The Jerwood Residencies 2016 supported the creation of new work and innovative ways of working by Scottish artists in a collaborative setting. Generously funded by the Jerwood Charitable Trust since 2002, these two-week residencies focused on research and experimentation within the interdisciplinary environment of Cove Park.

Velvet Evening Séance was co-conceived by Ross MacKay and Suzie Miller during a previous residency at Cove Park supported by the National Theatre of Scotland. Following their initial collaboration on In The Heart of Darby Park, they delved into the history and performative elements of Victorian séances. Accompanied by Edinburgh-based composer Jim Harbourne, MacKay and Miller used the Jerwood Residency to further develop Velvet Evening Séance, investigating how magic, music, and puppetry can enhance the narrative. They also explored creating a working text that supports a more visual theatrical language.

Velvet Evening Séance premiered at Assembly Hall at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2017, followed by a 2018 Scottish tour from The Lemon Tree in Aberdeen.

Ross MacKay is a visual theatre maker, known for co-founding the award-winning company Tortoise in a Nutshell. His productions have received numerous prestigious awards, including a Scotsman Fringe First for New Writing and a Critic’s Pick from The New York Times.

Suzie Miller is an award-winning Australian playwright whose works have been performed internationally. Her play Prima Facie won the 2023 Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Play. At the 2023 Tony Awards, Prima Facie was nominated in four categories and won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play, which was awarded to Jodie Comer.