Season Continues!
Fish, written by Sean O’Neil and directed by Fraser Scott, drops us straight into a grimy, slightly depressing swimming pool – not exactly where you’d expect to find one of the most quietly moving stories of the season, finds Eva Curran.
Michael Dylan in ‘Fish’ Tommy Ga-Ken Wan
We meet Michael (Michael Dylan) and his coach Pat (Alan McHugh), who are training for a Guinness World Record: holding your breath underwater for 25 minutes. Funny from the get-go. The play leans into absurd comedy, peppered with Irish humour and cultural nods that add an extra layer of charm and keep the audience laughing throughout. Michael spends much of the time with his head dunked in a bucket while Pat, pint in hand, offers chaotic encouragement. Their dynamic is funny, a bit ridiculous, and instantly engaging.
A Shift in Tone
But, as always with Play, Pie, Pint, there’s more going on beneath the surface. The tone begins to shift with the arrival of Pat’s daughter, Gráinne (Mimi Millmore), who is (rightfully) unimpressed by her dad’s behaviour. Her presence brings a new layer of tension and suddenly the story feels less like a quirky challenge and more like something heavier. We learn it’s the 25th anniversary of her mum’s death, and that Michael is also carrying his own grief tied to the same day. What started as a slightly bizarre world record attempt becomes a story about loss, avoidance, and the strange ways people cope. Keeping your head underwater stops being just physical – it becomes symbolic. A way of blocking everything out, even when it’s hurting the people around you.
It’s a clever shift, and one that’s handled really well. The humour never fully disappears, but it’s layered with something more emotional, giving the play real depth without losing its charm. At just under an hour, it’s a tight, engaging watch that sneaks up on you in the best way.
Post Play Analysis
But my favourite thing about spending an afternoon at Play, Pie and a Pint? It’s not just the show itself. It’s that moment afterwards. Walking out shoulder to shoulder with strangers, everyone chatting, sharing thoughts, laughing about certain moments. Then straight into the buzz of Òran Mór, the bar already lively, glasses clinking, and a trad band setting up in the corner. It’s a whole experience, not just a performance.
Stephanie MacGaraidh in ‘Off The Rails’ Tommy Ga-Ken Wan
If you’re looking for your next fix, pop along this weekend to catch Off the Rails – a comedic one-woman show packed with live-looped music, inner demons, and ScotRail trains. Can’t make it? Don’t worry. There’s a whole mix of brilliant, unique shows running every week until the end of June. I’ve already got my eye on Crocodile Rock – the closing show. See you there!
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A Play, A Pie & A Pint
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