Fraser Scott reports on his Associate Director Internship at Dundee Rep.

Fraser worked as the Associate Director Dundee Rep’s gripping, four-star rated production of Tennessee Williams’ iconic masterpiece The Glass Menagerie, supporting the director, the Rep’s award-winning Artistic Director, Andrew Panton.

Amy Conachan and Sara Stewart

Fraser gave this report on his experience with the show: ‘My key responsibilities as the Associate Director on The Glass Menagerie included working with Andrew Panton on rehearsing the show, looking after and noting the show after press night, being responsible for taking the show into our tour venues (Citizens Theatre & Lyceum Theatre and leading on the engagement work with young people.

My rehearsal work saw me making lots of notes, being a conduit of information between the rehearsal room and the wider Rep building and keeping an eye on the general running of the room. I also supported the actors with running lines, as well as leading the room if Andrew wasn’t available. After press night, I attended the show three times a week to make notes to pass on to the actors. It was my job to ensure that we maintained the quality and standard of performance set at press night and also make sure I was available to the company should they have any concerns or questions over the course of the run.

This engagement work saw me lead workshops with six different schools’ groups of Higher and Advanced Higher English and Drama classes, all of whom attended a performance of the show. I visited the schools and facilitated a discussion around the play and its themes, as well as leading a drama exercise using an extract from the play and imagining how the young people might stage it. I also led a Backstage Pass session, where a class of young people got to attend a rehearsal and then ask questions to the cast.

The biggest challenge for me in this role was being the lead when taking the show to other venues. This is something I had some experience in, but not as sole lead, nor in venues of this scale. It was particularly challenging because both of the other venues are vastly different to the Dundee Rep stage, including a rake which was particularly difficult for our cast member, Amy, who uses a wheelchair. This role saw me lead all staff during our rehearsal and notes sessions at these venues, which I was able to do confidently and calmly, despite it being a significant step up in my career.

This placement has helped me solidify my ambition of working in artistic leadership and making theatre in the regional, publicly-funded sector in Scotland. I have learnt how best to fulfil the role of an Associate, as well as what it requires to successfully transfer a show to another venue. I’ve also been able to improve my skills in noting performances and having conversations with actors.

Being able to step up into an Associate Director position has been really helpful in my career progression. It has felt like a natural next step in my development and has allowed me to use my previous experience, as well as to build and develop new skills. I’ve just been asked by Dundee Rep to be the Artistic lead for their Rep Stripped programme in April 2026. This is a scratch evening of new work, which will see me work with a producer to select new material, and direct the work for an audience. In 2026, I will also be directing a new show at A Play, A Pie and a Pint at Òran Mór in Glasgow and I’m also hoping this opportunity will stand me in good stead for further Associate Director positions in Scotland and further afield.

I’d like to thank you donors from the bottom of my heart for this award, it truly makes a massive difference to be able to access opportunites like this one in Scotland, as they are incredibly rare and make a huge impact on the career development of artists like myself.