Odds and Sods Written and directed by Tom Brogan and Fraser Campbell

A Co-Production from You Owe Me Glue and Strathclyde Group

PRESS PACK Contents

About the Play 3

Listings Info 4

About the Companies 5

Biographies - Writers/Directors, Cast, Crew 6

Save the Ramshorn Theatre 9

Press Photos 10

Contacts 12

2 About the Play

Odds and Sods is a comedy set in a bookmakers in the West of . The story plays out over the course of one day.

Sandy has ran the bookies for more years than he cares to recall. Janice, his sole employee, is a constant thorn in his side. The business has seen better days and his only source of income or enjoyment comes from the money put over the counter by his regular clientèle of losing punters.

Among his punters schemer Milton is threatening legal action, while former pop star Jordon is reneging on a deal struck to write off his gambling debts.

Frank is facing up to the fact that life has passed him by, while Shelagh is hoping he can find some money to lend her to finance her wagers.

But the biggest threat Sandy faces may well come from Shug, the long-time loser, who, sick of being taunted, places an accumulator that just might see the normality of life in Sandy's Bookies shattered for good.

Odds and Sods was performed as a rehearsed reading in a sell-out show at the Ramshorn Theatre for the International Comedy Festival on Tuesday 24th March 2009.

3 Listings Information

Odds and Sods

The Ramshorn Theatre 98 Ingram Street, Glasgow, G1 1EX

Monday 12th October to Saturday 17th October 2009 at 7.30pm

Prices: Monday and Tuesday £6 (£4 concessions) Wednesday to Saturday £9 (£6 concessions)

Tickets can be reserved in advance and paid for on the night from:

The Ramshorn Theatre: 0141 552 3489 [email protected]

The Collins Gallery: 0141 548 2558

4 About the Companies

You Owe Me Glue

YOMG is the collective name that Tom Brogan and Fraser Campbell have worked under since their first live sketch show at the Glasgow International Comedy Festival in 2005.

Strathclyde Theatre Group

STG is unique in the UK: a collaboration between the University of Strathclyde and the people of Glasgow. Since 1971, it has provided an important, informal academy of theatre arts for the city, for the University and for Scotland. A radical, experimental company, it has helped launch the careers of many actors - from Siobhan Redmond to Henry Ian Cusick - and of directors, from David Mark Thomson to Leslie Finlay - and of writers, from George Mackay Brown to Stephen Greenhorn and Linda McLean.

STG grew out of a student company, nurtured by the Department of English Studies, and has become part of the essential fabric of Scottish theatre. Founded by Hugo Gifford in 1971, it has always been an arena for people to explore what theatre can be. From extraordinary projects such as The Golden City, performed in Glasgow Cathedral, to tours of the Highlands with Rob Roy, to early multi-media productions such as Ghosts, STG has covered a staggering range of dramatic work. There have been three visionary directors of Drama: Hugo Gifford 1971 - 1979, with Alistair Cording as Assistant Director 1977 - 1980, Peter 'Doc' Watson 1980 - 1984, and Susan C Triesman from 1984 to the present. The Theatre Administrators are no less crucial: Phyllis Steel and Elaine Ness in the early days, and Sylvia Jamieson since 1985.

5 Biographies

Tom Brogan and Fraser Campbell - Writers/Directors

Tom and Fraser have been writing together since 1998 when Fraser created the celebrated spoof newspaper 'Cheery Bananas'.

They began writing sketches and were soon on the writing staff for two series of BBC Radio Scotland's sketch comedy series 'Sabotage'.

In 2005 the duo created live comedy troupe You Owe Me Glue. YOMG have performed live sketch shows in a number of venues throughout Glasgow and beyond in recent years, prompting Barry McDonald of the Evening Times to observe that "You Owe Me Glue are undoubtedly one of the most talented and inventive comedy troupes in the country."

Following this Fraser and Tom realised their dream of bringing YOMG to a broadcast format and 'The Magic Glue' a half hour pilot, was aired on BBC Radio Scotland in January 2009 with a repeat following in August.

Also in January, they also co-presented an episode of BBC Radio Scotland's 'The Comedy Zone' where they discussed their many comedy influences.

'Odds and Sods' is their first full length play.

As well as writing and performing 'You Owe Me Glue' and 'The Magic Glue' both Tom and Fraser have several independent creative outlets.

Fraser Campbell After writing sketches Fraser soon moved onto stand-up where he performed alongside the likes of Nina Conti, Lucy Porter and Daniel Kitson.

Fraser is also pursuing his first love, comics. In 2007 he co-created 'Blackcape' with artist Iain Laurie. This grim tale of a town full of unemployed superheroes was described by legendary comics colourist Jamie Grant (All Star Superman, Hellblazer, WE3) as "Watchmen meets The Boys From The Blackstuff". Having first appeared on Fraser and Iain's blog Blackcape was soon snapped up for publication by Glasgow's Bad Press and regularly features in the anthology title 'Wasted'.

Fraser is currently working on more Blackcape for Wasted and is interesting publishers with his latest work 'Sceptic'. Set in Edinburgh, this tale of a Victorian occult detective was described by Watchman co-creator Dave Gibbons at the recent Bristol Comic-Con as "Quirky, interesting stuff." Fraser is also working on 'Darklands' a dimension jumping, time-travelling sci-fi spy adventure with co-creators Iain Laurie and Garry Brown.

Tom Brogan As an actor Tom has appeared in productions at Strathclyde Theatre Group including 'Beyond Therapy', 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' and 'Titus Andronicus'. He is currently filming the new 6 part comedy series 'Limmy's Show' with The Comedy Unit. 'Limmy's Show' is set to appear on BBC Scotland before of 2009. 6 Cast James Keenan – Sandy

James Keenan started performing at the Cumbernauld Theatre with the Apex Players, before becoming a member of the Strathclyde Theatre Group. At STG he has portrayed a wide range of characters, from Clarin in 'Life is a Dream' to Bruce in 'Beyond Therapy' to Corvino in 'Volpone'

Desiring a move into directing, James was offered the chance to direct the Scottish Première of 'This is Our Youth' by Kenneth Lonnergan. His next production was a complete sell out ten night run of 'One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest'.

In 2008 he spent some time in Goa working on his first feature length film playing a Buddhist monk in 'Tripping on a Bicycle' which should be released at the start of 2010. James is also heavily involved with Radio Theatre Group and regularly appears in their productions most recently as 'The ' for their Suspense season and as 'The Grinch' for their Christmas shows.

You may recognise James as the sole male dancer in the Bingomoods.com advert. He has just finished his first ever Edinburgh Fringe when he played Sharkey in the première of 'A Tall Tale From The Fame Factory'.

John Love – Shug

Paisley-born actor John Love, has only been with Strathclyde Theatre Group for around 2 years, but has already been involved in several popular STG productions. A versatile actor, he has played roles in productions ranging from 'One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest' and 'Tales From Hollywood', to 'Titus Andronicus' and 'Much Ado About Nothing'. He has also been involved in Radio Theatre Group productions of 'Sorry, Wrong Number' and 'The Plot to Overthrow Christmas'.

John has also performed with Trinity Theatre Group in productions such as 'Blithe Spirit', 'Passing Places', and as The Lion in 'Wizard of Oz'. He was also Lady in a comedy production of The Farndale Avenue Housing Association Towns Women’s Guild’s Production of Macbeth.’

John has performed in several short films playing everything from a cheesy Scottish DJ in ‘Strawberry Blondes Have More Fun’ to a religious serial killer in ‘This is The Way the World Ends,’ via a prison governor in ‘MACS’ and a bar-fly in ‘Puggy’and ‘Mapp Heed.’ He also had a small role in BBC3 sitcom, ‘How Not To Live Your Life, and has just finished filming a pilot episode of a new series set in Glasgow’s underworld, called ‘The Crews.’

Robert Radcliffe – Frank

Robert has acted in a wide variety of productions and mediums. He has worked with Strathclyde Theatre Group in productions such as 'The Talented Mr. Ripley', 'Closer', 'Jayne Eyre', 'Tales From Hollywood' and 'Tally's Blood'. He has appeared at the Edinburgh Fringe in 'Oleanna' for Born Ready Productions and in many short films, such as 'Dead Money', 'A Grave Tale' and 'An Untamed Heart'. His most recent work includes the short film 'Into the Fire' and an independent TV drama from Bad Pony Productions entitled 'Ninety-Eight Per Cent'. 7 Jennifer Byrne - Shelagh

After studying acting for two years at college, Jennifer graduated in 2007 with a degree in Theatre and English Literature from the University of Glasgow. A performer from a young age, Jennifer has appeared in numerous plays, musicals and independent films - both short and feature length - playing a range of diverse roles. Recent theatre credits include Pegeen Mike in 'The Playboy of the Western World', Hero in 'Much Ado About Nothing', Helen in 'Tales From Hollywood', and Eva in the English translation UK premiere of Ireneusz Iredynski's 'Third Breast' at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2009. In addition, she has just completed filming a pilot episode of 'The Crews', a new independent Scottish crime drama.

Moira Byrne – Janice

Moira has performed with You Owe Me Glue since 2005 and appeared in the BBC Radio Scotland pilot 'The Magic Glue'. She has also worked with Strathclyde Theatre Group several times, appearing in productions such as 'Winston Churchill’s Neck', 'The Devils' and 'Tales From Hollywood'. She has performed with Radio Theatre Group in Tom Stoppard's 'If You're Glad I'll be Frank'. On television Moira has appeared in BBC's 'Learning Zone' and portrayed Jenny Geddes, the market-trader who sparked the riot which led to the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, in BBC 2’s 'Cathedral'. She has also performed with Naked Bear Theatre during Glasgow's West End Festival.

Will Speirs – Milton

Will first got into acting at school, which led him to joining the Glasgow Schools Youth Theatre, where he performed in four musicals over two years. Although he found this exhilarating, it wasn't until he was 27 when he returned to his passion doing an NC in Drama at Clydebank College, he then did an HND in acting and performance at Reid Kerr College and completed a year in Sunderland where he obtained his Degree in Drama. Not long after this, Will and his partner had twins and then another child a year and a half later giving them the grand total of four, this led to his acting career having to take a back seat for four years, but now he's back performing in his first play since he graduated.

Christopher McKiddie – Jordon

Christopher McKiddie began his acting career in 2008 as Mario in 'They Shoot Horses, Don't They' at The . He went on to join the Strathclyde Theatre Group and has featured in 'The White House Murder Case', 'From The Calton To Catalonia' and 'Titus Andronicus'. With Radio Theatre Group he has performed in 'I Saw Myself Running', 'Three Skeleton Key' and 'If You're Glad, I'll Be Frank'.

Photo Credits: Heidi Kuisma, Richard Campbell, Christopher Bowen, Scott Cadenhead

8 Save the Ramshorn Campaign

The Ramshorn Theatre, home of Strathclyde Theatre Group, has recently found itself under threat of closure.

The new principal of Strathclyde University, Prof. Jim McDonald, has announced proposals to 'dispose of' several of the University's buildings. These include the Student Union, the Collins Gallery, the Royal College and the Ramshorn Theatre.

The new vision for the campus is that the University moves up to Cathedral Street, with no buildings left below Richmond Street, reducing the University's estate by 40 per cent over 10 years.

At the moment there's no threat to end Strathclyde Theatre Group, but taking their theatre away would put the company's future at risk.

Susan and Sylvia at the Ramshorn are actively campaigning to stop the building being sold.

9 Press Photos

Hi-Res copies of photographs are available.

John Love as Shug, Will Speirs as Milton

10 Robert Radcliffe as Frank, Jennifer Byrne as Shelagh

11 Contacts

For more information about the play, writers or cast please contact Tom at [email protected]

For more information on Strathclyde Theatre Group or The Ramshorn Theatre please contact Sylvia at [email protected]

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