This monologue from the enigmatic Scottish performer tells the story of one boy's grandad who won a fortune betting on the 1966 football World Cup and, when diagnosed with cancer, gambled it all on living to see the year 2000. The performance, a story of what we live for and what we leave behind, was a sell-out success at the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2015 delighting audiences of all generations with this extraordinary tale. The show has since enjoyed sell-out runs at the Adelaide Fringe in Australia and the prestigious Spoleto Festival in Charleston, USA. Following this UK tour, Gary will perform the show in New York in 2017.
A story of what we live for and what we leave behind, the show was a sell-out success at the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and has since enjoyed sell-out runs at the Adelaide Fringe in Australia and the prestigious Spoleto Festival in Charleston, USA with the show being performed in New York in 2017.
Writer and performer Gary McNair said: "I'm very excited to be continuing the travels of A Gambler's guide to Dying. I've been overwhelmed by the remarkable response that the show has had during its runs at the Edinburgh Fringe and in Australia and America, and that the show has been translated and performed in several other languages from Portuguese to Japanese in the last year. I could not be happier with how warm everyone has been about it. You will understand however, a mere 5 minutes into the show, given what happens to our central character for supporting the English in 1966 in a Glasgow pub, why it feels like England may be the hardest place to perform the piece. That said, as with everywhere else so far, I'm sure that the audience will be right behind Archie, rooting for him all the way to the end.
"I'm looking forward to returning to many brilliant theatres across the country and to stop in at some venues that are new to me and, despite what everybody says about you, I always find English audiences to be incredibly warm and supportive, apart from in Cheltenham but we're not going there so that's fine."
Gary McNair is a writer, performer and director from Glasgow, Scotland. His specialty is work that directly addresses his audiences, while entertaining and challenging them in equal measures. His previous shows have included: Donald Robertson is Not a Stand Up Comedian (Traverse 2014) that saw McNair perform to sold out audiences. Winner of the Edinburgh Art Club/Edinburgh Guide Flying Artichoke Award ("A tour de force with a whole lot of heart and a must-see" ***** The Stage). In recent years he has created work for National Theatre of Scotland, Oran Mor, The Citizens, The Arches, Trigger, The Traverse, has toured across the UK and had work translated and presented work across the world.
Company
Writer and performer Gary McNair Director Gareth Nicholls
Lighting Design Simon Hayes Sound Designer & Composer MJ McCarthy
Sound Associate Gareth Griffiths Stage Manager Carrie Taylor
Tour Associate Fiona Johnston Producer Show And Tell
UK TOUR: Wednesday 14 September - Saturday 15 October 2016
Show And Tell are a London-based, award-winning Production Company working in close collaboration with established and emerging comedians and theatre-makers to bring their work to audiences on a national and international stage. They are currently working with Kieran Hurley, Sh!t Theatre, Josie Long, Simon Munnery and Andrew Maxwell, On The Run and more. Show And Tell is already enjoying a strong Edinburgh Festival Fringe with a Fringe First for Kieran Hurley's first Edinburgh Festival Fringe premiere Heads Up.
Gareth Nicholls is the mainstage Director in Residence at the Citizens Theatre (Glasgow). He has directed for National Theatre of Scotland, The Arches, High Tide Festival Theatre and the Traverse. He has won several awards including two Fringe First Awards.
REMAINING TOUR DATES
The Old Market, Brighton
Main House, 11a Upper Market Street, Hove, BN3 1AS
Thursday 29 September - Saturday 1 October 2016
8pm (doors 7.15pm) | First night: £10 (£8), £8 for groups of 8, £12 (£10) on Friday and Saturday
Box office: | www.theoldmarket.com
**Southwark Playhouse, London
77-85 Newington Causeway, London, SE1 6BD
Sunday 2 and Sunday 9 October 2016
7pm | £12
Box office: 020 7407 0234 | www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk**
Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
55 Norfolk Street, Sheffield, S1 1DA
Wednesday 5 October 2016
7.45pm | £12.50 (£10.50)
Box office: 0114 249 6000 | www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk
HOME, Manchester
2, Tony Wilson Place, First St, Manchester M15 4FN
Thursday 6 - Saturday 8 October 2016
7pm (6th and 8th) and 9pm (7th only) | £12 (£10)
Box office: | www.homemcr.org
Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh
10 Cambridge Street, Edinburgh, EH1 2ED
Saturday 15 October 2016
7.30pm
£16.50 (£13.50/£8.50)
Box office: 0131 228 4404 | www.traverse.co.uk
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xqX5KPyX-M
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