Gary is an award-winning writer from Glasgow. Sometimes he performs his own work. Mostly he writes for actors. Occasionally he directs.
His work has been translated and performed all over the world.
He is an Associate Artist at the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh and the Tron in Glasgow.
He is working on a number of commissions and was among the first writers selected to create new plays as part of a $5 million commissioning drive by US audiobook giant Audible.
Several of Gary’s plays are published by Oberon.
Credits:
JEKYLL AND HYDE – 2022
Based on the story by Robert Louis Stevenson
Reading Rep
BLACK DIAMONDS AND THE BLUE BRAZIL– 2021
Adapted from the cult smash hit book by Ron Ferguson
Royal LyceumTheatre, Edinburgh and Pitlochry Festival Theatre
THE ALCHEMIST- 2019
After Ben Johnson
The Tron Theatre, Glasgow
SQUARE GO
Edinburgh Festival – 2018 & 201959E59 Theatre New York 2019UK Tour- 2019
Written by Gary McNair and Kieran Hurley
FRINGE FIRST AWARD WINNER 2018
“funniest show of the festival… Hilarious and human high-school two-hander that’s just brilliant fun” The Stage *****
TELL US WHO WE ARE August 2018
Scottish Youth Dance
Written by Gary McNair
MCGONAGALL’S CHRONICLES (Which Will Be Remembered For a Very Long Time)
Òran Mór – March 2018
Traverse Theatre – April 2018
Written and performed by Gary McNair
Produced by A Play, A Pie and A Pint, Òran Mór
The Herald ***** “Pure bliss”
AFTER THE CUTS
Edinburgh Festival – 2018
Òran Mór, November 2015
Written by Gary McNair
“his play about the dismantlement of the NHS, is darkly witty and deeply tender” The Stage ****
LETTERS TO MORRISSEY
Traverse Theatre / Edinburgh Festival – August 2017
FRINGE FIRST AWARD WINNER 2017
Written and performed by Gary McNair
Directed by Gareth Nicholls
“Nobody is better than McNair at capturing what it feels like to be the odd kid” The Guardian
“McNair is a consummate storyteller” The Stage
“Gary McNair’s nicely judged, just the right side of nostalgic solo show” The Telegraph ****
“The show’s a fine piece of pop criticism” What’s on Stage ****
The Scotsman **** The Wee Review **** Broadway Baby ****
LOCKER ROOM TALK
Traverse Theatre – April 2018
Scottish Parliament – November 2017
Edinburgh Festival – August 2017
Latitude Festival – July 2017
Abbey Theatre, Dublin – May 2017
Traverse Theatre, February 2017
Various international productions 2018
Written by Gary McNair
Directed by Orla O’Loughlin
“While it’s never comfortable, it’s always fascinating” The Guardian ****
“provocative look at toxic masculinity… McNair has created a shocking piece of theatre on a number of levels” The Stage ****
“Fearsome, amusing, insightful and oddly human” Independent ****
PUNNOCCHIO Òran Mór, July 2017
Written by Gary McNair
A GAMBLER’S GUIDE TO DYING
59E59 Theatre, New York – April 2017
UK Tour, September – October 2016
Adelaide Fringe Festival – February 2016
Show and Tell, Traverse Theatre / Edinburgh Festival, August 2015
Writer / Performer, part of the Made in Scotland showcase
FRINGE FIRST AWARD WINNER 2015
Nominated for BEST NEW PLAY by Critics’ Awards for Theatre in Scotland 2016
“Odds are, audiences who secure a ticket will feel as though they’ve hit the jackpot… Gary McNair shines in this beautifully written show” The Guardian ****
“McNair is a nimble storyteller who makes his details vivid” The Times ****
“McNair is a truly impressive performer, charismatic, relaxed and fascinating to watch” The Scotsman ****
“A big-hearted solo piece” The Herald ****
“Funny, observant, poignant” Financial Times ****
LET THE BITCH BURN Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, August 2016
Writer, commissioned by Playwrights Studio Scotland
RUMPLE STILL-SKINT Òran Mór, July 2016
Co-Writer
THE PIE-EYED PIPER OF HAMILTON Òran Mór, July 2015 / Edinburgh Festival, August 2015
Co-Writer
WAR ON CHRISTMAS The Arches, December 2014
Writer / Performer
DONALD ROBERTSON IS NOT A STANDUP COMEDIAN Scotland Tour 27th April – 21st May 2016
UK tour, October – November 2015
Traverse Theatre / Edinburgh Festival, 2014
Developed as part of the NTS / The Arches Auteurs Programme, Behaviour Festival, 2013
Writer / Performer
“McNair is at his brilliant best… it’s difficult to imagine these vital questions about comedy, masculinity, hierarchy and cruelty being handled more skilfully” – ****, The Scotsman
“McNair forensically explores the power of comedy to win friends and humiliate people… Killingly funny.” – ****, The Herald
“In this cracking new piece, writer-performer Gary McNair dissects the tricks and psychology of comedy in what becomes a touching coming-of-age story” – ****, Financial Times
“Smart and cunningly constructed” – ****, The Guardian
“A gem of a show” – ****, The Telegraph
**** The Times
THE DEFICIT SHOW Òran Mór, November 2013
Director / Contributing Writer
THE COLDEST SHOW ON EARTH EISF Banglor / Abu Dhabi, 2013
Writer / Director
WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW… Trigger, 2013
Writer / Performer
DEMONS Òran Mór, 2012
Contributing Writer
DO NOT FEED THE TROLLS Gareth Nichols / McRobert, 2012
Dramaturg
DETOURS – PRIMATE CINEMA Trigger / Edinburgh Art Festival, 2012
Writer / Performer
THE JEAN JACQUES ROUSSEAU SHOW Òran Mór, 2012
Contributing Writer
BORN TO RUN Òran Mór / The Traverse, 2012
Writer / Director
ALBERT DRIVE Glas(s) / Tramway / RCS, 2011
Associate Artist
BLACKPACKER BLUES Douglas Maxwell, 2011
irector
PAUSE WITH A SMILE The Arches / Traverse / Gareth Nichols, 2011
Performer / Devisor
COUNT ME IN National Theatre Scotland / Traverse, 2011
Writer / Performer / Director
MAN TEST Pt. 1 Shunt, 2010
Co-creator with Kieran Hurley
HOW SOON IS NIGH? The Arches / The Traverse, 2010
Writer / Performer / Director
NATIONAL THEATRE OF SCOTLAND’S ‘ALLOTMENT 2’ 2009
Co Writer / Co Director
CRUNCH Forest Fringe / Òran Mór / National Tour, 2009
Writer / Performer / Director
EQUAL AND OPPOSITE The Arches, 2008
Writer / Performer / Director
OUTSIDE OF A POD Tramway / BAC, 2007
Writer / Performer / Director
Awards:
Fringe First Award Winner, 2017
A GAMBLER’S GUIDE TO DYING nominated for BEST NEW PLAY by Critics’ Awards for Theatre in Scotland 2016
Fringe First Award Winner, 2015
Holden Street Theatre Award Winner, 2015
Shortlisted for the Carol Tambor Best of Edinburgh Award, 2011
Platform 18 Award for Directing The Arches/The Traverse, 2011
The Avron Greenbaum Players Award for Directing (RSAMD), 2009
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