At NEAT, our Theatre in Schools programme ensures children in rural and geographically dispersed communities can experience high-quality live theatre as part of their learning. We know that distance, transport costs and small school sizes can make accessing the arts difficult, so we bring schools together, removing barriers to create something that is accessible, shared and sustainable.
The result is a powerful, collective experience that builds confidence, creativity and connection, reaching children who might otherwise miss out.
We are proud to deliver this work in partnership with Theatre in Schools Scotland.
About Theatre in Schools Scotland
Theatre in Schools Scotland is a national touring programme that brings high-quality theatre and dance performances directly into schools, giving children the chance to experience professional work in their own environment.
Delivered by Imaginate and the National Theatre of Scotland, it works to remove barriers of cost and geography, ensuring all pupils can access the arts.
Each year, it tours a curated programme of productions made specifically for young audiences, working with leading Scottish artists. By taking performances into school halls and local venues, it connects children across urban and rural areas with inspiring stories, helping build creativity, confidence and a lasting engagement with the arts.
My Friend Selma
NEAT is proud to support the touring of My Friend Selma as part of our 2026 Theatre in Schools programme, bringing this powerful and timely performance to children and young people across Aberdeenshire and Moray.
Through our support, we are removing key barriers to access by covering the full cost of the performance for schools, enabling as many pupils as possible to experience high-quality live theatre. By working closely with local schools and encouraging a shared delivery model, we are also helping to make the project practical and sustainable within a rural context.
About the show
When I was 8 years old, my dad set up a charity to help people in danger escape the war in a place called Bosnia. He brought fifty of them over here on big coaches. We moved into an old boarding school with these refugees, to help them settle in. We lived there for four months. It was brilliant – there was a playground in my front garden, we had lots of visitors, people were always feeding me and I learnt to ride a bike! But the best thing about living there was meeting my friend Selma.
My Friend Selma is the remarkable real-life story of one girl’s journey from war in Bosnia to safety in the UK. It is the tale of an incredible journey, a world turned upside down, loss, friendship, courage and conkers.
“Absorbing, affecting but also robustly unsentimental” ★★★★ The Herald
“I would give this show 280,00,00 out of 5.” Erin, aged 9
Presented by Terra Incognita
Written and Performed by Victoria Beesley
Directed by Joe Douglas
Sound Design by Danny Krass
CLICK HERE for more information
NEAT is pleased to be working in partnership with Findhorn Bay Arts to offer the show to schools across Moray as part of the Findhorn Bay Festival 2026 (24 September – 4 October).
Through this collaboration, NEAT is covering the full cost of the performance, ensuring the show is free for participating schools. In addition, Findhorn Bay Arts are supporting access by offering transport bursaries to help schools with travel costs; addressing one of the key barriers for rural communities.
By combining performance funding with targeted travel support, this partnership aims to make it easier for more schools to take part, creating a shared, high-quality theatre experience that is accessible to all.
Monday 28 September 2026
10:30-11:30 and 13:00-14:00
Forres Town Hall
Tuesday 29 September 2026
10:30-11:30 and 13:00-14:00
Forres Town Hall
CLICK HERE to find out more
Restarting our cluster school model
Pre-pandemic, NEAT collaborated closely with Aberdeenshire schools to deliver a successful cluster model, bringing schools together to access high-quality theatre in a way that was both practical, feasible and impactful.
We are now reintroducing and developing this approach, rebuilding those connections and refreshing a model that works for small rural schools. By working collectively again, we can remove barriers, maximise reach, and create shared experiences for more children.
Our ambition is to grow this into a regular, annual part of our programme, developed in partnership with schools and rooted in the needs of the communities we serve.
More information to follow!
