About the Trust
Purpose of the Trust
Tom’s work as Scottish Arts Council Literary Associate gave a new generation of Scottish Playwrights encouragement and support. He subsequently became Director Emeritus of Playwrights’ Studio Scotland, which he was instrumental in creating. His home, Ash Villa, where he lived with his partner Ella Wildridge for twenty years, has always been a welcoming, supportive and stimulating place for artists to meet, talk, work and create. It was Tom’s wish for this legacy to continue.
The Tom McGrath Trust offers support to playwrights and translators working in Scotland. The Trust aims to stimulate the development of new writing and will support Scottish and international playwrights and translators through a programme of residencies, dramaturgical support, small grants and professional development opportunities.
Since making its first awards in 2011, the Trust has supported 76 writers and has dispersed £34,725. This has enabled an impressive amount of new writing projects to be seeded and developed with some of Scotland’s most interesting and curious playwrights at early stages in their careers.
2011 – 2019 Activities:
Thanks to generous donors and Friends of the Trust: Morven McLean at Original Editions; Anne Brumfitt; Biddy Canard; Nicholas Bone; Drs H & M Morris; John and Zinnie Harris; Faith Liddell; Purni Morell; Wendy Niblock; James and Marianne Robertson; Fiona Sturgeon Shea; Anita Wilson, Catherine Murtagh and everyone who has offered their support. Thanks also to Trustees Lucy Mason and Alice McGrath.
The founding supporters of the Tom McGrath Trust are: National Theatre Scotland, Playwrights’ Studio Scotland and generous anonymous donors.
Tom McGrath Trust 