Vicky Featherstone

For over 100 years, the theatre community in Scotland has been campaigning for a National Theatre. Now it is finally happening.

I have spent the last year setting up the National Theatre of Scotland (NTS).

The idea was first conceived because Scotland felt it had a right to have a theatre of its own.

Once devolution (the creation of the Scottish Parliament with responsibility for local matters), had taken place in Scotland, the Federation of Scottish Theatre went to the Scottish Government (Scotland's government) with a proposal for a model for a national theatre. They accepted it and in September 2003, the Scottish Parliament announced the creation of the NTS.

It's been an amazing opportunity to build a national theatre from scratch. We are in the unique position of being able to create a forward-looking institution that influences the way theatre is made and the way artists work for a theatre for the 21st century.

I think the NTS will elevate Scotland onto the international stage. We'll be able to take work outside Scotland and create a geographical reach across the country that doesn't normally happen with theatre.

It will also enable us to have the proper resources to give the audience a better theatrical experience.

The NTS has no building but instead will tour around venues large and small across Scotland, from Shetland in the north to Dumfries and Galloway in the south, working with the existing theatre community.

I enjoy the diversity of culture in Scotland with its excellent playwrights, composers and musicians. Scotland isn't an elite country in any sense. You can create theatre for the people which really excites me.

When I am travelling I miss my husband and children, who are in Glasgow. My favourite place in Scotland is Rannoch Moor, near Glencoe because it's so beautiful.

There's a real commitment to culture in Scotland. It's important to be part of the country when the changes brought about by devolution are happening. I also think it's very important that we are part of the vision of a new Scotland and we become a world leader in this area. We take this responsibility very seriously.