A Play, A Pie and A Pint at Oran Mor Glasgow (2026)
Welcome to our reviews of Oran Mor's acclaimed lunchtime theatre series. Delve into the home of new writing in Scotland and explore the triumphs of this unique theatrical experience.
Breathtaking Roads Review A Play A Pie and A Pint Glasgow Oran Mor (2026)
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.
Members Only Review A Play A Pie and A Pint Glasgow Oran Mor (2026)
Members Only a sit-com about friendship, betrayal and Bingo. Written by Marc Pye and Gayle Telfer Stevens, Directed by Maureen Carr.
As you enter the Venue in Oran Mor the pop song Girls Just want to Have Fun is belting out, paving the way for the comedy that ensues.
Angie and Linda the mothers of the play arrive on stage prior to the introduction to play a game of Bingo with the audience, much laughing and cheering happens as a wee wummin in the front row wins herself another drink!
Angie played by Julie Duncanson and Linda by Sandra McNeeley are best friends and have become addicted to playing the Bingo every Friday Night, although they won't admit it's gambling! They have formed a pact that any money won, no matter how small they will split 50/50.
Their Daughters Amy ( Eimi Quinn) and Stacey (Taya Sian) are also best friends but worlds apart in personality Stacey is an influencer determined to look perfect and ensnare her perfect man a rich handsome footballer. Amy a more bookish University drop out dreams of opening a dog grooming salon.
Taya Sian gets many a hearty laugh looking at herself in the phone camera and hoping she will get enough saved to have a Brazilian Bum Lift!
Neither of the daughters show any sign of joining the old biddies in the Bingo Hall. That is until £40,000 becomes the national prize.
Using a stolen ID card the girls go to the Bingo Amy after having convinced her Mum she needs to stop spending money they don't have.
Of course Stacey wins the money and her idea of the split isn't what it should be.
Will it all work out and friendships restored - you will have to catch the tour at the Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival.
While the play might not offer any great revelations and the story feels a bit well worn. There is some cracking patter between all the characters, during an argument between Linda and Stacey , Linda turns to her fake tanned daughter and said you look and smell like a Digestive biscuit!
Julie and Sandra as the mothers really do feel like they have been friends for years and their mock chat up lines to Les the lisping creep of a Bingo caller played by a recorded Jonathan Watson are hilarious.
Maureen Carr never lets the pace drop, keeping the three locations between Stacey's bedroom , Angie's living room and the Bingo Hall very distinct.
Whilst this play doesn't reinvent the wheel the PPP audience and I thought it was a whole lot of fun, and really enjoyed the 60mins of laughs.
Kenmure Street Review A Play A Pie and A Pint Glasgow Oran Mor (2026)
📸 A Play A Pie and A Pint Facebook
Kenmure Street by Simon Jay is a theatrical retelling of the Kenmure Street protest saving two Sikh men from being removed from their homes and deported, due to visa problems on the morning of 13th May 2021. Glasgow Pollockshields.
The local residents were outraged when they heard and gathered in a peaceful protest and sit in, around the Home Office van until the men were released, only after the political parties got involved.
In this staging three actors Nesha Caplan, Kal Sabir and Betty Valencia take on all the parts,from local residents to polititions. Expect some wonderful caricatures of Priti Patel and Nicola Sturgeon!
The tone of the play is set by the entrance music featuring many protest songs from the decades including "We ShallNot Be Moved" , this is highlighted by the folky song sung throughout the play "Dexy's Under the Bus" composed in tribute to the protester who actually lay under the van to stop the removal of the prisoners.
Three actors taking on all the parts of a protest may seem a difficult operation, however under Nicola McCartney’s wonderful direction. Moving the players through the aisles of the space, we as an audience, felt part of the crowd on the street.
This will become a history play, the time a community came together to right an injustice against fellow human beings, every faith came to protect these men.
I only hope the same will continue to happen, with the rise of Racist Reform we need to come together more now than ever.
Funeral for my Boobs- Review- A Play A Pie and A Pint Glasgow Oran Mor (2026)
Funeral for my Boobs is a Cabaret style mini musical based on writer Hannah Howie's own diagnosis with the BRCA 2 gene.
This play really starts years and years ago. Hannah's female relatives all had a habit of dying young, her own Grannie only lived to 31.
Nowadays tests can be done and Hannah gets diagnosed with BRCA 2 and has an 85% chance of developing breast cancer not wanting to live with this terrible diagnosis she decides to get a double mastectomy.
This could be a play full of weeping and wailing however in true musical theatre star style she writes a Cabaret to chase those boobs away.
With the help of Gregor John-Owen as Left boob (the smaller of the two) and feisty right boob played by Kirsty Malone, we get a right good feel of Hannah's 31 years of life.
Desperately wanting boobs as a young girl, her boobs giving her beauty and boys and possibly the odd girl wanting them out!
We go with her to a mammogram where her boobs get squashed to Hannah's wonderfuly operatic Carmen.
To the Dr's with his theatrical chuckle and rimmed glasses.
All the while each boob gets to shine with their own solos and comedy routines. Gregor and Kirsty take on all the roles.
Everyone on stage is superb all singing and dancing to Stuart Fleming's musical score.
Directed by Chris Stuart Wilson on a set designed by Heather Grace Currie this doesn't feel like a small scale show in a basement, it has all the razzamatazz and jazz boobs of a huge show.
This black comedy musical never makes fun of cancer or the suffering attached, it does however give plenty of hope to people who may be diagnosed.
Ending on a poignant self penned song to her Grannie she never met. Hannah has gained power over her decision.
Don't miss this, playing at Oran Mor till Saturday.
Then Ayr Gaiety and Assembly Roxy.
Pothole Kingdom Review A Play A Pie and A Pint Glasgow Oran Mor (2026)
Pothole Kingdom Ross Mackay's latest comedy for A Play A Pie and A Pint at Glasgow 's Oran Mor
Brings Ex-Tory, now Reform, councillor Jeremy played by the brilliant Andy Clark, with wet behind the ears newbie Viv for the Green Party . As the wide-eyed and seemingly innocent newly elected Viv, Nalini Chetty plays her with gusto.
Both councillors are holding a surgery together in the basement of a community centre, as the play starts they bicker with some excellent comedy as Jeremy mansplains the job to Viv.
As they are almost ready for their one and only constituent, Lenny barges in locking the unopenable door behind him. Clutching a homemade bomb in a bag-for-life! Lenny is played by Martin Donaghy who captures Lenny's hopelessness and broken spirit perfectly.
As the bomb is about to explode, and doesn't, they realise Lenny has forgotten the clocks went forward the night before.
Lenny represents us, the folk who vote for government to act, and actually change policy to make our lives better. However when decisions can be made on the turn of a card. Will whoever we get in actually ever make a difference.
Lenny is not stupid he reads Chekov, but just wants answers, why do we work, scraping and saving meagre amounts only for our existence to get worse.
Although this may sound a bit heavy, the play is a political farce with many hearty laughs throughout.
As the election approaches next week, think hard at what you really are voting for.
I'm sure this explosive play will run through your mind.
📸 Tommy Ga-Ken Wan
Off The Rails Review A Play A Pie and A Pint Glasgow Oran Mor (2026)
Off The Rails written and Starring Stephanie MacGaraidh and Directed by Katie Slater.
On the morning of Maggie's 30th birthday we find her boarding the Glasgow Queen Street to Aberdeen train. Dressed in her pyjamas and deliberately choosing the quiet carriage she really doesn't want any interaction with people.
It seems her life is in a mess, her goal, to get a boat to Norway, live in a house in the forest with The elfs.
Things don't go quite to plan on the quiet carriage though, first a hen night heading to Dundee, with a bride who might not go through with it,lands beside her, then a mother with plenty of money who is disapproving of her daughters life choices, a very hot man with hairy arms becomes a fantasy for Maggie, however these are dashed when she sees how he eats a yoghurt. Then Alec appears a man in his 80s mourning the death of his wife of 60 years.
He sees something in Maggie and gets to the root of her problem, and why she constantly pushes people away.
Every character is played to perfection by Stephanie MacGaraidh, all the while filling in the blanks of the story with her blend of folk - pop music, using a loop box, she can create a full sound in the venue with only a guitar and key board. Stephanie's voice is as clear as a bell and you can hear every word sung, a must when songs drive the narrative.
Katie Slater directs this play with perfect timing allowing Stephanie to slip between characters with fluidity.
This play has so much heart and Maggie's problems resonate with the audience. You really hope all works out for her.
Will she mend broken bridges and start to connect better?
Get a ticket to find out, Oran Mor to Saturday 25th
Then Assembly Roxy.
Fish Review A Play A Pie and A Pint Glasgow Oran Mor (2026)
Fish written by Sean O' Neil and Directed by Fraser Scott.
Set in a filthy old swimming pool Michael, played by Michael Dylan and his Coach, Guinness drinking Pat, played by the inimitable Alan McHugh. Are in training for the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest breath held under water, they are both determined Michael will manage the 25mins required.
This play starts as an absurd comedy with the comical exchanges between the older Pat and the younger Michael. Michael literally has his head stuck in a bucket of water between the exchanges.
The cracks begin to appear with Pats daughter Grainne, Mimi Millmore appearing, totally disapproving of her dad's drinking.
She reveals this is the 25th Anniversary of her mother's death, we also find out Michael has also had a terrible loss on the same day.
The play turns from comedy to one of sadness, loss, lies and missed opportunity.
When someone close dies young, often sticking our heads in a bucket is a way of coping even if it's detrimental to the people around.
This play may start off absurd but all the threads come together making this one of the best pieces of writing you will see.
On at Oran Mor up to Saturday
Un-Expecting Review Glasgow A Play A Pie and A Pint (2026) Oran Mor
Scott and Jess meet in a nightclub over New Year, Scott on holiday from a music degree in London, guitar and harp. Jess about to start a history and Drama Degree. They hit it off and one thing leads to another Jess is pregnant. The play navagates these young peoples lives, Scott desperate not to make the mistakes his father made. Jess putting up with scornful comments by older women in the shops. It's not an easy time, at some points we wonder, will it last, although we very much hope it will.
The script written by Nathan Scott Young is wonderful, often rhyming it's funny and can turn to hard hitting in a heartbeat.
Cristian Ortega and Cindy Awor are outstanding as the young couple struggling with the responsibility, not quite yet in love but desperate to do the best for the child.
This 60 mins is practically perfect, the best cast a great script and directed with flair.
Ends Saturday so go tomorrow and enjoy.
📸 Tommy Ga-Ken Wan
Outskirts Review Glasgow A Play A Pie and A Pint (2026) Oran Mor
Sometimes all you need is a hug and that is what Bethany Tennick 's new play Outskirts feels like.
Mags a 45 year old Granny, workaholic and lonely decides one Friday rather than sitting in with a glass of wine and terrible TV, waiting to be phoned by work colleagues or her Daughter struggling to cope with being a mother in Australia.
She has finally pushed her self out her comfort zone by finding a local Glasgow Gay Bar with the hope she might satisfy long surpressed urges.
Outskirts is staffed by rather rude barmaid Dove who instantly decides what Mags is like.
Luckily after a cocktail the women start to talk,
Then barman Si enters a gender fluid person who brings affirming spells to the evening.
As each cocktail is taken, relationships, family, failed dreams and gender is discussed.
Friendship is a huge theme in this play as mags observes at 45 it's hard to make new pals, many of those we knew have moved on and became distant. New people are hard to find.
We leave feeling these three newly found friends will be close never mind the age difference.
Today Bethany took the role of Mags due to cast illness and she fully embodied the part.
All the characters are so well written we feel we know them, Rosie Graham as Dove and Jake Stephen as Si are exceptionally good.
This lovely wee musical is funny, sad and wholesome.
Go see!
Miss Lockwood Isn't Well Review A Play A Pie and A Pint (2026) Oran Mor
Miss Lockwood isn't Well by James Reilly, is a bitter/sweet comedy played out over an hour long therapist session.
It starts with Miss Lockwood visiting her therapist ex GP turned to therapist Dr Freer. From their conversation we can work out Miss Lockwood is a school teacher who seems to be going through emotional stress. She refuses to believe this and feels she can return to work immediately. She hopes the school priest Fr Macklin will help, however when we find out why she is there, Saints mysteriously appearing in her class room to help her for the most banal reasons he is firmly of the mind she is a crackpot!
This cracking wee play looks at the traditional idea of religion being very stoic, maybe in the modern world a heads up if the fish is off or where your missing earing is would be more relevant to the younger generations.
Jane McGarry as Dr Freer provides the mediation between Karen Young's Miss Lockwood and biting comedy of Mark Cox's Fr Macklin. Mark gets pretty much all the funny lines and they are timed to perfection.
Will Miss Lockwood get her three holy secrets and what moviestar frock will the virgin Mary be Wearing?
To get the answers book a ticket for the play when it goes to the Trav!
Joy Review Glasgow A Play A Pie and A Pint (2026) Oran Mor
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 Swansong Review Glasgow A Play A Pie and A Pint (2026) Oran Mor
The Swansong by Eve Nicole & Finn Anderson based on David Greig's radio play, is a gorgeous, ethereal musical starring Paul McArthur and Julia Murray with live saxophone and piano.
Lydia is at her lowest ebb, about to drown herself in the duck pond. When she meets Paul McArthur as a talking swan.
What follows is a Peter Pan like journey over the rooftops of Edinburgh Lydia flying on the back of the Swan. They go for drinks in the clubs of Auld Reekie before fleeing attackers. Taking a train to London Lydia goes to sleep hoping the Swan will be there in the morning.
The joy of this wonderful little musical is at no point do we not believe the Swan is real. Played with some humour and a lot of heart.
We get it, we know we all need someone to take us under their wing and guide us through whatever is happening in our lifes.
Go and see this if you possibly can. It's going to the Trav and The Gaiety .
The Legend Of Davie McKenzie Review Glasgow A Play A Pie and A Pint (2026) Oran Mor
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.
Someone's Knockin' At The Door Review Glasgow A Play A Pie and A Pint (2026) Oran Mor
The time is 1976 the Beatles have split, Paul McCartney and Linda have a house in Campbeltown.
Enter Beatles fanatic Jack and his suffering wife Kathy.
Jack and Kathy a retired Grandpa and Gran, long since divorced, recount their story in separate audio interviews to their 19 year old granddaughter Molly.
The story revolves round a camping holiday the couple took in the late seventies to Campletown, Jack desperate to meet living legend Paul. Kathy is more reserved.
Swathed in nostalgia this lovely wee play evokes the trials, love and eventual break up of the couple, surrounded by the Beatles break up.
The characters are rounded and excellently played by stalwarts of the stage Maureen Carr and Johnnie Watson. They are worth the ticket price alone. Teamed with Sally Reid as director this play was always going to hit.
I desperately wanted the story to be true and found out in the bar afterwards it was.
Did Jack meet Paul, well that's one reveal you will have to get a ticket for.