Who's Afraid of the Big Bar-L?

On Sunday an interesting new play has its public premiere at Oran Mor as part of Glasgow’s WestEnd Festival. Who’s Afraid of the Big Bar-L is a humorous look at the history of Glasgow’s most famous ‘Big Hoose’, written by well-known writer and director, Philip Differ, and commissioned by retiring Barlinnie Governor, Derek McGill

He has seized the opportunity created by a major turning point in the big prison’s history to commission the play to mark the prominent place Barlinnie has played in the folklore of Glasgow and Scotland over the last 100 plus years!

Barlinnie's Derek McGill

While this may seem unusual, it is entirely appropriate now for two reasons according to Derek, who has been a long-term promoter of arts, music and drama as alternative therapies and interventions to help prisoners desist from crime and change their ways..

“I have spent my time in the prison system investing in creative methods to help prisoners address their offending.” He said, “There is a lot of evidence especially from Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands, that this approach can reduce re-offending.”

In addition, the future of Barlinnie is currently under discussion. Reports have highlighted that the prison, built in 1882, is no longer fit for purpose. It would need significant expenditure to meet modern demands on prison life. The two options being discussed are major refurbishment, or closure and building a new prison on a different site.

“There is much debate over Barlinnie’s future.“ Derek said,  “Closure or major refurbishment are both possible outcomes, so I thought that now was a good time to look at the Bar-L and its place in Glasgow’s popular culture.”

Not content with just commissioning a play, he asked leading Glasgow-based arts production company, FairPley, to produce the play and they got well-known Scottish comedy writer and producer, Philip Differ - famous for Naked Video and Watson’s Wind-up - to write and direct it!

You can hear both Derek and Philip discuss the play and Sunday’s performance on BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland - here. The interview is 2hr and 36 mins in (at the end).

Philip said “My main concern - and the cast's too - was that the play would be authentic, that the

Philip Differ

prisoners would connect with it. After every performance we held a Q and A session with the audience and every time we were asked if any of us had 'done time'. The prisoners seemed genuinely surprised none of us had because the play was, as they put it, 'bang on'. That told us we'd hit the mark and was as rewarding for all of us as the laughs throughout the performances”.

The play is set in the future – in the London offices of Gin ‘n Tonic productions – where a former inmate of the now defunct Barlinnie, and a former prison officer, meet to discuss its history. Is G‘nT the best choice to produce the history of the Bar-L? As you might expect with a writer of Philip Differ’s pedigree, the play crackles with humour.

After a successful tour of its 'captive audience' in four of Scotland's toughest jails, it is now showing to the general public in a one-off performance in Glasgow's Oran Mor on Sunday June 1 at 7.30pm. Tickets over the bar or via this link.

Diesen Kuß der ganzen Welt*!

On Friday, as Nigel Farage came to Edinburgh to boost his party’s candidature for a Scottish Euro seat, and to tell us how we’d be better off outwith the European Union, in Glasgow a very different approach to things European was being promulgated by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, and its Chorus.

In an inspired piece of programming, the SCO’s season finale was Beethoven's 9 Symphony (the Choral). Its theme of universal brotherhood, joy and fellowship sent out a much more positive message than the isolationism preached by Farage and many other narrow separatists. (*The title of this piece is part of Schiller's Ode to Joy, the poem that provides the lyrics for the Symphony. It translates as 'This kiss to the whole world'.)

Emmanuel Krivine

The internationalism was further enhanced by the announcement prior to the performance that French conductor Emmanuel Krivine has been appointed the SCO’s Principal Guest Conductor. He celebrated by leading the Orchestra and Chorus through a lively and animated performance – both his feet leaving the podium on at least one occasion!

The fact that two weeks prior to the Euro election the SCO chose the European anthem to play was not lost on people in Glasgow – the fact that it was delivered by a French Conductor, and Scottish orchestra and German soloists was also a positive note!

The large audience gave a massively enthusiastic reception to what was an excellent interpretation of a classic piece. I know which city I preferred to be in last Friday!

MayDay celebrations start with a cracker

2014’s MayDay celebrations have started with two excellent events and a considerable increase in the interest levels.

1915 Rent strikes in Glasgow

Last Saturday, the new Friends of MayDay (GFoMD) organised ‘Walk through the War’ had its first outing and a small but interested band took a couple of hours to visit a number of Glasgow sites associated with events linked to different campaigns connected to the First World War.

Starting at the site of the notorious Duke Street Jail – used to imprison suffragettes, anti-war campaigners and strikers – the walk wound its way via George Square, the Clyde and Bath Street to the old St Andrew’s Hall building. The rain kept off and the history of those radicals still fighting while war raged was laid out through the city!

Good news for fans of these walks is that a joint application to Glasgow’s Doors Open Day organisers on behalf of GFoMD and the Scottish Labour History Society has been successful, and both the ‘walk through the War, and a variant on last year’s East End Walk (from Bridgeton to George Square) will feature in this year’s (September) programme.

From First War to Spanish War

Then on Thursday, a different war featured, as Calton Books launched their reprint of John and Willy Maley’s play From Calton to Catalonia based on their father’s experiences as an International Brigader in the Spanish Civil War. It’s available from Calton Books – their FB site is here. 

Willie Maley was present to introduce the book and expand on the fascinating character that his father must have been. Particularly good for an ex-colleague of mine – Dougie Hay – to get a mention! And proving that Glasgow is the biggest village in the world, the MayFest connection came full circle – the first outing of the play was part of that lamented festival!

Some great music, from Chris and Paul of The Wakes wound up a cracker of an evening!

March and rally to the Cabaret

A great start to this year’s mayday celebrations! On to the MayDay rallies on Saturday across Scotland, and in Glasgow on Sunday! And remember to get your tickets for the Great MayDay Cabaret at Oran Mor on Monday night. Tickets across the bar in OM, on line from their website,  or from the GFoMD stall at the O2 Academy Rally on Sunday.