Interactive map launched to celebrate Billy Connolly
A BIG MAP FOR THE BIG YIN!
- National Theatre of Scotland launches a new interactive map for Scotland to demonstrate its love for the Big Yin, inviting people to share their own Billy Connolly memories.
- National Theatre of Scotland’s acclaimed, five-star, sell-out production, celebrating Scotland’s most loved comedian, Billy Connolly, returns to stages in 2024.
ABOUT THE BIG MAP FOR THE BIG YIN
Billy Connolly’s relationship with Scotland spans his extraordinary life and career over the last 80 years. The National Theatre of Scotland wants to create a map of all the places that have a personal connection to Billy, to help create a love letter from the people of Scotland to their favourite comedian. They are inviting people to share their knowledge of Billy, stories, memories and photos, to make a living tribute to The Big Yin.
Billy Connolly toured the folk clubs, the grand theatres and workings men’s clubs of Scotland from 1970’s, retiring from live performance in 2018.
Born at 69 Dover Street, Anderston, he worked the shipyards of Glasgow’s Clydeside in the 1960’s, before taking to the road with folk rock band The Humblebums.
He made his theatrical debut, in 1972 at the Cottage Theatre in Cumbernauld, ahead of performing in The Great Northern Welly Boot Show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, also that year.
Billy first established himself as a star, selling out a run and breaking box office records at Glasgow’s Pavilion Theatre in Jan/Feb 1974, returning to the theatre on many occasions.
In January 1994, he undertook a World Tour of Scotland on a Harley Davidson, taking him from Kelso to Kirkwall with a stop off at Eden Court, Inverness, broadcast on the BBC later in the year. His love affair with his native country, continued with his residence at Candacraig House, in Aberdeenshire.
Further information on the map and how to be involved can be found here
ABOUT THE BIG MAP FOR THE BIG YIN
Billy Connolly’s relationship with Scotland spans his extraordinary life and career over the last 80 years. The National Theatre of Scotland wants to create a map of all the places that have a personal connection to Billy, to help create a love letter from the people of Scotland to their favourite comedian. They are inviting people to share their knowledge of Billy, stories, memories and photos, to make a living tribute to The Big Yin.
Billy Connolly toured the folk clubs, the grand theatres and workings men’s clubs of Scotland from 1970’s, retiring from live performance in 2018.
Born at 69 Dover Street, Anderston, he worked the shipyards of Glasgow’s Clydeside in the 1960’s, before taking to the road with folk rock band The Humblebums.
He made his theatrical debut, in 1972 at the Cottage Theatre in Cumbernauld, ahead of performing in The Great Northern Welly Boot Show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, also that year.
Billy first established himself as a star, selling out a run and breaking box office records at Glasgow’s Pavilion Theatre in Jan/Feb 1974, returning to the theatre on many occasions.
In January 1994, he undertook a World Tour of Scotland on a Harley Davidson, taking him from Kelso to Kirkwall with a stop off at Eden Court, Inverness, broadcast on the BBC later in the year. His love affair with his native country, continued with his residence at Candacraig House, in Aberdeenshire.
Further information on the map and how to be involved can be found here
Gary McNair – writer and performer of Dear Billy said: “I’m delighted we are launching the Big Map for the Big Yin where people can pin their own stories and connections to Billy. As we learned when interviewing people to make this show- everyone has something to say about Billy, whether that’s a memorable meeting or a connection to his work.
“The great thing about the Big Map is that there is a space where people can continue to share and hopefully build an interactive document about what he means to us all.
“I’m beyond giddy to be bringing the show Dear Billy back so soon after it’s tour last year. It is a genuine honour to have been trusted to make this show, Billy is so important to so many people that it was so well received was a dream come true.
“I can’t wait to get back on the road with the band and meet new amazing audience.”
ABOUT THE SHOW
National Theatre of Scotland presents
DEAR BILLY
A Love Letter to the Big Yin From the People of Scotland
Written and performed by Gary McNair, Directed by Joe Douglas
Music performed and composed by Simon Liddell and Jill O’Sullivan, Set and Costume designed by Claire Halleran, Lighting design by Kate Bonney and Simon Hayes, dramaturgy by Joe Douglas.
Touring Scotland and England in May followed by a run at Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August 2024
Opening at His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen then touring to Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow; and Eden Court, Inverness.
Followed by a two-week run at the Assembly Rooms as part of the Assembly Festival programme for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2024.
“Vivid, funny and poignant.” ★★★★★ The Guardian
“A gloriously masterful 90 minutes of theatre.” ★★★★★ The Telegraph
In 2023 National Theatre of Scotland’s production of Dear Billy undertook a 17 venue Scotland-wide tour, reaching over 8000 people.
Originally announced to mark Billy Connolly’s 80th birthday year, the production was enthusiastically received by audiences, selling-out at venues across Scotland, garnering a wealth of positive reviews and due to popular demand is now back on tour again in 2024.
“If you want to know about Billy Connolly, ask the people of Scotland. If you want to know about the people of Scotland, ask them about Billy Connolly.”
Billy Connolly needs no introduction. He is a national treasure. From the shipyards of the Clydeside to his trailblazing and extraordinary stage and movie exploits, he is woven into Scottish culture.
Everyone has a Billy story. An expert team of story gatherers has created a collection of these moving and hilarious tales. Gary McNair, one of Scotland’s most renowned theatre-makers, has turned these stories into a special show celebrating the Big Yin and what he means to the people of Scotland.
The production will tour in May 2024, opening at His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen before touring to Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow and Eden Court in Inverness with a two-week run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August 2024.
Dear Billy is a unique touring production that evolved on the road. It travelled the length and breadth of Scotland in 2023, visiting local theatres, arts and community centres gathering stories along the way which were woven into the show as the tour progressed.
Gary McNair is hitting the road once more with two musicians. Audience members are welcomed to share their own Billy stories, with the possibility of those stories making it into the performance. Each show offers a unique chance for audiences to laugh, sing, and celebrate the man and the legend.
“The perfect tribute to a man who has left his gloriously indelible mark, not only on the art of stand-up comedy, but on the culture of Scotland.” The National
“What emerges is a brilliant portrait not only of the Big Yin as others see him, but of his importance as a cultural touchstone to many Scots” ★★★★, The Times
Dear Billy is written and performed by leading Scottish theatre-maker Gary McNair whose recent work includes the acclaimed Nae Expectations, a fresh take on the Dickens classic for the Tron Theatre; Ugly! A Cinderella Story for Cumbernauld Theatre Company and a new adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Jekyll and Hyde featuring a solo performance from Forbes Masson which opened at the Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh in January 2024 before touring.
The production is directed by Joe Douglas whose work for National Theatre of Scotland includes The Cheviot, The Stag and the Black, Black Oil, Dear Scotland and Associate Director for Black Watch. Joe previously collaborated with Gary on McGonagall’s Chronicles (Which Will Be Remembered for a Very Long Time).
Musicians re-joining Gary on the road are Simon Liddell whose work for theatre includes The Domestic (Scenes for Survival/National Theatre of Scotland) and McGonagall’s Chronicles (Which Will Be Remembered for a Very Long Time) and Jill O’Sullivan who writes and performs across the worlds of popular music, theatre and dance.
“A vivid, charismatic piece of theatre.” ★★★★★ The Skinny
Billy Connolly, or, the Big Yin, whom this show is dedicated to, is Scotland’s most beloved comedian, with an impressive career as a stand-up, actor, writer and musician spanning more than 50 years. In 2022, Connolly was awarded the BAFTA Fellowship for lifetime achievement.
Gary McNair is a Glasgow based writer and performer. He is a three-time Fringe First winner and has produced work for and with many of Scotland’s major theatre companies.
His plays have been translated and performed all over the world, from Germany to Japan, from New York to New Zealand. Gary’s work includes A Gambler’s Guide to Dying, Square Go (co-written with Kieran Hurley); McGonagall’s Chronicles Which Will Be Remembered for a Very Long Time, Donald Robertson Is Not a Stand-Up Comedian, After The Cuts, Letters to Morrissey and Locker Room Talk. These plays are published by Methuen.
Joe Douglas is a theatre director, playwright and performer.
Joe’s career began as Trainee Director at the National Theatre of Scotland from 2007 to 2008. He was the Artistic Director of Live Theatre from 2018 to 2020, and before that, Asspcoate Artistic Director of Dundee Rep and Co-Artistic Director of the Utter touring company. His work includes Clear White Light, Death of a Salesman, Spoiling, The BFG, George’s Marvellous Medicine, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, Educating Ronnie, Letters Home, The Red Shed, Stand By and The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil.
Touring to His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen (Thu 16-Sat 18 May); Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow (Wed 22-Sat 25 May); Eden Court, Inverness (Tue 28-Wed 29 May); Quays Theatre, The Lowry, Salford (Sat 1 June); Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh Festival Fringe (Tues 13 – Sun 25 August, no shows on Wednesdays)
On social: #DearBilly
Access: Theatre for a Fiver tickets available for under 26’s and those on Universal Credit
BSL interpreted, audio described and captioned performances full information here.
Tour information and full creative biogs here.