In 2024 we collaborated with the Scottish Prison Service and The University of Edinburgh to lead workshops with young people who have a family member currently in the prison system. Together, we fostered a supportive space for storytelling in the face of hardship.

Eight emerging animators from Edinburgh Collage of Art received a paid commission to transform the young storytellers’ visions into animated short films.

The Spark: How RSVP came to life

As part of the 2024 International Festival programme, we welcomed back the innovative theatre company 1927. 1927 is globally renowned for blending live performance and projection technology. Their production Please right back explores the difficulties children go through when a parent is absent, while celebrating the power of the imagination to overcome hardship.

When Please Right Back was performed in Chile, 1927 worked with family support services. The project saw the creation of short animations by young people who have a family member currently within the prison system. Taking inspiration from this idea, we reached out to the Scottish Prison Service to create our own version here in Scotland. And so, the RSVP Project was born.

Storytelling Facilitators worked in two prison settings from March until August 2024. Through workshops, the young people created characters entirely from their own imagination. They then had the opportunity to work with their families and professional artists to develop their characters into full storylines.

Their stories – ‘Whinny the Witch’, a grumpy witch from Govan who learns about kindness, ‘Stu and Steve, Monster Detectives’, a suspicious monster who causes panic, and “Cornton Valley Blues”,a crocodile and a mermaid’s unlikely friendship – were already starting to jump off the page. It was time to bring the animators into the room. The stories were ready to come to life.

One of our key missions is to bring people closer to the art. Another is to nurture the next generation of local talent. As part of this commitment, we partnered with Edinburgh College of Art’s Animation course. Eight emerging animators received a paid commission to transform the young storytellers’ visions into animated short films.

The families and participants worked on all aspects of the animation. A Sound Designer was brought on board to work on voice overs, making the final pieces truly collaborative. The project provided the emerging animators with experience of working in community settings alongside a professional credit for their portfolio.

A Shared Experience: Screenings and Reflections

The pieces created through the RSVP Project have already had two screenings. The first within the prison setting, watched by the young people and their family members. The second, held in August at the Festival Theatre Studio, served as a curtain-raiser for a performance ofPlease right back.

The animated pieces capture the imagination, creativity, and energy of the young storytellers. Watch them below or on YouTube to experience their stories firsthand.

Animator Credits:

Whinny the Witch
Eve Shiels
Jude Rogers

Cornton Valley Blues
Isabella Nossa
Lucie Colborne
Yichen Guo

Stu and Steve Monster Detective’s Agency
Alvaro Villa
Amber Rose Wong
Jennifer MacLeod

The RSVP Animation Project was delivered in collaboration with the Scottish Prison Service and the University of Edinburgh.

This project is part of our year-round Discovery & Participation programme, supported by Baillie Gifford.