State Of The Nation: Findings Report
Co-convened by An Tobar and Mull Theatre, Citizens Theatre and Playwrights’ Studio Scotland and supported by Federation of Scottish Theatre, the inaugural State of the Nation conference brought together more than 200 theatre practitioners at Glasgow’s Citizens Theatre on Friday 24th October 2025. Following a period of reflection and further discussion, An Tobar and Mull Theatre has published a public report by Artistic Director Rebecca Atkinson-Lord, examining the challenges facing Scotland’s theatre ecology and exploring what is needed to build a stronger, fairer and more sustainable future.
The State of the Nation conference highlighted the pressures facing the sector and the collective appetite for change. Key issues identified included: a sector under sustained financial pressure; increased workloads and reduced capacity; unequal access to opportunities; and a lack of cohesive, long-term strategic thinking.
While the conference acknowledged the significant challenges facing Scotland’s theatre sector, it also demonstrated the creativity, expertise and determination that exists across the industry and showed a strong desire for collaboration. The report concludes that no single organisation or individual can address these challenges alone. Building a sustainable future requires shared responsibility, stronger collaboration, fairer systems and continued dialogue between freelancers, organisations, funders, communities and audiences. Rebecca Atkinson-Lord comments, Theatres are not a luxury. They are part of the civic infrastructure of a healthy society. At a time of profound political and cultural change, they are among the few places where people from every background can come together to imagine better futures, explore difficult questions and strengthen the ties that bind our communities together.
If we are serious about building a more cohesive, resilient and confident society, the Scottish and UK Governments must begin treating theatre and the wider cultural sector as essential national infrastructure and formally articulating the right to a meaningful cultural life. The conversations begun through State of the Nation show the extraordinary potential that is unlocked when a sector comes together with a shared determination to shape the future.
The publication of this report marks the beginning, not the end, of the State of the Nation process. The inaugural conference started an ongoing conversation about the future of Scotland’s theatre sector, and the report captures the ideas, concerns and ambitions shared by those in attendance and provides a foundation for future collaboration, helping to shape the next phase of discussion and action across the industry. While rooted in Scotland, many of the issues explored resonate across the wider UK theatre landscape. The conference highlighted the power of bringing people together to share experiences, challenge assumptions and develop new ideas, reinforcing An Tobar and Mull Theatre’s commitment to championing bold, forward thinking conversations that can help shape a more sustainable future for the sector.
In autumn 2026, An Tobar and Mull Theatre, Federation of Scottish Theatre and Playwrights’ Studio Scotland will convene a series of online gatherings to support the formation of grassroots working groups around each of the report’s key recommendations. These sessions will provide an opportunity for practitioners, organisations and freelancers to translate the report into practical action by exploring the key issues raised.
Dates for these online events will be announced in September 2026. The outcomes will inform the next phase of collaborative work across the sector and contribute towards a second State of the Nation convening.
If you would like to read or download a copy of the report, please find this below:
