About Raymond Ross Artistic Director of Theatre Objektiv, Raymond Raszkowski Ross is a playwright, author, editor, publisher, journalist and ghost-writer.

Plays for Theatre Objektiv include:

Wojtek the Bear (Scottish Storytelling Centre/Netherbow Theatre June 2012) is a new play telling the extraordinary story of Wojtek, the loveable Polish soldier bear, who fought at Monte Cassino. The story of how a man came to mother a bear, of how they went to war together and how they were to survive in post-war Britain. This emotive journey from the Soviet Gulag and Persia to the Middle East, Italy and Scotland is a story of love and loyalty, war and peace, heroism and hope. Pilot production supported by Creative Scotland and the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Edinburgh (Directed by Corinne Harris).

Corinne Harris as Jane Haining in Auschwitz	A Promised Land (Scottish Storytellling Centre/Netherbow Theatre July 2009 ; Scottish tour 2010) is a new play about a quiet but dedicated woman, who unintentionally became one of the 20th century’s greatest Scots - Jane Haining, sometimes referred to as ‘the Scottish Schindler’ because of her achievement in saving dozens of Hungarian Jewish children from the gas chambers. (Directed by Donald Smith).
	The Old Quarter (Scottish Storytelling Centre/Netherbow Theatre June 2006). Storytelling theatre with live music, inspired by the stories of Czech writer Jan Neruda. Commissioned by the City of Edinburgh, a popular success, The Old Quarter was the first major theatre production at the new Scottish Storytelling Centre (Directed by Donald Smith).	Matthew Zajac, Kirsty Smith, John Sampson and (front) Corinne Harris

Karl Marx’s Beard (Arches, Glasgow, and Traverse, Edinburgh, November 2004), a darkly comic play set in a Soviet psychiatric hospital where two old Bolsheviks, Boris and Karloff, relive their lives in the communist empire (“a hot ticket” The Scotsman). Supported by the Scottish Arts Council (Directed by Ed Robson).

The Secret Agent, a radical adaptation of Joseph Conrad’s novel, an SAC commission which produced a theatre installation event in October 2004 (Directed by Ed Robson) and a dramatised reading (Directed by Corinne Harris) in June 2005 (both Roxy Art House, Edinburgh).

Chopin in Midcalder, Chopin’s six month sojourn in Scotland 1848 where he found the people ugly but the cows magnificent, first performed at RADA/King’s College (dir. Corinne Harris) July 2002; then (with SAC support) at the Traverse and Netherbow Theatre (Festival Fringe) 2003 (Directed by Ed Robson).

Out of Europe – Children of the Holocaust, produced by Theatre Objektiv at the Traverse, January 2003, as part of the City of Edinburgh’s hosting of National Holocaust Day, the play was originally commissioned by Community Education Edinburgh and produced at the Festival Fringe (Netherbow Theatre, directed by Ed Robson) 2002 (“true art” Evening News).

One of Raymond’s recent plays Miracles was produced at the Edinburgh Fringe 2007 (Evening News Critics’ Choice) by Go4It Youth Theatre in association with Theatre Objektiv (“a firm ensemble piece in which every performer is faultless” Three Weeks).

Other works:

Previous full-length plays include Josef (SAC writers’ bursary), an exploration of Polish identity in Scotland based on the playwright’s father, produced by Theatre Alba, Festival Fringe 2000 (dir. Charles Nowosielski); The Jock Stein Story, commissioned by Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow, dir. John Murtagh 1997; We are the Hibees! King’s Theatre Edinburgh (SAC commission) 1996 dir. Hugh Laughlan & Robin Peoples; King of the Witches (James VI and the North Berwick witch hunt, SAC commission) Brunton Theatre 1995 (dir. Robin Peoples); and The Massacre of Tranent (SAC commission, Brunton Theatre, directed by Charles Nowosielski 1991).

Aisling’s Children: Tales of the Homecoming was staged before an international audience of thousands at Edinburgh Castle Esplanade on the night of July 25th 2009 as the centrepiece of The Gathering 2009. Written by Raymond Ross, with director Mark Murphy, and with music by composer Jim Sutherland, a huge cast brought to life the history of the Scottish clans, Highland and Lowland, as seen through the eyes of the visionary, Aisling MacLean, and the generations of her family.

Raymond scripted Our Scotland, the story of Scottish immigration and emigration, presented at the Royal Lyceum in June 2007, a multi-media exploration of Scotland’s past and present to be re-staged at the Royal Lyceum on St Andrew’s Night (November 30th) 2007. Diected by Tony Cownie. Funded by Scottish government.

Raymond scripted the UK Holocaust Memorial Day Event, Usher Hall January 27th 2003, commissioned by the City of Edinburgh and the Home Office, produced by the Royal Lyceum, dir. Tony Cownie; and 15CCEM, the opening ceremony for the 15th Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers, EICC October 27th 2003, commissioned by the Scottish Executive, produced by Royal Lyceum, directed by Tony Cownie.

Raymond has written many plays for West Lothian Youth Theatre including The Shale Bairns and The Wee Magic Stane as well short plays for the Children’s Panel, SCEC, Volunteer Scotland etc. Johnny Be Bad, a mini-rock opera, was commissioned by EVENT for the official celebrations to open the Scottish Parliament, July 1st 1999.

He has written twice on Robert Burns (Burns for Breakfast and Robert Burns’ Hidden Edinburgh); his satirical play Scots Wahi! (directed by Scott Johnston) was premiered in Budapest, and played the Celtic Isles Festival, Derry City (1993/4). Other touring productions (for Gallus Stage Productions) include Billy Marshall (1991 with live music by Martyn Bennett), Waiting for Baby (1990-91) and The Beautiful Gemme (1989-93).

The presenter of For Your Freedom and Ours, four programmes for BBC Radio Scotland exploring the experiences of the Polish community in Scotland from 1940 to the present day (produced by Debbie McPhail 2004), Raymond has also written for BBC education TV.

Raymond has written radio dramas for BBC Radio Scotland Education and pantos for King’s Theatres, Edinburgh and Glasgow, Ayr Gaiety, Brunton Theatre and West Lothian Youth Theatre.

Raymond was the editor and publisher of Cencrastus literary magazine for over twenty years and has edited and published several books of poetry including Hamish Henderson’s Collected Poems and Songs (2000).

Together with Josef Tarnowski, Raymond wrote Walking with Shadows (2009) - a book of exile and odyssey: the incredible and moving story of Josef Tarnowski, a young Polish freedom fighter.

Raymond is an associate lecturer with the Open University in Scotland and tutors in creative writing at the University of Edinburgh (Lifelong Learning).