James Ley
playwright | screenwriter
“One of Scotland’s most exciting, early-career writers.” Exeunt
On stage and screen in 2025
FIRST, LET ME ASK YOU SOME QUESTIONS (play, work in progress)
Luke is a young Scottish queer man living in London whose messy, chaotic life is about to implode. We meet him through a series of obscene, revealing, funny, profound, lost, chaotic questions. Questions of himself, co-workers, bar staff, therapists, cab drivers, dealers, dates, and a tourist he meets while waiting for his date in a Minecraft version of the National Theatre.
Work in progress sharing directed by Tessa Walker, Sunday 17th August at 6pm, part of Shedinburgh. Book here.
SLEAZY TIGER (short film)
WORLD PREMIERE at Palm Springs International Film Festival ShortFest on 26 June 2025 at 8pm. Part of the GAYLA! programme. Book here
Hopeless (but horny) romantic Alan is excited for his first date with Blair and doesn’t want to mess things up. When Blair gives Alan a jar of homemade kimchi, Alan realises he’s going to struggle controlling his erotic desires.
Director: James Ley Producers: Jack Cowhig, Laura McBride Screenwriter: James Ley Cinematographer: Leon Brehony Editor: Jack Goessens Music: Danny Krass Cast: Alan Cumming, Jay Newton, Jack Douglas, Kyle Gardiner, Santino Smith Country: Scotland/United Kindgom Language: English Year:2025 Running Time: 14 minutes Premiere Status: World Premiere
James’ previous work -
ODE TO JOY (HOW GORDON GOT TO GO TO THE NASTY PIG PARTY) written and directed by James Ley
SCOTSMAN FRINGE FIRST WINNER 2022
★★★★ 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.”
★★★★★ The List ★★★★★ TheArtDesk ★★★★★ Three Weeks ★★★★★ The Wee Review ★★★★ The Guardian ★★★★ The Skinny ★★★★ Everything Theatre ★★★★ BritishTheatre.com ★★★★ Broadway Baby ★★★★★ The Quinntessential Review
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 Festival Fringe at Summerhall in August 2022 and subsequently at Sydney Festival in January 2024.
STORIES UNTOLD PRODUCTIONS. Part of the Made in Scotland Showcase 2022. Written on attachment to National Theatre of Scotland
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
THE PLAYFUL ONE from audio anthology series THE LOVED ONE
‘These Xanax better be good because I’m gonna need them…’
Produced by Tron Theatre and supported by Creative Scotland
Listen on SPOTIFY or search for THE LOVED ONE
UPCOMING COMMISSIONS
James was awarded a Peter Shaffer commission by the National Theatre in 2023 to write. a play for he Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh. James was writer on attachment at National Theatre Studio in 2023.
SCREENWRITING
James has several original TV projects in development. His first feature LOVE SONG TO LAVENDER MENACE is in development with Screen Scotland. His hit play ODE TO JOY is in development as his first feature as writer/director, commissioned by Short Circuit. He as just completed his short film SLEAZY TIGER.
AGENT
Kelly Knatchbull | Sayle Screen, 11 Jubilee Place, London, SW3 3TD | 020 7823 3883