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.

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