“The story goes on…

…and indeed, it gets better. New experiences offer new opportunities – as a company LHTC has been learning to adapt for over 35 years and it will continue to do so. In recent weeks and months, it has been an unbridled joy coming back together as a company, albeit virtually for now. LHTC's performers have resumed their regular Tuesday sessions, working with some of the most talented and creative practitioners out there. We are progressing our work around script and skills development and focussing on wellbeing too. Zoom has become home for a while, and for those of our team who find Zoom a bit of challenge we are keeping in touch and connecting in other ways.”

Michael Fraser, Executive Director

LHTC PERFORMERS COVID-19 JOURNEY

Our rehearsals for Castle Lennox came to an abrupt halt in early March 2020 and the company fell silent for a while. It fast became apparent that we would not be in the room together any time soon, so LHTC embarked upon a period of reflection as we assessed how we could best work with our performers in an online world. We maintained telephone contact and it soon became very clear that the performers simply missed their creative sessions, their friends and the Lung Ha family, so we embarked upon a plan to engage with the performers over zoom.

A Company Zoom meeting

“It is great to be working together in this way to help us when we will perform on stage again.”

Company performer

OUR ZOOM SESSIONS HAVE INCLUDED…

Voice, movement and acting for camera

These weekly sessions are delivered by a range of creative practitioners. They have gone from strength to strength as the weeks go on. The energy and enthusiasm in the zoom room is palpable!

Mentoring

Mentoring sessions for performers to develop their writing and directing skills and the first output from this was Gavin Yule’s play, The Bus Stop which featured on the Traverse Theatre website and has provided a new platform to show the Company’s work.

Creative wellbeing
1:1 sessions with artist Kirsty Biff Nicolson. These sessions are bespoke and an opportunity for performers to expand on their current home practice.

Main image for The Bus Stop

“The thought of moving from live rehearsals…

…to working on the screen was a daunting one in the spring of 2020. Seven months later, it is not the same as working in a rehearsal space but is an inspiring challenge to learn and explore what we can do together using the camera online. Nothing can replace live theatre and I knew quite early on that I didn’t want to transfer the live experience of working together on to the screen. However, as a strong and resilient ensemble, we have found ways of working with the screen to our advantage and are developing skills and experiences that will all contribute to our future work in the rehearsal room. This is a new exciting journey that evolves, surprises and sometimes challenges us. Online working will not replace the live interaction once we get back to the rehearsal room, but I’m sure it will continue to work alongside our work in the future. We are looking forward to the adventures that 2021 will bring.”

Maria Oller, Artistic Director

2020 HIGHLIGHTS

We welcomed Duncan Hendry as our new Chair of the Board.
Castle Lennox in co-production with The Lyceum rehearsed until Covid-19 struck.
Emma and Gill featured in The Scotsman Sessions.
The Bus Stop features on the Traverse Theatre’s website as part of their online festival, Traverse 3, and gained great press coverage on BBC Radio Scotland, The Stage, among others.
Richard Vallis raised £4,500 in a challenging fundraiser for LHTC, Lothian Disability Sport and Friends of Chitambo.
Performers reviewed various digital events and shows throughout August and September

Promotional image for Emma and Gill.

WHAT IS NEXT IN 2021?

We plan to continue with our zoom sessions for as long we need to before we can get back into a rehearsal room together. We are aiming towards our next production being performed in autumn 2021. Development weeks will hopefully start in early 2021 and as ever, we will be responsive to the current circumstances and adapt our process as required.

A sincere THANK YOU…

…I think we would all agree that 2020 has been an extraordinary year for everyone and for Lung Ha Theatre Company this has meant a year of rapid change to adapt to the new world. I would like to thank and congratulate our performers and staff for their resilience and creativity and indeed all Lung Ha’s friends for their generosity throughout the year. We are immensely grateful that our funders responded with remarkable speed and positivity – providing reassurance on financial support and working with us to agree new work plans and extended timescales to deliver projects. I would particularly like to thank Creative Scotland and the City of Edinburgh Council for their helpful support during this challenging year.

In addition, I would like to thank the many supporters of Lung Ha Theatre Company for your constant belief in us and to those who have donated to assist our work.

Duncan Hendry, Chair of the Board