James Ley
playwright | screenwriter
THE PLAYFUL ONE from audio anthology series THE LOVED ONE
‘These Xanax better be good because I’m gonna need them…’
When a new client asks Pink to track down his boyfriend, she finds herself in a world of sex games and live action roleplay. Will the playful atmosphere inspire Pink to relax too?
Performed by Nathan Byrne, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Catriona Faint, Marc Mackinnon and Matthew Zajac
Written by James Ley
Directed by Lu Kemp
Sound Design and Music by Danny Krass
Series concept by Oliver Emanuel
Produced by Tron Theatre and supported by Creative Scotland
Listen on SPOTIFY or search for THE LOVED ONE
ON STAGE IN 2024
ODE TO JOY (HOW GORDON GOT TO GO TO THE NASTY PIG PARTY) written and directed by James Ley
★★★★ The Sydney Morning Herald “It’s loud, it’s out there, it’s outrageous. It’s very, very funny and it’s even, at moments, quite moving.”
SYDNEY FESTIVAL 16 to 21 January 2024
★★★★★ The List ★★★★★ TheArtDesk ★★★★★ Three Weeks ★★★★★ The Wee Review ★★★★ The Guardian ★★★★ The Skinny ★★★★ Everything Theatre ★★★★ BritishTheatre.com ★★★★ Broadway Baby ★★★★★ The Quinntessential Review
SCOTSMAN FRINGE FIRST WINNER 2022
Gordon is homonormative and fears he might be pathologically boring until he meets Cumpig and Manpussy at a sex party in Leith. When they tell him about Europe’s biggest gay sex party in Berlin, Gordon obviously wants to go, but can he really transform into a sex pig?
ODE TO JOY (HOW GORDON GOT TO GO TO THE NASTY PIG PARTY) was first performed for Edinburgh at Summerhall in August 2022.
STORIES UNTOLD PRODUCTIONS. Part of the Made in Scotland Showcase 2022. Written on attachment to National Theatre of Scotland
MAGGIE & ME written by Damian Barr and James Ley
Adapted from the memoir by Damian Bar
Directed by Suba Das
Buckle up for a surreal yet so-real rollercoaster ride through Damian’s painful past rediscovering who he really is. From the furnaces of the Ravenscraig Steelworks to the sanctuary of Carfin Grotto, there’s pain and joy, coming of age and coming out. And Saint Dolly Parton. It’s about finding your voice and telling your story.
Before you can move on, you have to look back…
National Theatre of Scotland Scottish Tour - Touring Glasgow, Inverness, Cumbernauld, Dundee & Edinburgh 8 May to 15 June 2024
PREVIOUS WORK
WILF
'Its good nature proves entirely infectious ... highly engaging whatever the time of day, and very touching, too' The New York Times
★★★★★'Bizarre, sensational and weirdly loveable joyride’ - The Scotsman
★★★★★'A big, bold, bulging Fringe smash’ - ReviewsHub
This riotous and heartfelt new play from James Ley (Love Song to Lavender Menace), directed by the Traverse’s Artistic Director Gareth Nicholls (Ulster American, Crocodile Fever), that takes audiences on a hilarious and unapologetic ride through Scotland as Calvin and Wilf attempt to escape loneliness, cope with mental illness and learn to love themselves, with the help of one another.
Wilf was a Traverse Theatre Company commissioned and was performed in Traverse One at the Traverse Theatre from 8-24 December 2021 and then back by popular demand for another sell out run from 5-28 August 2022.
★★★★★'You will have a ball' - British Theatre Guide ★★★★★'A hilarious, laugh-out loud romp’ - OnTheMic.com ★★★★ 'A blast of feelgood cheer' - The Guardian ★★★★ 'Brutal, dark, hilarious' - The Stage ★★★★ 'Michael Dylan is incredibly endearing' - Fest Mag ★★★★ 'Calvin [is] embodied with remarkable vigour and deep compassion by Michael Dylan' - WhatsOnStage ★★★★ 'A wonderfully surreal comedy'- Financial Times ★★★★'I wasn't fully prepared for how far a man's love for his vehicle can go' - Broadway World ★★★★‘Gareth Nicholls brings colour, pizazz and darkness’ - Theatre Scotland ★★★★ 'Endlessly engaging to watch' - Scots Gay Arts ★★★★ 'Blisteringly energetic'- Arts Desk
‘WINNER: THE STAGE EDINBURGH AWARD FOR ACTING EXCELLENCE 2022 - Michael Dylan
'You will never look at a gearstick the same way again' Exeunt
Image by Laurence Winram of Michael Dylan as Calvin in WILF
LOVE SONG TO LAVENDER MENACE
★★★★★ “Hilarious, heartful and provocative”
The Scotsman ★★★★★ "stunningly beautiful" The Reviews Hub ★★★★★ "a truly wonderful and joyful production... unforgettable" Deadline ★★★★ "an ode to the power of solidarity" The List ★★★★ "Humorous, poignant and excellently performed" The Skinny ★★★★ "Celebratory" The Stage ★★★★ "a great night out" Just for Culture ★★★★ "uplifting, funny, beautifully written and superbly acted" EdinburghFestival.org ★★★★ "A celebration of LGBT words, history and community." The Wee Review ★★★★ "left me giddy and delighted" Broadway Baby ★★★★ "A delightful gem of a show" Edinburgh 49
Based on a true story LOVE SONG TO LAVENDER MENACE started life by winning an LGBT Youth Scotland Cultural Commission in 2016. It was an instant hit when it premiered at Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh in 2017 for a sell out run, directed by Ros Philips. It went on to be part of the Made in Scotland Showcase in 2018 and has toured internationally including a run off-Broadway at SoHo Playhouse, NYC.
Chosen as a project for the prestigious Write4Film programme, LOVE SONG TO LAVENDER MENACE is in development as a first feature, produced by Compact Pictures and funded by the Scottish Film Talent Network.
Connect with the Lavender Menace queer books archive and blog here.
SALLY
A Play, A Pie and A Pint
Directed by Jemima Levick
A Play, A Pie and A Pint at Òran Mór | 5 - 10 September 2020
Lemon Tree, Aberdeen | 13 to 17 September 2022
Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh | 20 to 24 September 2022
Sally’s electric performance as Sally Bowles has turned a rural touring production of Cabaret into an unlikely hit. When it transfers to the West End and Broadway, Sally is given personal assistant Tyler to help manage her diary.
Resistant at first, Sally soon tells him her dark secret: she thinks her success in Cabaret is causing the rise of right-wing populism. What’s more, she doesn’t know how to stop it. Tyler tries to reassure Sally, but Sally is irrepressible in her reckless pursuit of the truth.
Presented in Association with Aberdeen Performing Arts and The Traverse Theatre
“One of Scotland’s most exciting, early-career writers.” Exeunt
COMMISSIONS
James is under commission to National Theatre of Scotland, Ambassador Theatre Group, Perth Theatre, Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh.
James was awarded a Peter Shaffer commission by the National Theatre.
James has some original TV projects optioned and in development with leading TV producers.
SCREENWRITING
James first feature LOVE SONG TO LAVENDER MENACE is in development, produced by Compact Pictures, funded by the Scottish Film Talent Network. James first feature adaptation of ODE TO JOY as writer/director has been commissioned by Short Circuit. James’s short film SLEAZY TIGER has been commissioned by Short Circuit and will be shooting in early 2024
AGENT
Kelly Knatchbull | Sayle Screen, 11 Jubilee Place, London, SW3 3TD
020 7823 3883 | saylescreen.com