Scottee leaves theatre collective Scottee and Friends after five years

Artist and performer Scottee is to step down from the theatre collective he co-founded, Scottee and Friends, after five years. 

Scottee and Friends, which describes itself as "a collective of fat, queer, common, femme and neurodiverse artists, producers and participants who are mates", was set up by Scottee and Molly Nicholson in 2017 to champion under-represented and marginalised voices. 

The company, which is to become an Arts Council England national portfolio organisation in April, is temporarily renaming itself &Friends while it evaluates its plans for the future.

In a statement published on the company’s website, Scottee said he was stepping down after receiving a new medical diagnosis. 

It comes after the company postponed its Class tour to "support Scottee while they recovered and rested". 

Scottee, co-founder and co-director of Scottee and Friends, said: "Having spent most of last year in the support of an NHS specialist psychiatric team, I’ve been given new diagnoses to understand – autism and emotionally unstable personality disorder. 

"I’ve learned a lot about myself over the past year. Having led creatively for over a decade – across art forms, time zones and difficult landscapes, I think I’m ready for a change of pace, responsibility and to enjoy some much-needed time in the passenger seat."

Scottee, who is represented by Divergent Talent Group, will continue to work as a freelance artist.