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May Dates

2 May

Come see me on:

May 11th (Sat) @ The Torvaug, Kirkwall. Yes Orkney-National Collective Night featuring myself, John Aberdein, Seona Dunsmuir, Bruce Mainland and other performers. Free and open to all, hosted by Yes Orkney, supported by National Collective, and MC’d by Phemie Matheson. More information available here.
May 14th (Tues) @ Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh.
The Speakeasy, featuring myself, magician Kevin McMahon, comedian Gavin Webster, ukelele player Eleanor Morton, a 10-minute play by Keara Murphy, storyteller Fiona Herbert, a short film by Jordan Mills, plus others and MC Jo Caulfield. Tickets are £6, available by calling 0131 556 9579
May 18th (Sat) @ Falkirk Library. Alan Bissett Does Falkirk. Free event, with more information available here.
May 29th (Wed) @ The West Port Hotel, Linlithgow. Talking Independence at 7:30pm. Free event, but RSVP required. More information here.

A.x

April Dates

14 Apr

This month find me on:

April 16th (Tues) @ Mitchell Library, Glasgow. Unstated brings together the views of 27 writers and activists on independence and Scotland, part of the Aye Write Festival. Tickets and further info available here.
April 17th (Wed) @ Mitchell Library, Glasgow.
Free-form, blethery, energised ‘standup literature’ at the Aye Write Festival. Tickets and further info available here.
April 20th (Sat) @ Resonate Arts House, Alloa. A night of performance and physical art alongside Vicki Jarrett, Andrew C Ferguson, Mairi Campbell-Jack and Dickson Telfer. More information available here.
April 22nd-23rd (Mon-Tues) @ Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester. Performing The Red Hourglass. Book online here.

March Dates

6 Mar

Come see me on:

March 13th (Wed) @ Ubiquitous Chip, Glasgow. Celtic stories and songs, with Alistair Ogilvy. Free event with details here.
March 20th (Wed) @ The Old Hairdressers, Glasgow. Commissioned, part of the Glasgow Comedy Festival. Tickets are £5 and more information is available here.

A.x

February Dates

31 Jan

Find me in February on:

Feb 5th (Tues) 7.30pm @ The Study, Teviot, Edinburgh University. Collaboration between Edinburgh University LitSoc and Film Society. Jaws screening and intro/discussion with me. Ticket information can be found here.
Feb 6th (Wed) 8pm @ SunArt Centre, Strontian. The Red Hourglass performance. Ticket information can be found here.
Feb 7th (Thurs) 6.30pm @ Fort William Library. An evening of chat, stories and banter. For more information contact Fort William Library on 01397 703552.
Feb 16th (Sat) 3pm @ Bothwell Library. Discussion.
Feb 20th (Wed) 7.30pm @ Lawson Lecture Room, Kennedy Hall, St Andrews. For St Andrews Literary Society.

A.x

January Dates

18 Jan

Kicking off 2013 with these gigs:

Jan 18th (Fri) 8pm @ Counting House, West Nicholson Street, Edinburgh. Reading at Rally & Broad alongside JL Williams and Ryan Van Winkle, plus live music from Andrew Eaton-Lewis (of Swimmer One)’s solo project, Seafieldroad. Tickets £5.
Jan 22nd (Tues) 8pm @ Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh. The Speakeasy, featuring myself, Kevin McMahon, Colin McEwan, Fiona Herbert, Elspeth Murray, Lach, and Gareth Waugh. Sold Out!
Jan 23rd (Wed) 7pm @ Oran Mor, Glasgow. Yes Scotland Burns Night Supper. Performers include myself, Liz Lochhead, Karine Polwart and Hardeep Singh Kohli. The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning Mike Russell MSP will give the evening’s Immortal Memory. Tickets £75 and available here.
Jan 25th (Fri) 7.30pm @ The Canon’s Gait, Edinburgh. I’ll be speaking on the life and legacy of Robert Burns and there will be comedy from Keir McAllister and music from Gallo Rojo. Tickets are £10/£6 and available here.
Jan 28th (Mon) 7pm @ Dram, Glasgow. For Glasgow University Literary Society.

A.x

November/December Dates

22 Nov

For what’s left of 2012, I’ll be performing on the following dates:

November 29th (Thurs) 6.30pm @ Port Glasgow Library. Readings and Q&A alongside Doug Johnstone and Kirstin Innes at An Evening with Cargo Publishing – part of Book Week Scotland. Tickets are available free at any Inverclyde Library.
December 1st (Sat) 3.30pm @ Mitchell Library, Glasgow. Writing Masterclass as part of the Book Week Scotland Pop Up Festival. Book here.
December 2nd (Sun) 2pm @ Mearns Library, Glasgow. Book Week Scotland’s Sunday Showtime – reading from Pack Men. Book free by phoning 0141 577 4979
December 22nd (Sat) 7pm @ The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh. Christmas Songwriter’s Club alongside Adam Stafford, Jesus, Baby!, The Machine Room, Teencanteen, Withered Hand, Neu! Reekie!, We See Lights, Very Well, Eagleowl, Stanley Odd, John D. McIntosh and Easy Tigers. Book here.

A.x

Upcoming Dates

23 Oct

A little update of where I’m going to be over the next few months.

October 20th (Sat) 8:30pm @ SWG3, Glasgow.  Reading as part of Mao Disney Arts Club pt II, also featuring Silk Cut, Powder Blue and Fielding Hope. Book here.
October 21st (Sun) 3pm @ The LICA Building, Lancaster University. In conversation with Rodge Glass, as part of the Lancaster Litfest. Book here.
October 22nd (Mon) 6.30pm @ Dram, Glasgow. For Glasgow University Literary Society.
October 24th (Wed) 7.30pm @ Bathgate Regal Community Theatre. Performing The Red Hourglass. Book here.
October 25th (Thurs) 1.30pm @ Bonar Hall, University of Dundee campus. What’s the point of Literary prizes? In conversation with Aly Barr and Mark Buckland. Book here.
October 26th (Fri) 8pm @ Eden Court, Inverness. Performing The Red Hourglass. Book here.
October 27th (Sat) 7pm @ Out of the Blue Drill Hall, Edinburgh. Performing The Red Hourglass. Book here.
October 29th (Mon) 7pm @ Old Parish Church, Falkirk. Yes Scotland public meeting. RSVP here.
November 3rd (Sat) 11.45am @ The Ceilidh Place, Ullapool. Anger as a legitimate response to political and historical injusticepart of Changin Scotland. For bookings, tickets and accomodation, please phone The Ceilidh Place reception on 01854-612103, citing ‘Changin Scotland’.
November 13th (Tues) 7.30pm @The Arches, Glasgow. Performing The Red Hourglass. Book here.
November 14th (Wed) 7.30pm @The Arches, Glasgow. Performing The Red Hourglass. Book here.
November 16th (Fri) 7.30pm @ Harbour Arts Centre, Irvine. Performing The Red Hourglass. Book here.
November 17th (Sat) 7.30pm @ Burns Monument Centre, Kilmarnock. As part of the Imprint Book Festival. Book here.
November 29th (Thurs) @ Port Glasgow Library, Glasgow. An Evening with Cargo Publishing. Details TBC.

Hope to see you there!

A.x

Red Hourglass – reviews and tour dates

17 Sep

My new solo show, The Red Hourglass, in which I play several species of spider, had a very successful run at the Edinburgh Fringe, and is now ready to go on its Scottish tour.  Come along and see it.  Here’s where it’s stopping off:

  • FALKIRK Wed 19th Sept, 7.30pm – Falkirk Town Hall, book here
  • BANCHORY Thurs 20th Sept, 7.30pm – Woodend Barn,, book here
  • ST ANDREWS Wed 3rd-Sat 6th Oct, 8pm, Byre Theatre, book here
  • BATHGATE Wed 24th Oct, 7.30pm – Regal Theatre, book here
  • INVERNESS Fri 26th Oct, 8pm – Eden Court, book here
  • EDINBURGH Sat 27th Oct, 7pm – Out of the Blue Drill Hall, Radical Book Fair, here
  • GLASGOW Tues 13th-Wed 14th Nov, 7.30pm – The Arches, book tickets here
  • IRVINE Fri 16th Nov, Harbour Arts, book tickets on 01294 274059
The Red Hourglass

The Bruce meets the Spider

And, in case you’re wondering why you should bother, here are some of the reviews from the Edinburgh Fringe run:

‘Highly entertaining…Bissett’s witty, well-observed writing combines well with his bold, shape-changing performance…A delightfully unusual piece of theatre.’ – Mark Brown, The Herald

‘Bissett is a terrific performer, capable of terrifying, high-speed transitions..[has] wit, sharp political intelligence, and an ability to entertain his growing army of fans.’ – Joyce McMillan, The Scotsman

**** 4 StarsWho knew it could be so enjoyable to spend an evening trapped in a room with a gang of man-sized spiders? A real Fringe gem.’ Alice Jones, The Independent

***** 5 stars ‘Long awaited, after the smash-hit success of The Moira Monologues, Alan Bissett’s new drama, is an equally hilarious series of monologues all played by Bissett himself, but this time with a political edge.’ The Skinny

***** 5 Stars ‘As in the critically lauded Moira Monologues, Bissett’s a joy to watch as a solo actor, skilfully giving life to each character through versatility of voice and mannerisms.’ Edinburgh Fest Magazine

***** 5 Stars ‘Excellently written and performed, this is definitely a work that holds you in its web — and a worthy successor to Bissett’s previous hit, The Moira Monologues’  Broadway Baby

***** 5 StarsWhip-smart, distinctly Scottish humour…Bissett’s a joy to watch.’  Fest Magazine

***** 5 StarsA playful, instantly engaging presence…this is sophisticated, completely captivating theatre.’ 3 weeks

**** 4 Stars  ‘Unique, intelligent, funny and inventive piece of adult theatre… Bissett has become a spiderman (and woman) that may not swing from high buildings with his web but who spins a rare tale and knocks Peter Parker in to a wee tin hat.’  The Edinburgh Guide

The Red Hourglass

27 Jul
Alan Bissett in The Red Hourglass

Alan Bissett in The Red Hourglass

Well, it’s almost time for me to become several species of spider, in my new solo Edinburgh Fringe show, The Red Hourglass, running at the National Library of Scotland from 15th-25th Aug.  It’s great, you’ll like it. Sexy, scary and funny.  Directed by The Moira Monlogues collaborator, Sacha Kyle.  And you can buy tickets for it here.

Pack Men award shortlist and new dates

8 May

Hey groovers

First of all, my novel Pack Men has been shortlisted for Scotland’s largest literary prize, the Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust Book Awards 2012, in the Fiction category.  I’m delighted, obviously, although it’s up against stiff opposition in the form of Jane Harris, Zoe Strachan, Ali Smith and J.M.Ledgerd, so I’m not expecting to win.  Still, it’s nice, isn’t it?

The paperback of Pack Men is released later this month, and is garlanded with lovely review quotes, which I’m not going to repeat her cos I’d look like a knob (BUT THEY’RE AMAZING!!!!) so please do make a Falkirk boy very happy and pick up a copy.  It’s a pacy read.  You’ll get through it a night.  You’ll get through it in a bath (although you may have to keep topping it up with hot water).

I’ll be bringing my new solo show, The Red Hourglass to the Edinburgh Fringe this August (more details later) but before then, here’s where you can catch me, like, LIVE and IN THE FLESH!

13th May, 12pm, Talk with Owen Jones, HighTide Festival, Suffolk.

May 24th, 7pm, Behind the Wall, Falkirk.  I’ll be appearing with the awesome Dickson Telfer, as well as he and my brother Ronnie’s excellent band, Artisan.

May 26th, 12.30pm, Dumfries and Galloway Literary Festival, Fleet.

June 1st, 7.30pm, Cafe Su Casa, Ayr.  Burns n’ aw That Festival.

xxx

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