Humanist Society interview series: theatre director Maggie Kinloch on telling stories as a humanist celebrant

August 19, 2026

We speak to Humanist Society board member and acclaimed theatre director Prof. Maggie Kinloch about humanism, theatre, and celebrancy. Maggie will appear at our Festival of Humanism on 14 November. Book your tickets here.

Hi Maggie! Please introduce yourself

I’m Maggie Kinloch. I’m going to be speaking at the Festival of Humanism so I’m glad to say hello to you all here, by way of introducing myself to you!

I’m retired now but I spent my life from the age of four loving theatre, so much so that I made it my career. I played Little Bo Peep when I was four and the applause got me hooked! I became a director who wrote, and I acted occasionally as well…

I began my career teaching in schools, then became Head of Drama at Glasgow Arts Centre. From there I had spells at many theatres in Scotland before teaching for a period in London. I returned to Scotland as Director of Drama at Queen Margaret University and then Deputy Principal of Royal Conservatoire Scotland. I retired early in 2016 to pursue my work as a Humanist Celebrant.

All of my work has to do with storytelling, whether as a maker of theatre, or in celebrating a life, a love story, or a young person’s arrival in the world. Storytelling is storytelling! I always loved to tell stories to the best of my ability.

A tour bus parked on a ferry with the ferry's passenger deck and mountains visible behind. Text on the ferry reads "Royal Mail supports The Byre Theatre" and there are performers in and outside the bus smiling at the camera, and one on the passenger walkway. — ON TOUR WITH THE BYRE THEATRE, WHERE MAGGIE BECAME ARTISTIC DIRECTOR in 1989

I knew then I’d be a humanist celebrant one day. It seemed the perfect way to bring my beliefs, my writing and my storytelling together.

What about your connection to humanism, how did that come about?

My parents were Christian Spiritualists and so, as I child, I thought I was too. I was in my forties before I realised I wasn’t, though at some level I’d understood for many years that I didn’t believe in a god. Then the penny dropped. Yes, I thought, there were great strengths in many of the Christian values I’d been taught, and the stories in the Bible were mostly great. But they were just that for me: stories

I didn’t really realise I was fully-fledged humanist until 2008. When I did, it hit me like the most amazing realisation! It felt wonderful to read the Amsterdam Declaration and to realise I wasn’t alone. I knew then I’d be a celebrant one day. It seemed the perfect way to bring my beliefs, my writing, my storytelling, my values and my public speaking experience together. And in a way which offered me the chance to care for my fellow humans, to support them, to celebrate with them and to walk beside them at the most powerfully emotional moments in their lives.

I joined Humanist Society Scotland in 2014 as a member. It wasn’t long before my committee and board experience was recognised and I was co-opted as a trustee. Eventually I became chair for six years, and found it incredibly fulfilling to serve such an important charity. Meanwhile, I worked as a celebrant for a decade. I loved it! I’ve been so fortunate to love my theatre work, my education work, my strategic work, and my celebrancy work. Each one of them has made me light up in some way.

Two people sitting on armchairs with a table with portrait photo of an old couple between them. It looks like a stage set depicting an old-fashioned living room. — MAGGIE (RIGHT) WITH SCOTTISH SINGER HORSE, WHOM MAGGIE DIRECTED IN HORSE’S ONE-WOMAN THEATRE SHOW CAREFUL (2017)

My mother once asked me if I realised that every show I ever did was about human beings trying to work things out about their lives. I think that’s what theatre does, and I think it’s what humanism does.

What does humanism mean to you?

Being a humanist, telling people I’m a humanist, gives a firmer foundation to my sense of how I live my life. I recognise that I learned my values within a large, loving Christian family. I lost my faith but I didn’t lose my values. Instead, I recontextualised them into the secular framework of humanism. For me, that has been a far more comfortable way to say who I am.

I also see my humanism as connected to my work as a director, which has given me joy all my life. I’ve worked with children and young people, worked on classics and new writing, musicals, pantomime, great dramas, comedies, devised theatre, touring theatre, main stage shows, community theatre: you name it.

My mother once asked me if I realised that every show I ever did was about human beings trying to work things out about their lives. I think that’s what theatre does, and I think it’s what humanism does. Both have also allowed me to explore myself and perhaps even to find my version of spirituality.

A PERFORMANCE SHOT FROM CALEDONIA USA: THE GALLAGHER AND LYLE MUSICAL (2016)

There was a sell-out every night, standing ovations, and a feeling in my heart that I shall never lose: a life force!

What are some favourite shows?

So many shows live with me in my heart: Wuthering Heights at the Byre, Three Sisters at Oran Mor, a beautiful trilogy by Matthew McVarish for Oran Mor, Closely Observed Trains in London…There are so many. But the one in the very core of my heart is Caledonia USA: The Gallagher and Lyle Musical. I co-wrote it with my dearest friend and collaborator, the late Viv Adam, and the amateur club Largs Players, with whom I began my career, produced it.

I directed a company of some 60 folk. Students at the Royal Conservatoire created an incredible digital set. And my old chums Graham and Benny (Gallagher and Lyle themselves) allowed us to use some of their amazing hit songs, so full of character and narrative. My late brother had been their manager so I grew up with these songs. It all came together into the most astonishing experience for all of us and for the citizens of Largs. There was a sell-out every night, standing ovations, and a feeling in my heart that I shall never lose: a life force! And just at the point in my life when I was becoming an HSS celebrant! Synchronicity? I’d say so.

Maggie (right) in a blue and white spotted shirt with a man and woman in medieval style bride and groom clothes. All three have their arms around each other and smile at the camera. — MARRYING TWO CAST MEMBERS FROM CALEDONIA USA

Maggie will speak about her life in the theatre and humanism at our Festival of Humanism 2026 on 14 November 2026.

BOOK TICKETS TO SEE MAGGIE SPEAK AT OUR FESTIVAL OF HUMANISM

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