James Ley
plays, films and television
I’m a Glasgow-based playwright, screenwriter and director. My plays include WILF (★★★★★ The Scotsman ★★★★★ ReviewsHub ★★★★ The Guardian ★★★★), ODE TO JOY (Winner of Scotsman Fringe First ★★★★★ Time Out Sydney) and LOVE SONG TO LAVENDER MENACE (★★★★★ “Hilarious, heartful and provocative”
The Scotsman★★★★★ "stunningly beautiful" The Reviews Hub★★★★★ "a truly wonderful and joyful production... unforgettable")
Recently… Jamie Dunn at The Skinny wrote a feature about me for Glasgow Short Film Festival when they screened my directorial debut SLEAZY TIGER, which stars Jay Newton and Alan Cumming. Screened all over the world, we’ve won awards and got a Vimeo Staff Pick. Watch SLEAZY TIGER on Channel 4
I am the 2025 recipient of the Kevin Elyot Award, and I’m writing a new play inspired by my time in the wonderful archive at the Theatre Collection in Bristol. I was on attachment to the National Theatre Studio in 2024, and I’m in the final stage of funded development from Creative Scotland for a new musical.
Future stuff… I’m under commission to Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh, Pitlochry Festival Theatre, the National Theatre Studio and the National Theatre of Scotland.
I have feature screenplays in development of LOVE SONG TO LAVENDER MENACE with Compact Pictures and Screen Scotland, and ODE TO JOY (HOW GORDON GOT TO GO TO THE NASTY PIG PARTY) with Screen Scotland as my first feature as writer/director.
Previous stage work:
ODE TO JOY (HOW GORDON GOT TO GO TO THE NASTY PIG PARTY) written and directed by James Ley was first performed for Edinburgh Festival Fringe at Summerhall in August 2022 and subsequently at Sydney Festival in January 2024. It was a STORIES UNTOLD PRODUCTIONS, part of the Made in Scotland Showcase 2022 and written on attachment to the National Theatre of Scotland.
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?
★★★★ 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.” Here’s some stars and the production info.
★★★★★ The List ★★★★★ TheArtDesk ★★★★★ Three Weeks ★★★★★ The Wee Review ★★★★ The Guardian ★★★★ The Skinny ★★★★ Everything Theatre ★★★★ BritishTheatre.com ★★★★ Broadway Baby ★★★★★ The Quinntessential Review
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
Mentoring/Dramaturgy
I regularly run workshops and come on board as a consultant and dramaturg on theatre projects. I love helping to support emerging queer writers.
AGENT
Kelly Knatchbull | Sayle Screen, 11 Jubilee Place, London, SW3 3TD | 020 7823 3883