The company’s work, during the year, was again principally concerned with The Southside Group (TSG) project. This
initiative, begun in January 2020, was designed to increase opportunities for adults with learning disabilities to become
actively involved in the making of theatre. The project is open to everyone, in the Glasgow area, aged 16+ and no previous
drama experience is necessary. The Southside Group currently has 18 members, ranging in age from 20 to 62 and the
company is always interested in hearing from potential new members.
Rehearsals over the year continued to take place at Queens Park Govanhill Parish Church (QPGPC), a local Glasgow
Southside church accommodating a variety of different community groups. This has proved to be a welcoming and
supportive environment for TSG, and the space has worked successfully for both weekly workshops and small-scale
performances.
In January 2025, the company undertook a two-week research & development period working on ideas for a new touring
production, Mrs Heckleburnie’s Ha’penny Theatre. The project involved 6 members of TSG, performing alongside the
company’s co-Artistic Director, Catherine Gillard, and was produced by the same artistic team that created ‘The Monster and Mary Shelley’ (2018/19) and ‘Another Nice Mess’ (2023).
The work developed themes, storyline, set design, costume and musical direction for the eventual production culminating in a day’s videoing of scenes, plus a short, public work-in-progress performance. The performance was followed by a Q&A
involving the full company answering questions both about the working process and storyline content. Reaction to the
performance was overwhelmingly enthusiastic and the company is keen to explore opportunities for the project’s future
development.
Over the period January to July 2025, the company also continued to develop the new full-TSG production, The Splitting of
Latham. Working in collaboration with the Glasgow-based playwright, Michael Duke, further script development and
rehearsal led to a second work-in-progress showing that was performed to an audience of 80+ at TSG’s rehearsal base in
Queen’s Park Govanhill Church.
The original intention had been to stage a full production in June 2025 but a delay in securing support from Creative
Scotland led to a postponement. With Creative Scotland funding finally confirmed in May 2025, The Splitting of Latham will receive 3 public performances in late-April 2026.
Located in late 1930’s Glasgow, at the time of the British Commonwealth Exhibition in Bellahouston Park, The Splitting of
Latham further develops the comedic melodrama for which TSG has become known.
"Amazing, entertaining, confident performances. Particularly liked the music – really added to the performance. Loved the
energy of the cast. Great opening scene. Look forward to seeing how you develop this." - Audience member, July 2024 showing
Following the performance in July, the TSG winter term specifically focussed on creating a production of Charles Dickens’, A Christmas Carol. Having previously featured extracts from this story in The Southside Group’s Christmas Tales in 2023, a
full production was created and rehearsed from September, leading to a sold-out performance in late November.
Audience reaction included:
‘Great night last night, and thank you for all your time and effort getting everyone to the stage that they can go up and
perform to a room full of people.’
‘I thought it was a lovely show that told the story really well.’