The report card for the National Theatre of Scotland at half term in its first year reads: if not perfect, then at least encouraging to anyone with a concern for drama in this country. In appointing Vicky Featherstone, the still youthful and unashamedly experimental former artistic director of Paines Plough as its head, the board for the NTS signalled its intention to create a newer more vibrant theatre than many of the more conservative advocates for the body had hoped.

Since then, the NTS has been associated, at least as financial backers, with some very high quality and contemporary performance. In particular, their facilitation of such work as Grid Iron’s triumphant Roam and the brilliant Home East Lothian by Catherine Wheels has shown a pretty sure touch with regard to programming decisions. Not all the shows they’ve backed were quite so successful, with TAG’s The Crucible faring quite poorly in both audience and critical response, yet Featherstone’s outfit has shown a capacity for far more hits than misses. But it is in its capacity to bring such crucial elements as proper financing and rehearsal periods to our theatre that this body plays its most crucial role. Long may it continue. (Steve Cramer)

13 Aug, 7.30pm, £8 (£6).