Alan Spence's Sailmaker returns to the stage after a  gap of over 30 years. This play frequently studied in Schools gives a look back at the hard times of the '60s just as major industry was coming to a standstill. 

In Sailmaker Alan Spence's semi-biographical play we meet Alec, Davie's son finding out his mother has died. It is now just the two of them in the crumbling old tenement flat with the glowing embers in the fire.

Davie has been made redundant from his job as a Sailmaker. The 60's downturn of the shipbuilding industry has impacted everyone's lives. He has became a tick man and now enjoys a wee hauf at the end of the day along with some visits to the local bookie which always end in disaster.

In contrast his brother Billy is a painter and decorator with his son Ian being Alec's great friend. Alec owns a toy boat battered with age but he loves it, his uncle Billy paints it for him in the Blue and White of Glasgow Rangers, unfortunately his dad never seems to find the time to repair and make a new Sail.

As the boys grow up and become teenagers Ian gets an apprenticeship with his Dad, and bookish Alec progresses with his studies with a view to get in to university.

The final scene has Davie and Alec living with no heating waiting for the tenement to be pulled down. In order to keep warm before his move to the newly formed estates they burn their old possessions. The old life is behind them and the new one is opening up.

This beautiful play directed by Liz Carruthers captures a moment in time, but that time could be universal.

Andy Clark as Davie gives an impeccable performance of the man broken by the system. He once had dreams, he was well read with the works of Burns or Dickens not far from him. He is a good fair man dealt many bad blows.

Alexander Tait as Alec perfectly captures the boy growing up and becoming a man, he might not always agree with his dad but he loves him dearly.

Paul J Corrigan as Billy is great as the opposite of Davie he knows there is a need for Davie to get in to another trade and is happy to move to Aberdeen where the work is

Lewis Kerr plays Ian with great intuition he knows if he goes with his dad he can continue to work, yet he does miss his cousin when the move has happened.

Both Lewis and Alexander have to play the boys at various ages from young kids to university aged adults. They do this wonderfully without playing the boys by over - exaggerating the ages, the main change was shorts in to long trousers.

Liz Carruthers has brought this excellent play back to the stage flawlessly.

And while our situations may go up and drastically down, We haven't Died a Winter Yet

Co-produced by The Gaiety and The Beacon Arts Centre