Written and performed by Victoria Beesley and delivered in partnership with North East Arts Touring and Findhorn Bay Arts as part of the Theatre in Schools Scotland, TiSS at 10 programme, the show is offered to schools free of charge.
About the Show
My Friend Selma, written and performed by Victoria Beesley, is the remarkable real-life story of one girl’s journey from war in Bosnia to safety in the UK. It is the tale of an incredible journey, a world turned upside down, loss, friendship, courage and conkers.
When I was 8 years old, my dad set up a charity to help people in danger escape the war in a place called Bosnia. He brought fifty of them over here on big coaches. We moved into an old boarding school with these refugees, to help them settle in. We lived there for four months. It was brilliant – there was a playground in my front garden, we had lots of visitors, people were always feeding me and I learnt to ride a bike! But the best thing about living there was meeting my friend Selma.
“Absorbing, affecting but also robustly unsentimental” ★★★★
The Herald
“I would give this show 280,00,00 out of 5.”
Erin, Aged 9
“One of the best and most emotional, humble theatre productions I have ever seen in a school and had the privilege to share with all the children. All schools should have the opportunity to watch and experience this performance.”
Primary School Teacher
This event is being presented free as part of TiSS at 10
Book for Your School
Book your school’s place now and share My Friend Selma with your pupils as part of the Findhorn Bay Festival schools programme.
Full Details
Performance Dates & Times
My Friend Selma is available for up to 66 pupils (In order to reach the most children possible across local schools, we will be holding these performances at local venues with multiple schools joining the audience) P5-P7
Monday 28 September 2026
10:30-11:45 and 13:00-14:15
Forres Town Hall
Tuesday 29 September 2026
10:30-11:45 and 13:00-14:15
Forres Town Hall
Transport Funding
Findhorn Bay Arts are offering up to £100 transport funding for schools who attend. Your school (if transport is needed) will book and pay for transport to and from the venue, and following the visit Findhorn Bay Arts will refund up to £100 of costs.
Please note: there is a limited transport budget available and this will be offered on a first come first serve basis.
Curriculum for Excellence
My Friend Selma supports learning across several Curriculum for Excellence Second Level (Ages 8-12), with a focus on empathy, communication and global awareness.
Key links include:
- Health and Wellbeing – exploring empathy, resilience, friendship and understanding the experiences of others (HWB 2-01a, HWB 2-05a, HWB 2-08a)
- Literacy and English – developing listening, talking and critical thinking through real-life storytelling (LIT 2-02a, LIT 2-07a)
- Expressive Arts – engaging with live theatre and exploring how performance can communicate powerful stories and emotions (EXA 2-12a, EXA 2-14a)
- Social Studies – developing understanding of global citizenship, conflict and migration (SOC 2-16a)
See the Theatre in Schools website for more details.
Creative Team
About the Artist
Victoria Beesley is a Writer, Director and Producer who makes children’s theatre and delivers art projects in a range of community settings. Her writing for children’s theatre includes My Friend Selma, Invisible Army (Terra Incognita) and Going for Gold: Me and Linford Christie (Catherine Wheels). This work has toured theatres, community venues and schools across Scotland and beyond, including with Theatre in Schools Scotland, Spark Festival and Baboró Festival. Victoria was Associate Artist at the Tron Theatre in 2025, and is currently Director of Standing Tall Scotland.
Credits
Written & Performed by Victoria Beesley
Directed by Joe Douglas
Sound Design by Danny Krass
Presented by Theatre in Schools Scotland in association with Aberdeen Performing Arts and North East Arts Touring. Performances in Moray are in partnership with NEAT and Findhorn Bay Arts as part of the Findhorn Bay Festival.
Performance created with support from Creative Scotland. Exhibition created with support from Heritage Lottery Fund.
Theatre in Schools Scotland is a partnership between Imaginate and National Theatre of Scotland.
TiSS at 10 is sponsored by Savendie and supported by The Weir Charitable Trust.
