Celtic on stage

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Ref: On stage plays & musicals with a Celtic football related theme or link
aka: Stageplays, Stage Plays, Theatre Plays, Musicals

Stage Plays and Theatre Performances

In recent decades a number of stage plays have been written and performed about Celtic or events in the club’s history.

THE CELTIC STORY

In its Centenary season the club commissioned leading Scottish theatre company “Wildcat” to create and perform ‘The Celtic Story’ which ran at the Pavilion Theatre in Glasgow from 30 April 1988 to 25 June 1988. The play proved a huge success and was revived with a further run some years later.

In the original run actors included Dorothy Paul and Peter Mullan.

On the poster & program the team photo is actually a mock-up. The first team at the time all dressed up in 1880’s period team-kit and posed for a team photo.

There have been a number of (well-received) revivals & updates to the story over the years.

2023 revival

Celtic legends Fergus McCann and Neil Lennon spotted at Glasgow opening night of The Celtic Story
Story by Jennifer Russell •
2d

Ahost of Celtic legends past and present were at the opening night of The Celtic Story at the SEC Armadillo on Thursday night for an evening of reminiscing and music.

Fergus McCann, former Managing Director of Celtic Football Club, was joined by former player and manager Neil Lennon and fellow Celtic legends Murdo MacLeod, Tosh McKinlay and Tom Boyd.

Last night’s show – which marked the first in a three-week run at the SEC Armadillo – was held in support of Celtic FC Foundation.

Speaking about the show, the former Celtic Captain, Tom Boyd said: “This show just epitomises how Celtic was started. It takes us through all the generations, highlights the emotions that come with so many things and proves that we are much bigger than a football club. An absolutely astonishing show.”

While Tosh McKinlay added: “This took me right back to my grandad’s days when he said no one could lace Jimmy McGrory’s boots, which they talked about in the show tonight, so that was absolutely fantastic. It took us right through the years, right through our years – an amazing show”.

Starring the likes of Martin Quinn, David Mackay and Kathleen McDermott, the large-scale theatre production – which charts the unique history of Celtic Football Club through the eyes of an Irish immigrant family living in Glasgow – was also a smash hit with fans, who took to their feet to give the cast an emotional standing ovation.

One Celtic fan said: “ When you are at a show called the Celtic story, it’s hard not to think of your own Celtic Story. Every time one of those games happened or one of these moments happened it was with people you loved or people who are not here anymore, so it’s a really emotional and uplifting show.”

The Celtic Story – being produced by Regular Music and Bublico in partnership with Celtic FC – was first performed at The Pavilion Theatre by Wildcat Theatre Company in 1988 and was the very first play of its kind about a football club.

Originally commissioned by Celtic to commemorate the Club’s Centenary Season, it was a smash hit with Celtic fans. Since then, there have been three hugely successful revivals of the production, with the last run of the show taking place over twenty years ago.

This latest – and long overdue – revival, adapted and directed by Martin McCormack with Martin McCardie exec producing, has been updated to reflect the changing times and evolving history of the Club while still capturing the unwavering passion and commitment of the fans.Featuring a brand new song, Celtic Did It First , penned by songwriter Ciaran McEneny and Ken McCluskey – of Bluebells fame – which is set to become a new anthem for the Club, The Celtic Story is a funny, moving and completely gripping, it promises to be an unforgettable night at the theatre.

Tickets are on sale now for The Celtic Story which runs from September 1 to September 16 at SEC Armadillo, Glasgow from here.

Jock Stein Play

The Jock Stein Story, commissioned by Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow, dir. John Murtagh 1997 Written by big Celtic fan Raymond Ross

Big Inverdarroch from Take the High Road played Jock’s role.

THE LIONS OF LISBON

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Celtic’s European Cup success, Willy Maley and Ian Auld (brother of Bertie) wrote a play about the Lisbon experience from the perspective of the fans. It was produced by the Penny Mob Theatre Co. and ran at the Tron Theatre and other venues in Glasgow and beyond in 1992.

From the Glasgow Herald, 19 Dec 1991:
“The show, The Lions of Lisbon, is the result of a meeting between playwright Willy Maley and actor and songwriter Ian Auld, brother of Lisbon Lion Bertie Auld. Maley was working as writer-in-residence at Milton library during 1990 when the two fell to discussing Wildcat’s Celtic Story. Perceiving a drama in the tale of the Celts travelling support to that European Cup triumph, timed to coincide with its silver anniversary (and let’s face it, they could do with being reminded of it at Parkhead these days), the co-authors are putting the finishing touches to the script. The plan is that the play will have a rehearsed reading in the Jock Stein lounge at Paradise before opening in Royston, with entry priced at a mere 1p. It will then go on to a community tour before its dates during May. An Edinburgh Festival Fringe run is planned after that.”

ON OUR WAY TO LISBON

This two-man stage play written by Patrick Prior and brought to the stage by the Iscosceles Theatre Company ran at the Citizens Theatre in Glasgow in 2002 and more recently at the King’s Theatre in 2008. The same two actors – Pat Abernethy and Dave Marsden – appeared on both runs.

The play was reviewed by Not the View fanzine here.

SINGIN’ I’M NO A BILLY HE’S A TIM

Written by Coatbridge-born playwright and author Des Dillon, ‘Singin’ I’m No A Billy…’ is billed as an exploration of bigotry and ethnic identity. It focuses on events when a Celtic supporter and a Rangers fan are locked up together in a cell on the day of a big derby game.

Des Dillion has previously contributed to the Celtic Minded series of books.

Review of Singin’ I’m No a Billy He’s a Tim from the Guardian Newspaper
Citizens, Glasgow
3 out of 5 Mark Fisher
The Guardian, Tuesday 9 June 2009

Ever since Hector McMillan’s The Sash in 1974, there has been a popular market in Scotland for broad comedies on a sectarian theme. And one look at the audience crowding into the Citizens tells you Des Dillon’s Singin’ I’m No a Billy He’s a Tim is reaching the parts that other theatre can’t reach. Produced by the unfunded NLP company, with an uninspiring, low-budget set, it has enjoyed a second sell-out tour of Scotland, with dates lined up in Northern Ireland later in the year. All this while passing under the theatre establishment radar.

You couldn’t call it sophisticated, but the production is good fun. Dillon’s key gag is to throw two football fans from either side of Glasgow’s sectarian divide – Catholic Celtic, Protestant Rangers – into a police cell on the day of an Old Firm match. Tim and Billy (nobody said this was subtle) have to negotiate a path between their desire to see the game and their inbred hatred of each other. In the process, they realise the foolishness of their bigotry.

The trajectory is predictable; the skill lies in Dillon’s careful balance between recognising, even celebrating the tribal affiliations of both sides and pointing out that the kind of songs that glory in being “up to our knees in Fenian blood” would be intolerable in any other cultural setting. His raucous sense of humour and keen understanding of the west-coast sectarian mindset make his sisters-under-the-skin message seem a matter of urgency and not just a liberal platitude.

In this, he is aided by the tremendous performances of Scott Kyle (Billy) and Colin Little (Tim), who have a perfect feel for the machismo of the terraces, the stakes involved in the peace process and the no-nonsense comedy of Dillon’s script.

The Prince – The Johnny Thomson Story

(2011)

By: Newsroom Staff on 17 Aug, 2011 09:47

THE 80th Anniversary of the death of John Thomson is almost upon us and the occasion will be marked on the stage of the King’s Theatre by a timely re-telling of his life story.

It will be produced in conjunction with the Ambassador Theatre Group and will open on September 5, 2011, significantly marking the 80th Anniversary of the Celtic legend’s passing, and run until September 10.

The original production tells the life story of the legendary keeper, who stood guard between the sticks for Celtic for just over four seasons.

But with his career ending prematurely at the age of 22, shining star, Johnny, died after a collision on the field of play in 1931, with so much still to offer both on and off the pitch.

Co-writers Brian McGeachan and Gerry McDade wanted to capture this by delving into Johnny’s world before the tragedy and have done so by setting the play against the backdrops of his native Fife, and Glasgow, in the late 1920s.

The writers have delivered an entertaining, sad, but also uplifting production.

Gerry McDade said: “I wanted to look at it and ask, what was he like as a person? What was it like for him when he moved here from Fife?

“He was a young man in Glasgow and he was fitting in with legends like Jimmy McGrory, so you have to take a step back and decide not to look at it from the perspective of his death, but from the life he had before that.

“That’s why we talk about celebrating the legend but commemorating the hero at the same time. You have to have that double edge to it and step into his boots.”

While on the pitch John made over 200 appearances for Celtic, won two Scottish Cup medals and was the Scottish internationalist keeper.

Off the field, he was a wonderful character and Gerry wanted to share the keeper’s happy memories and funny stories in order to give the audience a feel for who he was personally.

Gerry added: “We’re using a couple of contemporary Celtic supporters to set up the story and narrate the play.

“We are looking at certain incidents in his life, for instance, he was a phenomenal sportsman.

“There’s a story about them going to the swimming baths one day and Johnny, who had never dived in his life, pulled out a dive that an Olympic swimmer would have been proud of.

“You can see the humour in that so there’s that element that we want to bring to it too.

“The story is a tragedy and that brings its own dimension to it, but the trick is to get an entertaining story out of it as well.”

TICKET INFO
Showtimes:
Monday, September 5 – Saturday, September 10: 7.30pm
Wednesday & Saturday Matinee: 2.30pm

Ticket prices are £12 – £26 and available from the following outlets:

Telephone Sales: 0844 871 7648 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 0844 871 7648 end_of_the_skype_highlighting (Booking fee applies)

Groups & Schools: 0844 871 7602 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 0844 871 7602 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

To buy online, go to www.atgtickets.com/glasgow

Celtic – The Musical
in Glasgow, Dublin and Derry

2016

WORLD PREMIERE

Celtic – The Musical

“Because we only know that there’s going to be a show and the Glasgow Celtic will be there!”Celtic – The Musical is a brand new stage show that has been created by Alterean Media with the official backing and support of Celtic Football Club.The story of the proud history of Celtic Football Club unfolds through the eyes of two families, united by their shared passion.Featuring the songs that have rung round Celtic Park over the years Celtic – The Musical tells the amazing story of this legendary club and the greatest fans in the world. It takes audiences on an emotion-charged journeyfrom the foundation of the football club by Brother Walfrid and its charitable origins onward through Willie Maley’s legendary successes as manager and the scoring feats of Jimmy McGrory. The wing wizardry of Jimmy Johnstone to the triumphs of the immortal Jock Stein and the lasting legacy left by icons such as Billy McNeill, Tommy Burns and Henrik Larsson.This is the story of a world famous sporting institution, a people’s club, truly a club like no other – a musical history of Celtic Football Club.

By: Newsroom Staff on 03 Sep, 2016 16:41(2016)

• A brand new stage show, Celtic – The Musical has been created by Alterean Media with the official backing and support of Celtic Football Club.Featuring the songs that have rung around Celtic Park over the years, the show tells the amazing story of this legendary club.It takes audiences on an emotion-charged journey from the foundation of the football club byBrother Walfrid, Willie Maley’s legendary successes as manager and the scoring feats of Jimmy McGrory.From the wing wizardry of Jimmy Johnstone to the triumphs of the immortal Jock Stein and the lasting legacy left by icons such as Billy McNeill, Tommy Burns and Henrik Larsson.The show will premiere at Glasgow’s Pavilion Theatre where it will run from 7th-17th September. It will then move to The Gaiety Theatre in Dublin (20th-24th September) before ending the first run at Derry’s Millennium Forum (27th September – 1st October).Celtic Chief Executive Peter Lawwell said: “Celtic is a club like no other, with the richest history and tradition and a wonderful story which deserves to be told in this way.“The musical will be a celebration of Celtic, one of the world’s true great football clubs and will take the audience on a fantastic journey through almost 130 years of history. We are sure this production will be extremely popular with all our supporters.”Alterean Media previously enjoyed successes with the hit stage plays The Official History of Liverpool FC and One Night in Istanbul.Writer, Nicky Allt said: “Celtic’s story is one about people, about immigration, and about a football club born of purpose.“Growing up in Liverpool my family was always aware of Brother Walfrid, Celtic and its charitable foundations. Since then it has always been a story that resonated with me, fascinated me, and a story I always wanted to tell.”

  

Bend it like Auld

Started: 2021

Denise Mullen is divorced, mother to two teenagers, cares for her elderly father and has an extremely stressful job. The only thing that is keeping Denise sane is her beloved Celtic. They are stockpiling trophies and Denise knows just how it feels to be Celtic!

Denise is hoping her Celtic can continue their trophy haul…enter Bertie Auld!

Danny Mullen is footloose and fancy free and looking forward to the New Year. The only thing that is getting Danny down is his beloved Celtic. Both Celtic and Danny have forgotten what a trophy looks like and Danny knows just how it feels to be Celtic!

Danny is hoping his Celtic can win a trophy, any bloody trophy…enter Bertie Auld!

Follow the antics of Denise and Danny in the new comedy play, “Bend it like Bertie” to see if Bertie can help make their wishes come true.

Play inspired by Celtic legend Bertie Auld could be Vegas-bound

By Euan Davidson
1 month ago

‘Bend It Like Bertie’, a stage play inspired by Lisbon Lion and Celtic legend Bertie Auld, has been approached for a Vegas booking.

According to the play’s star, comedian Des McLean, the play which debuted at Webster’s Theatre last night is already gaining significant traction.

‘Bend It Like Bertie’ centres around a divorced, stressed mother of two, who’s being kept sane by her support of Celtic Football Club [Websters]. Written by Jim Orr, it follows the success of a Harald Brattbakk themed stage play.

There’s already an annual convention in Vegas for Celtic supporters. The NAFCSC Convention is a yearly hit, but the addition of some drama and glamour can only boost attendance.

Des McLean said about the Vegas interest [Sun]:

“Even this early we have already been contacted to see if the show will go to Vegas. Bertie [Auld] was Mr Vegas and used to go to every Celtic supporters convention over there, so that’s really exciting.

“We’ve also had offers to take it to Ireland and Australia too, which is fantastic.

“And the show also ticks a really important box for me, allowing me to play one of my all time heroes. I once sat beside Bertie for ten hours flying back from a Celtic supporters convention in Vegas. He told me all the great stories first hand, so that made it extra special to be able to play him in this show.”
A celebration of Lisbon Legend Bertie Auld will surely go down a treat with Celtic supporters

Bertie Auld is still, and always will be, absolutely beloved by Celtic supporters. When news came of Auld’s dementia battle [Celtic FC], the outpouring of love from fans, former players and club figures spoke for itself.

So, the timing is great to show appreciation for the Lisbon Lion. And this seems a perfect way to do it.
It wouldn’t be the first Celtic-themed stage foray, anyway. Celtic The Musical was a smash-hit, with more showings booked for massive Glasgow venues next year.

It’s not hard to see why musicals and plays are such a hit with Celtic supporters. The history of songs and arts being intertwined with the club goes back generations.

Perhaps, that was never better epitomised than by Bertie himself. Ahead of kick-off against Inter Milan on that famous Lisbon day, Auld started singing ‘The Celtic Song’ to calm the Bhoys’ pre-match nerves [Independent].

As we know, it worked a treat.

The TOMMY BURNS Story by Davie Carswell

Started: 2021
link: https://www.thetommyburnsstory.co.uk/

A play which celebrates the life of the self-proclaimed “supporter who got lucky”. From growing up in the Calton, to playing for and managing the club he loved. The play covers the three items he cherished above all else.

Bend it like Brattback

“It’s rare for a stage play to capture the joy, humour and drama that comes with supporting Celtic. The belly laughs made this an unforgettable night out.” – Paul McQuade (The Shamrock) “Bend it like Brattbakk”, Websters Theatre, Glasgow, 6-10 March 2019

James McAnerney: Everything You Need to Know About Bend it like Brattbakk

May 9, 2023

James McAnerney: Everything You Need to Know About Bend it like Brattbakk

The Background

Jim Orr decided to write a play to celebrate the 20thanniversary of what he believes to be the second most important (and most nerve wracking!) season in Celtic’s history, 1997-98. The play follows three fictional characters during that season, explained in more detail below.

The moment that all Celtic fans knew that nine years of misery had ended, was when Harald Brattbakk slotted home an exquisite Jackie McNamara pass to put Celtic two-nil up against St Johnstone with 18 minutes of the season left. At long last, the Celtic fans could breathe again!

To celebrate the 25th anniversary, Bend it like Brattbakk is back this June with three special shows at Celtic Park’s Kerrydale Suite.

The Football

In the summer of 1997, Rangers were about to embark on a league campaign to secure a world record 10 league championships in-a-row, overtaking the record set by Celtic’s legendary Lisbon Lions. The ‘10’ was a formality, as Rangers were huge odds on favourites. Having spent £13m on Amoruso, Porrini and Negri, adding to talented players such as Laudrup and Gascoigne, they had an extremely strong squad, which also included Andy Goram, a major thorn in Celtic’s side over the previous few seasons.

For Celtic, Tommy Burns had been sacked, so they had no Manager. Van Hooijdonk had already left and Di Canio and Cadete were refusing to return. Paul McStay, voted into Celtic’s greatest ever team, had retired through injury. A Manager was then appointed in Wim Jansen, who was described by the entirely impartial Scottish media, as the ‘second worst thing to come out of Hiroshima’. Tom Boyd was given the captaincy, following in the footsteps of Paul McStay, and had to stop the ‘10’, no pressure then!

The Play

There was an American children’s programme in the late 60s/early 70s called Sesame Street. Each episode would feature words with the same letter, e.g. this episode has been brought to you by the letter T. Bend it like Brattbakk is brought to you by the letter ‘F’: family, football and faith, but not necessarily in that order!

We follow the fictional Lyons FAMILY, Tam Lyons, daughter Maggie Lyons and her new boyfriend Nat Christie, throughout that rollercoaster FOOTBALL season. Every gut wrenching moment, the good bits, the bad bits and the ugly bits as Celtic, Rangers and Hearts take it in turns to top the table, right up until the dramatic last day of the season.

Bend it like Brattbakk is the story of Tam’s obsession with Celtic, and his fear of the ‘10’. As a Celtic fan, Tam had suffered for most of the 1950s and the early 1960s, but this was different, very different, the Lisbon Lions’ nine-in-a-row record was going to be broken, by Rangers!

Nine long years without a league trophy had taken its toll on Tam, physically and mentally. 10-in-a-row was a tsunami he could see coming hurtling towards him and there was no way of stopping it, so what could he do! Well, at the point where hope would otherwise become hopelessness, it becomes FAITH, and Tam needed to keep the faith. What else could he do as all logic pointed to the dreaded ‘10’.

The Feedback

“THE best Celtic related play I’ve seen, it’s brilliant.” – Joe Miller

“All Celtic fans MUST see this, so funny.” – Murdo MacLeod

“A MUST-SEE show, funny all the way through” – John Fallon

The Kerrydale will host three wonderful showings of the play on Friday, June 23 (evening) and Saturday, June 24 (matinee and evening). Tickets are available now and can be purchased HERE with Celtic FC Foundation benefitting from a percentage of the ticket sales, as well as proceeds from the sale of all programme

And If You Know The History?

And If You Know The History?
View event information and book tickets online.

Event Details

Date: 10 October 2024

Time: 07:30 pm – 10:00 pm

Venue: Websters Theatre
This event is also on:

October 11, 2024
October 12, 2024

There will be one interval.
Tickets

Or call the Box Office on
0141 357 4000

Adults: £20.00

Age Restrictions: 12+ Only

Ticket prices include £2.00 admin fee per ticket. Fee applicable to all tickets, including tickets bought on the day.

Please note, our box office is only manned when there is a performance in the venue. Phone messages and emails to the Box Office are checked at least once a day, Tuesdays to Saturdays. Box Office Information.

After the high of the centenary season in 1988, Celtic had been going through a bit of a sticky patch, but a rare victory over their great rivals Rangers in the cup in March 1990, was cause for optimism.

And as the Celtic-daft Devlin family celebrated later that night, there was a knock at the door of their Croy home. It was a very strange man…wearing a bunnet…with a plan!

And this visit kicked off a series of events that would change the history of Celtic, forever. The next few years were going to be an emotional rollercoaster for every Celtic supporter.

Follow the antics of the Devlin family and the very strange man in the new comedy play, AND IF YOU KNOW THE HISTORY?

From the writer of:
Bend it like Brattbakk – “loads of laughs all the way through this outstanding show” (Tom Boyd, captain of the ’10 stoppers’)
Bend it like Bertie – “a play that every generation of Celtic supporters will absolutely love” (John Fallon, Lisbon Lion)