Meet Carly McCaig, Community Drama Worker

What is your role at the Citizens Theatre?

I’m a Community Drama Worker. My job is to develop and deliver creative projects for people in the community. I usually work with other members of the Participate team, and we frequently collaborate with freelance artists. Many of the projects we deliver take place in the Gorbals, but we engage with communities all over the city. We work with anyone interested in engaging with or developing their own creativity. We want to make the arts accessible for everyone. 

Can you describe a typical working day?

A typical day might involve delivering a workshop with one of our community groups; this could be in a school, a support project for women leaving the Criminal Justice System, or a homeless unit. This is usually followed by some time to evaluate the session and think about what we’ll offer during the next session. In addition to our work with groups, I spend time generating ideas for new projects, meeting up with other departments to give updates on our work, and contacting participants—each day can look quite different depending on what we’re working on. What I can guarantee, though, is that there will be lots of talking and lots of tea!

What attracted you to this job at the Citz? 

I believe that theatre can be used as a tool for social change and has the power to change lives. Through workshops and projects, we give people the opportunity to have a voice and share their stories. This job allows me to support people to do that. I enjoy getting to know people and learning about their lives and lived experiences. I can combine my love for people and creativity – it really feels like the perfect job for me. 

Participants from our projects come from diverse backgrounds, and I’m always interested to find out what brought them to our workshops. For many, involvement in the arts hasn’t been part of their lives. It’s a privilege to watch someone discover or rediscover their ‘creative self’. 

What’s the most rewarding thing about your job?

A highlight for me is when participants choose to stay connected with the Citz after a project ends. Often, our work takes place outside the building, bringing theatre to the people and communities we serve. While they know us, they may not have a relationship with the Citizens Theatre or the wider Company. When they take that step to get in touch with us, it’s really special.

And the most difficult?

Knowing when to stop can be challenging. We often build close relationships with participants, sometimes over several years. It can be tough to recognise when a project has naturally come to an end and has fulfilled its purpose.

Do you have a favourite show or project that you’ve worked on at the Citizens Theatre, and why?

I found this so hard to answer as there have been so many special projects. But two that really stand out are:

Here We Stay 

The first show I worked on at the Citizens Theatre was Here We Stay, a co-production with the Scottish Refugee Council. The show celebrated the diverse life stories of asylum-seekers, refugees, and locals living in Glasgow. Hearing the stories of the newly arrived Glaswegians had a profound effect on me. Through the creative process, I was able to see the transformative power of theatre and its ability to bring people together who may never have crossed paths otherwise. 

I was really inspired by Elly, Neil, and the wider Citizens Theatre Company. I learned a lot from watching how they managed group dynamics, overcame language barriers, and supported the various needs within the room. At times, it was challenging, but they did it in such a supportive, nurturing, and respectful way. The rehearsal room was a safe place where people felt comfortable sharing their often-difficult stories. As a new graduate, I learned a lot from how they worked with and responded to the group. It was also a good laugh, from racing around the Gorbals looking for cast members minutes before the show started to dealing with complaints about sandwiches overflowing with mayonnaise. It gave me insight into life as a community artist, and I loved it! This was the start of my Citizens Theatre journey and the moment I knew this was the place I wanted to be. It really shaped my practice then and probably still does now, 12 years later. 

WAC Ensemble 

Being part of the team that established We Are Citizens (WAC), Scotland’s first ensemble for care experienced artists, has been a really important part of my role in the Participate team. Since it was established in 2017, the group has continually produced creative work, including films, theatre productions, and radio plays. Working with people with care experience wasn’t something new for me, but creating a dedicated space for care experienced young people was an important step to show our commitment to supporting these artists and ensuring that they are represented within the sector. We’ve been able to challenge preconceptions about care experience and represent this community at events throughout the country. Yes, our group is care experienced, but for me, first and foremost, they are creatives and artists, and we’ve been able to create a space for those talents to be nurtured. 

Many of the group are now working in the industry, creating their own work or working in the community, doing jobs like mine. I’m proud that we have been able to be a wee part of that journey. (You can read more about the WAC Ensemble here.)

What experience, knowledge or qualifications do you need to do your job?
A foundation in theatre or drama is important, but more essential, I think, is an interest in working with people in the community. Volunteering with local community groups might be a good place to learn and see first-hand what it takes to bring together people in a community setting.  

Volunteering as a youth group leader was a good place for me to develop facilitation skills and build confidence in speaking to groups. I always remember how nervous I used to get when I had to ask a group of people to stand in a circle. Now I do it every day and don’t think twice about it! 

There are also some specific courses in Applied Theatre that would give you a good insight into the world of participatory arts and the opportunities to explore facilitation in a variety of settings. 

Do you have any advice for someone interested in a career in Participation?

Connect with local community groups and speak to people delivering arts projects in your area. Go along and put yourself through the process of being facilitated, put yourself in the shoes of a participant. Support other organisations that are delivering work in the community and become an ally of the sector. At the Citz, we regularly offer opportunities to shadow our team or participate in short-term placements. These experiences allow you to dip your toe into our world and see if it’s the right fit for you. 

How did you start out?

Originally, I studied Popular Music at University. I’d always been interested in Music and Drama. As Drama wasn’t a subject that was available at my school, the teachers pushed me towards Music. It just wasn’t quite right for me though. So, after a year I left and went onto study Acting and Performance. Soon after, I did a BA in Drama. The course was quite varied but what excited me most were the opportunities to create work in the community.

At the Citz, I initially worked as a volunteer, then gained an internship as a Creative Learning Assistant, which resulted in a full-time job. This only happened because of a chance meeting with Elly Goodman, Community Drama Artist, at the library while I was writing my dissertation. I followed up with an email to ask about getting involved, and the timing was right; Elly and Neil were about to start a new project: Here We Stay.

We’re getting ready to return to our building in 2025. What are you most excited about when the building reopens?

I’m looking forward to seeing young people back in our building. For many of the children involved in our current projects, the Citizens Theatre has been a construction site on their doorstep. I can’t wait to discover the building with them and help them feel that the Citizens Theatre is a place for them. This includes my own two wee humans! 

I’m also excited to be with the wider Citz team! Over the past six years, we’ve worked across various sites. We’ve been brought together for meetings and events and have tried to stay connected, but it’s not the same as being together in the building. I’ve missed the buzz of the building, the busyness, the actors coming back and forth, the sneak peeks of costumes being made in Wardrobe. There’s something special about being ‘in and about it all’ when a show is being made.