Philistines

What has the National Theatre of Scotland done to upset the Scottish Executive? Here is the entirety of the Executive's press release:

"The National Theatre of Scotland, launched with a budget of £7.5 million from the Executive, is exactly one year old today.
Culture Minister Patricia Ferguson said:
"What they have delivered has been amazing. It has had a significant impact and will continue to do so."
Figures from NTS show that total audience for completed production, not including the latest Mary Stuart at the Royal Lyceum in Edinburgh, was 64,335.
Audience and participation in its education arm, NTS learn, totalled more than 30,000.
It has played in 44 locations; conventional theatres to drill halls, a tower block, a ferry and an
airport."

Pretty grudging stuff, you might think. It is surely discourteous, even churlish, not to thank the Chair and Board of the NTS for their efforts during the past year. And Vicki Featherstone, the Chief Executive and Artistic Director, certainly deserves a mention in despatches. Has the Executive nothing to say about the enormous success of Black Watch?

Shoddy treatment by the Executive of a national institution. After all, there is a form to this kind of announcement. Especially when the NTS is doing the business.

The Scotsman has a more balanced report. Even The Guardian has lavished praised here.