Man (still pacing, speaking quietly but firmly): “I don’t have to be here, you know. I don’t want to come to a school where kids aren’t interested in what I’m telling them. (Shaking the papers towards them.) If I’d presented an outline for a play that looked as if it had been scrawled on bog roll in two minutes’ flat, I’d never have got my first writing job.”

Silence.

Man (stops pacing and faces the class): “Today, you need to make up your minds if you want me to be here. If you’re genuinely interested in doing some creative writing, I’ll stay. But if you continue to take the mickey, I’ll go away and I won’t come back. Now, are we ready to go on?” Class (shamefacedly): “Yes.”

This real-life mini drama took place at an Aberdeen west end secondary school, on Hallowe’en. Visiting playwright Mike Harris may not have been the Advanced Higher creative writing group’s worst nightmare, but his cutting words certainly had them squirming.

After a seemingly successful first session the previous week, only three-quarters of the students had completed the task he’d set them and written out a story idea for a play. Most of those who had bothered had produced what Mike described as “Rubbish, utter rubbish - who on earth could write a play whose central character is a hamster, for heaven’s sake?” Earlier, in the staffroom, he said: “I’ve taken 50 similar sessions since I arrived in Aberdeen this summer, and this is the first one where the kids don’t seem to be taking the subject seriously.”

Happily, his up-front attitude at the start of the second session had the desired effect. Snapped out of their lethargy, the students switched on to Mike’s lightning-fast lesson in narrative development, and unleashed their latent creativity with some interesting story ideas. Scene two, the following Wednesday, saw them presenting him with their plotted outlines, complete with story events, which led to some further good discussion.

Mike’s skill in resolving the issue to such a satisfactory outcome derives from his background as an English teacher in Manchester, and many years’ writing and directing plays professionally with young people. This, together with his experience as a successful radio playwright, makes him the ideal playwright-in-residence for Aberdeen’s Lemon Tree arts centre.

The first position of its kind in Scotland, Mike’s is one of two innovative Lottery-funded pilot projects to be introduced by the Lemon Tree as part of its wide-reaching and rapidly developing education programme.

The other involves creative musician and composer-in-residence, Kit Watson who, during her 10-month placement, will further her professional development through composition mentorship from leading Scottish composer Alastair Nicholson. She will also be involved in researching new music opportunities for young people by visiting other groups throughout the UK, and in forming a youth composition ensemble group.

Kit, formerly musician-in-residence with Aberdeen City Council, is enthusiastic about her role.

“It’s exciting, scary, and something I’ve wanted to do for a long, long time,” she says.

“Having a band of young musicians with the discipline and desire to create new music will be a brilliant opportunity - not only for the ensemble themselves, but also for the other creative groups that we may well link up with, such as those involved in youth theatre and dance.”

Working with young people from secondary schools, colleges and a range of community groups, Kit and Mike aim to help them develop creative skills which they may not normally have the opportunity to express. Mike’s school visits - designed to support core English and drama curriculum topics - are proving highly popular, with eight schools in the city and Aberdeenshire signing up for his four-session “module” since August.

He has also set up a young playwrights group, which meets weekly at the Lemon Tree, and together they’re working towards a production which he describes as “something in the realms of Shallow Grave meets Burke and Hare”, sparked off by his resurrection of some grisly local history as part of his initial research.

“With Mike’s playwrights group and Kit’s youth ensemble, there’ll be a great buzz for young folk at the Lemon Tree on Monday and Tuesday nights. It will be great if they can get together to collaborate on a production,” says education officer Grant Williams. Together with director Shona Powell and marketing manager Andy Catlin, he is dedicated to developing a highly-creative education programme, covering the spectrum of performance arts.

“We’re hoping soon to bring in a dance artist-in-residence and a storyteller-in-residence,” explains Mr Williams.

“Although we’re an independent trust we work in partnership with the local authorities and arts groups throughout the area, and this has been highly successful in attracting Lottery funding, as well as ensuring that between us we provide a complementary range of arts activities to suit all ages and abilities.”

The Lemon Tree arts venue is funded by Aberdeen City Council and the Scottish Arts Council. It hosts more than 500 events a year. www.lemontree.org.