New review window opens for a Scottish stage pairing

Alan Bissett channels Gray and Connolly in a thoughtful Edinburgh show that traces their paths to fame.

Billy Connolly and Alasdair Gray meet in a warm tribute

In When Billy Met Alasdair, Alan Bissett performs as both Alasdair Gray and Billy Connolly, stepping briefly out of character to explain the approach. Gray, who died in 2019, is portrayed with a measured cadence while Connolly’s energy is expansive and playful. A memory anchored to the 1981 Lanark launch at Glasgow’s Third Eye Centre helps fix the past in the present. The production is staged at the Scottish Storytelling Centre in Edinburgh and runs until 23 August.

The show does not chase dramatic highs but builds its arc on origins and perseverance. Bissett uses clear vocal and physical contrasts to separate the two figures, and his occasional interjections as himself add a gentle meta layer. The result is a thoughtful and entertaining evening that invites the audience to consider how two Scottish icons built their names through stubborn effort, chance, and storytelling craft.

The piece invites readers to rethink celebrity as a craft forged over years. By letting Gray speak as a writer, the show blurs lines between creator and character, turning memory into a living argument about art.

Set in a compact Edinburgh venue, the performance feels intimate while tracing a broader cultural arc. It foregrounds Scottish memory and the slow climb to recognition, making the story accessible to longtime fans and curious newcomers alike.

Highlights

The night leaves room for fresh listening to Scotland’s cultural voices.