A Play, A Pie and A Pint at Oran Mor Glasgow (2026) 

Feel_Good

4⭐⭐⭐⭐

Written by Amy Conway

Directed by Ben Standish

Henry unlucky in love, living in a student style flat, dirty laundry, a sock by the couch, empty food wrappers and most tellingly a large poster of La Dolce Vita. Age wise he is quite a bit a bit older than the flat portrays. 

The doorbell rings and robot sex doll Liz arrives dressed in a latex cat costume complete with a box of sex aids and “Joystick,” a computer tablet with 100’s of settings to personalise her.

We find out Liz is an old college girlfriend of Henry’s and he has never got over the break-up.

A late night with a few drinks has prompted him to take a totally free trial of an AI powered Sex Aid, fashioned to look exactly like Liz.

Liz played by Anna Russell Martin is fantastic playing the robot, jerky, with stilted voice pattern, almost like a sexy co-pilot. Her observations are funny and still robotic. 

Once they “pair” like a Bluetooth- headset she becomes more real. Her actions more fluid with a normal voice pattern. 

Sam Stopford is excellent as lovelorn Henry trying to get his head round Liz suddenly back in his life but much more compliant, he even adjusts her settings to be more like the real Liz 60% more argumentative but only reducing the horniness by 10%. 

Amy Conway has written a terrific script exploring the use of AI. Most of us use it daily, I will ask it to check for spelling errors and give me a word count of this review. 

What makes this comedy become scary is when you realise how much people can get from your online profile. I post pictures, my interests, lifestyle and political inclinations are all there for hackers to see. Most people can admit to the same. 

I have seen programmers put words in my mouth in the space of 10mins that family would be unable to spot it’s wrong.

This is highlighted in the script when real Amy comes to call, realising she has been hacked and turned into an AI sex doll she wants to warn Henry as the image of her in the cat suit came from an old Halloween picture he also featured in. 

Ben Standish really understands the piece and manages to shift the” Ann-droid” style sit-com comedy to a clever warning with ease. 

Probably the most sobering statistic in the play is 96% of all deepfake is of women and girls.

There are some brilliantly comic lines, the best being when Henry finally plucks up the courage to kiss Robot Liz the free trial runs out. Exactly as any “free” app for your phone does. 

Heather Grace Currie has also designed a gorgeous flat set, with some lovely lighting by Ana Reid from actual household lamps. 

What will happen when real Liz  finds out the doll is in the flat?

I won’t reveal the end in the hope the play gets re-done soon. 

Transparent

⭐⭐⭐ 1/2⭐ 

Written by LC Stephens. 

Directed by Graham McLaren.

Clare and Barry are in their 50’s Tom divorced and single, Clare stuck in a relationship that’s going nowhere. 

Barry finds out he is going to be a grandfather, however there may be problems with the baby. 

Clare’s flamboyantly gay brother has died leaving her the only person alive with memories of the family 

Feeling hopeless and not knowing what to say to his son he meets up with Spider his married but flirty friend, how spider got his nickname is a running gag throughout the play. 

Barry and Clare meet by chance in a Byres road bar and end up going to an Italian restaurant for dinner, both bemoaning how hard it is to find real love later in life. What Clare can’t remember is being on a date with Barry in the past. Giving more meaning to the play title Transparent. 

The cast are all excellent in their parts Jo Freer as Clare and Tom McGovern as Barry inhabit their roles as slightly older, unlucky in love and weary. 

Keith Macpherson multiple roles, as Vic, the ghost of Clare’s brother and Spider provides the lightness to the text. 

Personally I would have liked it to use these characters more as they brought the theatricality to the play. 

The play is mainly delivered in fairly heavy monologues and the dining scene which lasts for quite a while. I felt the play could work really well on the radio. 

There was a lovely set piece of an old radio in each scene. Music is used to great advantage to set the mood. 

Will Barry and Clare, make a go of it and will all be well with the birth? You will need to get a ticket to see. 

Ready Tae Drap

4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Eimi Quinn’s latest play for A Play, A Pie and A Pint. Starring Eimi as Lauren a gallus Glasgow Lass, Tinashe Warikandwa as Aaliyah a doting mother of two with one ready tae drap! And Isabelle Joss as the grumpy auld wummin Pat who enjoys a conspiracy theory. 

Set in a filthy broken down lift in high rise flats, the women have to spend hours together with tensions running high.

Lauren has no children, she says she is happy that way. Aaliyah loves being a mother. Pat has a son, living in Canada with a granddaughter she never has seen. 

The beginning of the play is hilarious with Lauren keeping many phone notes on why motherhood isn’t for her, including having to suck the snot out a baby’s blocked nose, and mouthfuls of baby vomit. 

Pat has gone through the menopause and as she said her vagina is closed for business. She is sarky and the local fount of knowledge. 

The barbs and gags come quick and fast, you really feel these women have lived it. 

As time goes on though the tone takes a turn, Pat “educated” by the videos, stories, Tiktok and Facebook online, starts to show her true colours. Against refugees and people fleeing war-torn lands to live here in Scotland. With much of her venom directed at Aaliyah it is uncomfortable to watch. 

The turn in tone is handled deftly by Director Maureen Carr she pulls every line of comedy out of the script so when the story shifts to racism and unfounded views it is a real gasp moment. 

Many people migrate from here, retire to Spain, follow work like Pat’s son. Are they looked at with the same suspicion, it is doubtful. 

As Lauren says “ We are all humans who deserve a safe place to call home”. 

Will the women make up before the lift opens - well, get your ticket to find out. 

You won’t be disappointed with this hilarious play that turns its eyes on the thoughts of the viewer. 

Crocodile Rock by Andy McGregor

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Darren Brownlie plays Steven a 17 year old schoolboy who has a huge crush on classmate Henry Thomas, secretly hiding his sexuality as he lives in the small town of Millport famous for a rock painted as a crocodile. His Dad owns the local pub and his mum runs the family B&B so coming out is not an option. 

This all changes when the annual Millport Country and Western festival comes to town, the resident of the B&B is a keyboard player who dresses in drag. 

Tentatively trying on his lipstick Steven suddenly feels like he should, happy. His “wee maw” who probably always knew, is supportive of him. His Dad? Well not so much. 

When he works his last night in Millport in his dad’s pub in full drag as Miss Millie Port, he knows he must soar like an Eagle and leave the island to find his tribe in Glasgow. 

Darren Brownlie is outstanding in this, he can be funny but good grief he can just as easy have you in tears. He is a wonderful singer, this is a sung through musical with a few spoken lines. 

Darren slips in and out of every character with a change in posture and voice, he has no need of the usual jackets and hats to transform. 

Andy McGregor has written a beautiful piece of theatre. Coming out in small communities can be hard, he makes this almost like a fairy tale with a handsome stranger and a transformation scene, however it remains real and not saccharine sweet. 

This musical deserves an album release of the songs, I honestly can say it’s one of my favourite new musicals ever. 

All performed under the genius of Musical Director Hillary Brooks. 

Rarely am I compelled to stand after a show, however this show had me on my feet and cheering. 

Get your Fringe Tickets now you can't miss this 

Fringe dates - 5-31st August 

Venue Gilded Balloon Teviot 

Breathtaking Roads written by Ryan Hay and Directed by Caitlin Skinner in association with Stellar Quines Theatre Company.

Set over 3 years in 2015 two older lesbian bikers walk in to a small bar and hotel in the Highlands of Scotland. Helen and Jane on holiday, Helen knows the bar well it's owned by her ever absent brother and staffed by her niece Marie.

Marie has cut their hair short, the drinks are poured and stories of Helens younger life are told. She once had a fling with the lead singer of The Runaways after their 1977 Glasgow Apollo gig. For some reason the air between Marie and Jane seems cold.

A year passes and once again Helen and Jane rock in, this time to be informed Marie is now Ruari once again late drinks are had Helen rather than being a supportive and welcoming Auntie to Ruari she along with Jane seem colder than ever. After a few home truths are told after copious whisky Helen rides her bike out, something she would never have done in the past. 

2017 arrives and once again Helen arrives Ruari is home to help set up the summer season, again his Dad is away at the cash and carry. Helen arrives alone, Ruari thinks Jane has left, she hasn't, in fact Helen has a ring, this visit her amazing Harley has been sold and she is on her cruiser. She seems more grounded and happier for Ruari making sure they are OK financially. 

Lots happen in this play and nothing happens too. It's directed in what seems a deliberate slow burn. As if time almost stands still in the Inn but big changes happen to those caught in its walls.

I found it strange that Lesbian aunties found having a queer nephew, so distant I would have thought they would have been the first to accept them.

If they found their easiness in coming out difficult as they lived through the hard times, this was never mentioned. 

The cast Ros Watt ( Ruari) Liz Kettle ( Helen) and Jill Riddiford (Jane) are all excellent almost stalking round each other but never opening up enough.

There is no LGB without T, I hope this play does give the empathy, mentioned in the programme. 

Don't take my word for it, get a ticket up to Saturday. 

Joy is a fu**ing oxymoron, Joy the titular character of Morma Young's latest play for A Play, A Pie and A Pint is completely lacking of a GSOH therefore it's putting a strain on getting past a second date!

At the end of her tether she discovers the 5 step program to learning how to laugh at jokes, ably practiced at the group for depression her GP sends her to.

Naomi Stirrat directed by Alex Fthenakis plays it like a stand up gig with mic in hand, dancing over the excellent script full of Chickens crossing roads, knock, knocks and Dr, Dr gags.

This funny play has plenty of self aware put downs and problems to make it resonate with each viewer.

Sometimes, like the chicken we just need to get to the other side, safely.

The Legend of Davie McKenzie is a buddy play set against the backdrop of prison and death.

Davie and Sean are the best of friends, growing up together, both with only a mother, they have a lifestyle that doesn't have many consequences, allowed to stay out as long as they like and make their own fun.

They both have a love for movies, mainly American the likes of Batman, superman and Bonnie and Clyde, not the drab down at heel Brittish films.

Over the years the boys develop a drug habit and find themselves in the same jail after having far too much on them for personal use. Davie gets out first and can't help himself but continue with his addiction, the batch is bad and they find him dead three days later. (this isn't a spoiler it happens early on in the play)

Sean, sad at his friend's death wants to save him from a council funeral and give him the send off a Hero deserves, Davie returns in Ghost form to help and direct the caper!

This is a really heartbreaking play about the bond of friendship.

Sean Connor and Afton Moran are excellent as Davie and Sean, both bringing laughs through the many film references with Afton delivering a lovely heartfelt tribute to his friend and their lives together, sometimes it's not good to look back.

Ruairidh Murray as all the other characters plays comedy and serious well, defining all the parts and providing the living characters to bounce off Sean.

I really enjoyed this play it tells a strong story, how easy it is to get into drugs, die and leave people grieving.