Scottish comedians celebrate Alasdair Gray in Glasgow's 850th year at Glasgow International Comedy Festival

Three Scottish comedians have been commissioned to produce works that will act as celebrations of the life and work of Alasdair Gray - the celebrated author, poet and artist. With the performance taking place under one of his most iconic murals at Oran Mor.

Alan Bissett will create the scripted response, delving into the story of when Alasdair Gray met another Glasgow icon, Billy Connolly, at the launch for Gray's debut novel, LANARK, inspired by a photo of the meeting in the Archive. Christopher Macarthur-Boyd has been awarded the stand-up commission, focussing on stories around the characters in Alasdair's work, whilst Ashley Storrie's digital response will centre around his striking murals throughout the city.

Gray Matters: A Laugh for Glasgow’s 850 Years is supported by the Glasgow 850 Festival Fund which celebrates the city’s 850th birthday as part of a yearlong, citywide programme of events and community activities, and will take place on 23 March 2025 during GICF. The work of the three Scottish comedic artists will be staged at one big event with performances encompassing stand-up, digital and scripted, all inspired by Alasdair Gray and his work.

All three comedians were invited to spend time at The Alasdair Gray Archive in Glasgow, researching his words, images and art, and speaking to its Custodian Sorcha Dallas as part of their research to create their shows.

She said: “We are thrilled to be working with Glasgow International Comedy Festival on three new comedic responses to our collection in a seminal year with Glasgow 850, Alasdair Gray’s 90th and our own 5th birthday.

We can’t think of a better way to celebrate than commissioning Alan Bissett, Ashley Storrie and Christopher Macarthur-Boyd to respond to our collection and create new work that will bring Alasdair’s work to wider attention.”

It is a fitting tribute to one of Glasgow’s most treasured sons according to Glasgow Life Chair, Bailie Annette Christie.

She said: “It’s marvellous news Scotland’s largest, dedicated comedy festival, will introduce a special creative commission for 2025, inviting talented comedians to respond to the diverse and truly epic archive of one of the city’s most treasured sons, Alasdair Gray.

“We are excited to be entertained by those titans of comedy already on board and eager to hear who else will be joining the Festival bill, in what promises to be an incredible year for Glasgow.”

Festival Director Krista MacDonald said: “It’s hugely exciting for GICF to be able to offer comedic artists this unique comedy commission alongside The Alasdair Gray Archive supported by Glasgow 850 Festival Fund. To support comedic artists' creations is our North Star so to offer this special opportunity means a lot. Alasdair Gray is so important to the city of Glasgow and its cultural scene - having influenced everything from literature, film, murals and art, and so we’re thrilled to present this new work to celebrate the Archive within the comedy world.”