Weel duin tae Lucy Beth wha hae bin nominatit in Scots Writer o the Year (sponsored by the National Library of Scotland) in the Scots Language Awards. Vote now!
The 2026 Scots Language Awards tak place on Saturday 19th September at the iconic Discovery Centre, home of the RRS Discovery Ship (1pm). Reserve yer ticket here.
The awards will be a daytime event this year, making them as inclusive and accessible to as many award nominees from across Scotland as possible.
We askit Lucy Beth o Lucy Beth thae speirins.
Tell us aboot yersel or yer ootfit.
A am a performer, theatre-makker an spoken-ward artist fae Inverurie, Aiberdeenshire.
A scrieve an perform in Doric (ma native dialect) as a means o celebrating e dialect an rendering it present oan stage.
A like tae use Doric in unsuspecting wyes tae subvert negative stereotypes aboot Doric spikkers.
Whit wis it got ye involvit wi the Scots leid?
Ma wee brither is profoundly disabled. His disabilities render him non-verbal. Sae, fae a young age, A wis acutely aware aat being able tae communicate is nae a birthricht but infact a huge privilege. Initially, fin A wis hearing e media narrative aat Doric wis deein, it grated oan me. E idea aat a dialect cwid be lost fin sum fowlk cannae spik at aa frustrated me. E loss o a dialect is preventable, sae ess interested me in dialect preservation an drove me tae investigate scriving an performin in ma mither tongue.
Upon further investigation during ma studenthood, A realised aat there continues tae be a braw body o wark in Doric. Contemporaries sic as Morna Young, Morna Pearson, Rona Munro and Jo Gilbert are using e Mither Tongue tae create contemporary warks. Ess excited me an encouraged me tae contribute meaningfully tae iss body o wark.
Why dae ye feel it is important tae use Scots in everyday life?
It is a huge pairt o oor national identity.
Dialects reflect fowlk’s lives, an if e dialect weakens, then connections wi oor ancestors’ warld an cultural environment braks doon.
By spikkin in oor leid an dialects it allows us tae connect tae oor roots. It is oor unique wye o expressing oor experiences o being in e warld an helps tae add tae e cartography o human behaviour an experiences. Wi e recent passing o e Scottish Languages Act (2025), it is noo mair important than ivver tae promote an continue using e Mither Tongue in everyday life sae it cin be represented positivley in airts an culture. Ess maks a chynge fae sum producing hooses an films (like Brave) fa use Doric in a gimmicky or undesireable fashion.
A am jist new back fae attending Riddu Riddu Arts Festival (Europe’s largest indigenous festival) as an international delegate. Connecting wi e Sami community in Norway his reignited ma passion for preserving and celebrating Doric as they dee sic an inspiring job wi preserving and celebrating Sami thraw music, theatre, prose, poetry, cultural exchanges, warking wi yungersters.
Dae ye hae a favourite Scots phrase or saying?
"Yer an angel athoot wings"
Is there a Scots speaker who inspires you?
Alan Bissett
Do you hear Scots spoken regularly in your local area? Have you noticed any changes over time?
E North East O Scotland is populated by a wide variety o vyces, which gees us a rich tapestry o vyces.
Doric continues tae be spoken an is heard oan e daily.
Fowlk converse in Doric but also lean intae their bilingualism; sum fowlk flit atween English and Doric Scots.
Ony particlar career heighlichts
Playing Blanca in Ten Feet Tall Theatre’s production o Guilty by Rona Munro as pairt o Granite Noir Festival. E show selt oot an wis weel received by e audience an e press.
Performing ma 5-star rated, award-winning show, Ma Name Is Isabelle, at The Scottish Storytelling Centre as pairt o their 2025 Edinburgh Fringe Season.
Wha’s yer plans fir the days aheid?
A hiv recently been commissioned by Aberdeen Performing Arts tae scrieve an perform a new spoken-ward poyum tae celebrate His Majesty’s Theatre’s a hunner an twentieth birthday. Iss poyum will be performed at e gala celebration denner in September.
A am currently warking oan a commission fae e Saltire Society tae scrieve a new one wumman show.
A am continuing tae scrieve an perform ma ain spoken wark poyums. A am e current Belladrum Slam Poetry Champion an will be competing at e National Championships in February.
Read more about Lucy Beth
https://www.lucy-beth-performer.com/
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The Scots Language Awards are in Dundee on the 19th September at 1pm. There wull be some grand entertainmint includin a recitals fae Yvonne Tait an Hugh Macmillan alang wi musical performances fae Iona Fyfe and Scott Gardiner.
To attend the Scots Language Awards there are a few tickets remaining. Click here to reserve your tickets.
Join Elfie Picket Theatre for the Scots language nicht BLETHER, fur a nicht o music, poetry and stories aa celebratin Scots Leid & culture. We hae twa special guests jynin us and a wee open mic. Leadin us intae a big Dundee Fringe Ceilidh! Startin at 6pm, tickets £10.
If you would like to support Hands Up for Trad in their work with Scottish language please consider donating here.