In a recent post I spoke out a collaborative projected between Knox Academy and Queen Margaret University. 10 pupils from S1 worked with final year community theatre students from the BA(Hons) Drama and Theatre Arts course. The final piece told the story of a small town in East Lothian called North Barr.  The pupils worked really hard and seeing the finished product was a joy to watch with some great storytelling and imagery used. A big thank you to the four students from QM who worked really hard on their project to make it a success. It gave our pupils a real chance to shine and show the people of East Lothian the talent we have here at Knox Academy.  The ‘Mussel-In’ project received the Santander Community Award for contribution to their local community with Knox Academy sharing the award. We are over the moon for all those involved and again a big thank you to everyone who supported the project. The four students who created the project should be very proud of their work and I’m sure we will see them nuturing the young talent of Scotland in the coming years.

Sad news leaked today that East Lothian’s new educational institute - Queen Margaret University - is to axe its School of Drama and Creative Industries! There are only two ‘conservatoire’ training schools in Scotland for Drama; Queen Margaret and The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. Both schools have been under threat with RSAMD having to cut £600,000 from it’s budget next year. As an ex graduate from Queen Margaret I am devastated, gutted and emotional by this new direction. The School of Drama has been on a downward slope since leaving the Gateway Theatre on Elm Row to join the new campus; students have had to put up with cramped working conditions, non sound proof studios, no theatre and non creative surroundings. Having already had two students begin their training at Drama school, one starting this year and being a teacher of tomorrow’s creative artists I am left without words at what this country is doing to our future. A very sad day indeed for our future artists. for more details click here for the article in the Scotsman.