How a park protected by Fields in Trust became the theatrical launchpad for a director with a vision and a motley crew of actors and volunteers.
Saughton Park in the south-west of Edinburgh is one of the most beautiful spots in the city. Protected by Fields in Trust since 2012, it has been through many incarnations: as the grounds of a noble family’s residence; the site of a progressive mental asylum; even a field supplying vegetables to local hospitals during WWII. And then, in the lockdowns of 2020 and 2021, it took on a new role.
“During Covid, the park was my happy place,” says Helen Schofield, founder and director of The Forth Act, an Edinburgh-based theatre company which owes its existence to Saughton Park. “My husband and I were living in Balgreen, just north of the park. Like most of the locals we were going there every day during the pandemic to stay sane.” The park is blessed with a river, a large playground, outdoor gym, basketball courts and playing fields. “There is also an area within the park called the Italian Sunken Garden,” says Schofield. “It's enclosed by topiary and it’s magical.”
Schofield was strolling in the Sunken Garden one day during the height of the pandemic in 2020 when she had a revelation. “I had what I call my Judy Garland moment – ‘Let’s put on a show! We could put A Midsummer Night's Dream on right here!’ I just sat down and thought ‘I really want to do this. I really want this to happen’.”
Inspired by the beauty of the park, Schofield got herself organised. She registered The Forth Act group as a charity, recruited board members, brought on volunteers with theatre experience – and, in 2022, with restrictions over, opened for auditions. They weren’t an immediate success. “Nobody had heard of us,” recalls Schofield. “And I know now that in the amateur dramatic world, people thought ‘Shakespeare in the open air? In Saughton Park? I don't think that's going to happen!’ And they didn't turn up.”
Schofield and her crew persisted and eventually struck gold, pulling together a talented cast. They also called on community organisations based in and around Saughton Park. One of the biggest boosts came from its litter-picking group, whose members spread the word about the play as they made their rounds. Park-goers put Schofield in contact with a befriending scheme for older people called Vintage Vibes, which worked on the costumes (including wonderful outfits made from copies of the Edinburgh Evening News). Foursquare, who run the park’s Social Enterprise Cafe, did marketing, laid on refreshments and introduced Schofield to homeless local young people, some of whom took on front-of-house work.
And then, in summer 2023, it was opening night. “The weather was amazing, we were so lucky,” says Schofield. “People poured into the park, where they were met by our team and pointed to the Sunken Garden.” The audience passed sweet-smelling flower beds, immaculately tended lawns and the lovely Winter Garden before finding themselves in the Sunken Garden, which had been turned into a sylvan den. The initial performance was a knockout, as were subsequent nights. “When we were taking down the stage at the end of the run, people came up and said ‘I loved it, what a brilliant setting, when are you coming back? We can’t wait!” says Schofield.
After a well-deserved rest in 2024, The Forth Act troupe are indeed back, working on a production of Twelfth Night for summer 2025. The show will, of course, take place in the Sunken Garden in the heart of this wonderful park, preserved for the community and all its projects – theatrical, sporting, recreational and otherwise – by the power of Fields in Trust.