Alan Bissett, the award-winning creator of the Fringe hit The Moira Monologues, explores a fictional encounter between two Scottish cultural icons: Billy Connolly and Alasdair Gray. In his new play, Bissett takes on both roles, imagining what might have happened when Connolly attended the launch of Gray’s 1981 novel, Lanark.

The story delves into the early struggles and artistic journeys of these two “Glasgow geniuses.” It’s a powerful and ultimately uplifting tale about overcoming adversity and achieving triumph. The play was longlisted for the Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award 2025 and is directed by Kirstin McLean. A critic from the Scotsman described Bissett’s previous work, the Moira Trilogy, as “an absolute classic of Scottish working-class comedy.”