’s a really important thing. It helps us champion and illuminate the voices of local young people in Aberdeen and th

‘I think by ensuring that the projects that work really well in big urban centres further south can be brought up north, I think that’s a really important thing. It helps us champion and illuminate the voices of local young people in Aberdeen and the shire. When you see yourself and hear yourself and hear your words represented on the stage, that has such an impact.’ Amy Liptrott - Director of Aberdeen Performing Arts Centre

“I wish I had something like this when I was at school. I went to one of the participating high schools, and I found it really hard to engage in theatre as a teenager and feel confident enough to want to pursue it as a career. This feels like a real

“I wish I had something like this when I was at school. I went to one of the participating high schools, and I found it really hard to engage in theatre as a teenager and feel confident enough to want to pursue it as a career. This feels like a really special, full circle moment.” Rebecca Lafferty, Ayrshire Showcase Actor

‘[Class Act] gave a new and positive creative experience for them to try. The inclusion of professional teams gave a legitimacy to their ideas, creativity and work which is often missing in traditional schooling’ Aberdeen teacher

‘[Class Act] gave a new and positive creative experience for them to try. The inclusion of professional teams gave a legitimacy to their ideas, creativity and work which is often missing in traditional schooling’ Aberdeen teacher

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