The Flames

Are you over 50 and do you have a story to tell? 

Tricky Hat is welcoming people to join their performance company The Flames, to create a show that challenges pre-conceived ideas of how older people think and what they aspire to.

We’re back in Edinburgh at the Traverse Theatre and at CatStrand, Castle Douglas early in 2026 –  check out our What’s On Page  and find the dates and information you need there. Remember to follow us on our social media channels to catch the news when it’s hot!

What happens when I join The Flames?

Our performance company The Flames is made up of people from many walks of life.  The one thing The Flames have in common is that they are over 50 years old.  There are Flames all over Scotland, some in Japan and New Zealand!

Tricky Hat works in partnership with theatres and community arts centres and we call out to people in those areas to come and join The Flames.

The Flames work with Tricky Hat’s team of professional artists in a series of creative and inspiring workshops, exploring ideas based on The Flames’ own life experiences and stories, which is then created into a show alongside others using performance, movement, film and specially composed music.

We welcome people from all walks of life and gender identity. No experience is necessary, and participation is free. There is no acting, and no scripts.

The Flames is for anyone who wants to challenge themselves, try something new, or just be part of a creative group of like-minded people! You don’t need to have any experience of theatre, you just need to be open to the possibilities and up for joining in!

For registering your interest, and if you have any questions, please e-mail info@trickyhat.com

What is it like to be in The Flames?

“Being a Flame re-awakened my adventurous spirit“

“It’s an opportunity to play, to be creative and to meet and make new friends. A chance to share life experiences and to hear amazing stories from other people.”

“The moment I arrived at rehearsals, everything else receded to the background while I discovered new people, new parts of myself and new experiences. I found it possible to be myself in the atmosphere created, and discovered I had some confidence to speak and to inquire of others.”

“Gave me such a sense of achievement and something I thought I was incapable of doing.”

 “The creative team has been brilliant, supportive, inclusive, insightful, and fun. They created an atmosphere of trust necessary to bring the best out of us.“

All you need to bring is yourself and your own life experience. 

 

 

Access

If cost of travel is a barrier to your participation there are a limited number of travel bursaries available.

Main image credit: Brian Hartley

In Partnership with The Traverse Theatre, CatStrand and Arts D&G

 

 

Supported by Creative Scotland and The William Syson Foundation