Back cover text:

‘It’s a wonderful institution and the training is amazing.’ SAM HEUGHAN

‘I can honestly say, no word of a lie, that the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland changed my life.’ JACKIE KAY

For 175 years, a Glasgow institution has been teaching the performing arts to students who have become some of the world’s most distinguished artists. This celebratory history raises the curtain on the inner life of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Peek into the bustling backstage world of Scotland’s national conservatoire, feast your eyes on never-before-seen archival material and bask in dazzling production photography that captures the creative effervescence of its students.

Ncuti Gatwa, Richard Madden, Karen Cargill, Alan Cumming, Maggie Kinloch and many other alumni take to the spotlight to share what the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland has meant to them.

Raising the Curtain reveals the past, illuminates on the present and invites you to look to the future of this world-class performing arts institution.

Table of contents:

‘Dear Student’ by Jackie Kay, 8

Foreword by HRH The Prince Charles, 11

Foreword by Sir Cameron Mackintosh, 13

Introduction by Professor Jeffrey Sharkey, 15

Prelude. 19

Timeline, 21

1. Rational Recreation, 25

2. Education for All, 33

3. First Steps, 43

4. Moving, 51

5. Athenaeum School of Music, 57

6. Active Society for the Propagation of Contemporary Music, 69

7. Playing On, 75

spotlight: Tommy Smith, 78

spotlight: Pamella Dow, 83

8. Making a Drama, 85

spotlight: John Cairney, 90

spotlight: Jackie Kay, 93

spotlight: David Tennant, 95

spotlight: James McAvoy, 98

spotlight: Ros Steen, 104

spotlight: Alan Cumming, 108

spotlight: Aaron Lee Lambert, 112

spotlight: Richard Madden, 115

spotlight: Ncuti Gatwa, 117

9. One Conservatoire, 123

spotlight: Maggie Kinloch, 124

10. Premières, 131

spotlight: Tony Osoba, 132

spotlight: Isobel ‘Bunty’ Fowler, 136

spotlight: Karen Cargill, 145

spotlight: Johnny McKnight, 149

spotlight: Jamie Reid, 152

spotlight: Ciaran Stewart, 156

11. What’s in a Name?, 161

spotlight: Maura Coll, 163

spotlight: John Wallace, 171

12. Change is a Constant, 175

Coda, 177

A Note on Source Materials, 189

Acknowledgements, 191