A fascinating 20-year-old play is coming to Dunoon’s Queen’s Hall in May.
Des Dillon’s Singin’ I’m No A Billy, He’s a Tim lifts the lid on a west of Scotland problem, and manages to make its theme universal.
Two hate filled rival football fans locked up in the same prison cell verbally lacerate each other while their teams assemble for the derby in the stadium nearby.
In this crucible, Billy and Tim vent all their fears, bigotry, paranoia, misconceptions and, most significantly, the mutual loathing that has shaped their whole lives.
The lads’ collision is not just a matter of football rivalry, but a very serious clash of cultures with all the deep-seated bigotry that that entails.
Face to face with the object of their hatred, do they choose to destroy each other or to confront their demons and start a dialogue towards some kind of ceasefire?
A potent allegory for peace processes all over the world, Des Dillon’s extraordinary, moving and hilarious “Singin’ I’m No A Billy, He’s a Tim” speaks for any divided culture where polarisation is inbred and prejudice governs reason.
When drama is supposed to reflect society, what better arena than the sport that grips society most?
Singin’ I’m No A Billy, He’s a Tim is at the Queen’s Hall on May 23, and tickets are on sale now.
