Roz Bell, our long-serving Head of Live Performance, retires this week. From 2004 to 2024, Roz has been instrumental in ensuring that Eden Court's programme has presented a wide range of outstanding theatre. We asked Roz to share some of her fondest memories of her time at the theatre over the last two decades, and to introduce her final programme of live performance events: Spring – Autumn 2024.

What are you most excited about in the new programme?

There are plenty of wonderful shows I really want to see for myself; some because I’m fond of the visiting company and I know they always produce great things, and others because they are new and bring something a bit different.

I’m particularly looking forward to Houdini’s Greatest Escape for a bit of escapism (apologies for the pun); Alice in VR Wonderland, Gold! and Frankie Morrow, which are coming thanks to a special collaboration with The Touring Network and other Highland venues; all the exciting new Touring Fund drama hitting the OneTouch Theatre including Shō and the Demons of the Deep, Love The Sinner and Treasure Island; and a personal favourite, Under Canvas – of course! I had better stop there...

How is this programme different from the first one you worked on?

What a question! I think the main difference is the sheer number of shows. We’re really fortunate to have multiple venues and Under Canvas during the summer, so there really is something for everyone. Plus, we are able to support theatremakers and take more of the best and most exciting work from across Scotland thanks to Creative Scotland’s Touring Fund programme.

What has changed in programming over the years?

We’re lucky to be able to provide a wide-ranging programme, but the variety of what is possible can sometimes make it very hard to choose!

At the heart of Eden Court is the desire to create a place for the people of the Highlands and Islands to come and enjoy the best of what the arts has to offer, and it’s the Programming team’s job to give our audiences the opportunity to smile, laugh, cry and indeed be challenged and see something new - maybe all at the same time. It’s a good problem to have, I suppose!

What would be your all-time favourite shows you've seen here?

There’s a lot of dance up there! Nederlands Dans Theater 2 made me realise I love contemporary dance, and Scottish Ballet’s Coppélia, A Streetcar Named Desire and The Crucible were all very impactful to me. Matthew Bourne’s Midnight Ball was also just stunning and I still listen to the soundtrack today.

Another highlight was taking my grandson, who was three at the time, to see White. He was mesmerised. Children’s theatre par excellence!

And, of course, seeing The Stamping Ground through from start to finish was very exciting.

What's been the best thing about your job?

Seeing a show that the team worked so hard to get to Eden Court. As my rugby-coaching husband’s favourite saying goes, there really is no ‘I’ in ‘team’ and it’s true – no one person creates our programme but rather it’s a collaboration between all the vital departments in the theatre.

I also love seeing audience members leaving the theatre buzzing and talking about what they have just seen. I fully intend to be one of those people in my retirement – it’ll be like I never left!