Des Dillon’s play about sectarianism and ethnic identity in Scottish football has just kicked off its 20th anniversary tour.
Singin’ I’m No’ A Billy, He’s A Tim takes the rivalry between Protestant Rangers and Catholic Celtic into sharp comic territory.
When Tim, a ‘Tim’ finds himself locked in a cell with Billy, a ‘Billy Boy’, fireworks and fights initially take place, but can the two deadly rivals find any common ground?
One of the most successful stage shows Scotland has ever produced, Dillon’s play cleverly exposes bigotry and prejudice one laugh at a time.
I knew about the rivalry between the Glasgow clubs, but this deep dive into generational prejudice and community division strips it bare.
Colin Little’s Tim is a proud Irish-Scot who has never been over the water. His indignation at his first meeting with Scott Kyle’s fiery bruiser Billy turns into an uneasy dance of barbs and quips.
While the two have to initially be physically stopped from dog fights, they discuss religion, chants, family, and more as the evening progresses.
James Miller’s Harry, the prison guard, has a wry paternal amusement as he manages his quarrelsome inmates, knits to pass the time, and worries about his own family issues.
Singin’ I’m No’ A Billy, He’s A Tim clearly attracts the Scots audience, who enjoyed it to the point of singing along with some of the chants and songs last night.
In this revised version for the 2020s, Scottish nationalism and immigrant crises become of interest, while fatherhood binds all three men in an unspoken pact.
It’s very well directed by Stephen Cafferty and employs a football match structure of two acts/halves and half-time/interval (I would have preferred 90 minutes straight through, but that’s just me).
Kyle, who played Billy back in 2009, returns to the part and presents his Orangeman as a tough nut to crack, needling Little’s Tim and amusing in a phone call with his wife (“people are listening!”).
Little offers a mix of indignation and resignation in his Fenian, whose wife doesn’t really get his devotion to the men in green. He also displays a winning comic charm at times.
For a play that was a bit of a wildcard for me, I really enjoyed watching and learning from this clever and hilarious play. The premise may be a little shaky, but the point is made.
Singin’ I’m No’ A Billy, He’s A Tim is on at the Old Red Lion Theatre today and on the 18-19 May, with tickets here.
In-between, on 15-16 May, you can see a female-cast version, with tickets here.
For more about the tour, check out the show’s Facebook page.
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Images: Scott Kyle/NLP Productions