When Billy Met Alasdair
When Billy Met Alasdair by Alan Bissett is a show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026, performing at Scottish Storytelling Centre. It has 2 performances listed, running from Sat 15 Aug, 16:45 to Sun 23 Aug, 20:30. The run has finished — every listed performance has taken place.
About this show
'Allow me to give you some advice, Billy...' Alan Bissett, award-winning creator of Fringe hit The Moira Monologues, performs as two Scottish cultural giants, asking what (might’ve!) happened when Billy Connolly attended the launch for Alasdair Gray’s 1981 masterpiece, Lanark. Bissett unearths the origin stories of these Glasgow geniuses, exploring their struggles in an uplifting tale of triumph against the odds. Directed by Kirstin McLean. Mervyn Stutter’s Pick of the Fringe 2025. Longlisted for Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award 2025. * (BritishTheatreGuide.info). * (National). * (NorthWestEnd.co.uk). (Herald).
Details
- Performer: Alan Bissett
- Venue: Scottish Storytelling Centre
- Space: Netherbow Theatre
- Genre: THEATRE, Character comedy, Storytelling
- Country: UNITED KINGDOM - SCOTLAND
- Running time: 60 minutes
- Room size: about 99 seats (Netherbow Theatre) — the Fringe box office sells a share of the room, not all of it
- Performances listed: 2, of which 0 still to come and on sale
Accessibility
- Wheelchair access: lift
- Access features: Step-free access, Accessible toilet, Hearing loop
- Venue notes: Accessible entry: There is level access into the Centre from the John Knox House entrance. If entering using the main SSC entrance there are 9 steps up. Once inside there is a lift that can take customers down to the -1 floor which is the top of the raked seating. If not it is 16 steps down to the top of the raked seating. Wheelchair access type:Lift (Building Lift) Stairs: 20+ Number of stairs is provided as guidance and is not in addition to any wheelchair access type (lift/ramp etc) stated above.
What the reviewers said
We have captured 1 published review and 1 audience review for this show from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe’s own listing. The excerpts below are the reviewers’ words, not ours — follow each link for the full review.
I’ve never regretted seeing an Alan Bissett performance; The Red Hourglass was no different. It’s a funny, highly entertaining hour of wonderfully characterised spidey personalities, all told from unique perspectives…
— Edinburgh Reviews (5 out of 5 stars)
Performance dates and ticket availability
- Sat 15 Aug, 16:45 — Already performed — £16.00
- Sun 23 Aug, 20:30 — Already performed — £16.00