About Us

Rapture is one of Scotland’s leading touring theatre companies. Our mission is to create exhilarating world class theatre, with audience engagement, experience and enjoyment at its heart.

Uncle Varick 2014 cast in rehearsal

Who We Are

Lyn McAndrew

Artistic Director

Lyn McAndrew is co-founder and Artistic Director of Rapture Theatre, and has been for over twenty years, having overall artistic control of Rapture’s production choices, directorial decisions, and artistic direction.

She is responsible for developing the strong artistic vision of the company and collaborated with her partner, Michael Emans, on over sixty Rapture shows. Lyn has extensive experience of working in the theatre as director, designer and actor, and she is an accomplished writer who is currently collaborating on a number of adaptations of literary works for the stage.

After graduating from university, Lyn began working in theatre and directed the first show to be performed in the O2 Arena in London, before forming Rapture Theatre, now Scotland’s leading touring theatre company, which has played in almost every theatre in Scotland and has achieved significant critical acclaim.

Trained: Edinburgh University, Strathclyde University

Acting Credits
For Rapture: All My Sons, Macbeth, Perfect Days, Shang-a-Lang, Assassins, Betrayal, Bold Girls, Speed the Plow, Simpatico, Boy Gets Girl, Richard III, Boston Marriage, Twisted, Proof and Hamlet.

Theatre Includes: The High School, The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil, A Night in the Ukraine, Teechers, The Steamie, Men Should Weep, The Cemetery Club, The London Vertigo, The Orchestra and Play it Again Sam.

Designer Credits

For Rapture Theatre as designer: Macbeth, Perfect Days, Assassins, Insignificance, Simpatico, Old Neighborhood, Richard III, Boston Marriage, Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, Proof, Misery, Blue/Orange, Damages,The Collection, Broken Glass, Last of the Red Hot Lovers, Hamlet, Gagarin Way and The Sash.

Christina Cox

Project Co-ordinator

Christina is a freelance artist and arts project co-ordinator. She has worked for Rapture since 2014.

Her role involves ensuring a strategic education plan is in place for each of Rapture’s productions and providing a link between the company, the tour venues and any partner organizations involved in the projects.

She is also responsible for all in-house design and has produced the print and digital artwork for all of Rapture’s past productions since joining the company. Other roles also include marketing, PR and in-house photographer.

Michael Emans (1971 - 2021)

Michael founded Rapture Theatre in 1999 and served as Artistic Director for 21 years. His roles within the company were wide and varied, ranging from associate producer and director, to delivering education workshops. He was very much a one-man dynamo with an inordinate passion for theatre.

In his main role as artistic director, Michael was responsible for overseeing all aspects of Rapture’s artistic vison and programming – from selecting the plays, to auditioning actors and recruiting the creative production team, to setting performance programmes and overseeing all aspects of the season’s schedule.

Michael believed theatre is a powerful social, cultural, and educational medium and should be available to everyone through access at their local venues.

Michael trained at Rose Bruford College of Speech and Drama.

About the Company

Rapture are leaders in touring world-class theatre right into the heart of local communities and inspiring audiences across Scotland.

We create exhilarating performances of prescient classic drama and timeless modern plays that are compelling, vibrant and transformative.

We connect with audiences in venues from small village halls to big city theatres, by pioneering new ways of touring that remove geographical, financial and social barriers to attendance and participation.

We devise educational and participative activities that enable our audiences to form deeper connections with our work, while inspiring them to further their own personal creative practices and ambitions

Working with Us

Venues & Promoters

One of our main objectives as a touring theatre company is to reach audiences across the width and breadth of Scotland and beyond. We have toured to many small, medium and large-scaled venues to date and are eager to continue this in venues and locations we have yet to visit. We strive to provide universal appeal in the productions we tour and believe our shows have something for everyone.

If you would be interested in Rapture performing at your venue, please contact us. We would love to hear from you. To find out where we have toured previously, please see our Venues page.

Rapture is a member of the Federation of Scottish Theatre and ​The Independent Theatre Council

 

For Artists

Casting 

Rapture works with UK Wide Casting Directors Jenkins / McShane to assemble exceptional performers for the company’s productions. If you are interested in appearing in a Rapture show, please contact Jenkins McShane in the first instance. 

Other Creatives and Personnel 

If you are interested in working with Rapture in another capacity you are welcome to submit your CV and / or portfolio. Rapture works with a range of creative individuals and welcomes submissions at any time. 

Equalities Diversity and Inclusion 

A copy of our EDI Policy can be provided upon request.

 

Education & Community

Rapture Theatre is continually developing its Education & Community programme to ensure a relevant and sustainable approach to learning and skills-building, through creative participation. Projects vary from production to production but are always tailored to support and enhance the company’s work.

When developing our projects, we regularly work with partner organisations, from local authority education departments to local community amateur dramatic groups. Projects include workshops, digital learning resources and pre and post-show discussions, all providing opportunities for participants to create and take part in theatrical experiences.

Our previous partnerships have included:

Schools, Colleges and Universities
  • North Lanarkshire Council Education and Families
  • St Andrews University
  • Edinburgh College
Community Organisations
  • Show Racism the Red Card
  • See Me
  • Citizens Advice Bureau
  • Learning Later in Life
  • Sense over Sectarianism
  • Scottish Association for Mental Health
  • Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival

We have a broad range of production-specific learning resources to explore. These resources can be downloaded from the relevant production pages.

 

Our Supporters

Our work is only possible through the support of many people and organisations. Just some of those who support us regularly include: