Established in January 2005 by a group of budding thespians led by Joanna Marshall, the Holyrood Amateur Theatrical Society (HATS) is a not-for-profit organisation that aims to educate the public in the dramatic arts. It also provides an environment where its members can learn and practice project management and performance skills.
Why ‘Holyrood’? Well, some HATS members work at the Scottish Parliament. However, HATS is not an official parliamentary organisation, and it is not funded by the Parliament. Indeed, anyone, from any walk of life, can join. (Although please note that a membership fee is usually required for participation in the society.)
HATS first hit the stage in June 2005 with a production of Liz Lochhead’s ‘Mary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off’ at the St. Bride’s Centre in Edinburgh. This was followed by an invitation to perform excerpts from ‘Mary Queen of Scots…’ at the Scottish Parliament as part of the first Festival of Politics.
Since then HATS have staged three Winter Variety Shows – featuring stand-up comedians, singing MSPs and a capoeira demonstration – and a modern adaptation of Macbeth that was described by the Scotsman as ‘an imaginative updating of Shakespeare’.
HATS Executive Committee
The current members of the HATS Executive Committee are as follows:
President – Mary Blackford
Chairperson – Joanna Marshall
Treasurer – Claire Bennett
Creative Director – Robert Salvin
Production Manager – Claire Hall
Press and PR – Simone Thorn
Website – Gregor Shanks
Props, Costumes and Storage – position vacant
Ordinary Executive Member – Frances Tigar
Ordinary Executive Member – Shauna Powers
