Singin' I'm No a Billy He's a Tim – Tyneside Irish Centre (Wednesday 21 October 2009)

This Article appeared in the November edition of the Northern Cross.

A healthy crowd made their way to the Tyneside Irish Centre for what was to be the first airing; this side of the border, of the anti-sectarian play Singin' I'm No a Billy He's a Tim. The controversial play has already taken audiences in Scotland by storm and is being used as an educational tool in some schools.
Produced by the unfunded Glasgow based NLP Theatre Company, with a low-budget set, the play has just enjoyed its second sell-out tour of Scotland. The play written by Des Dillon is about, quote “What happens when you lock up a Celtic fan with a Rangers fan on the day of the Old Firm match?”
The characters names in the play have sectarian connotations, Billy (King William of Orange) a Rangers fan and Tim (Tim Malloy was used as a generic term for a catholic Irish immigrants) a Celtic fan are thrown in jail together for none payment of fines. The inevitable sparks start to fly as they are marshalled and refereed by “Turn Key” (Warder) Harry.
The play demonstrates, in a very funny way, the absolute pointlessness of sectarian hatred and division. Both Tim and Billy are shown to be victims of the society they have been brought up in. Both demonstrate ignorance not only for their rivals’ traditions but also their own. The play covers the aspects of family, racism and sexual orientation as the pair attempt to find some common ground. Do they have more in common then they think and are there more things to life than football, Celtic and Rangers? This is all brought to light against a backdrop of Harry, the Warder, who is going through a family crisis, which he eventually shares with both lads. At one point both Tim and Billy end up offering a shared prayer for Harry and his troubles.
The play is peppered with the strongest language imaginable, but in my opinion it would have lost its hard hitting edge without it. For me, it was very enjoyable night. The audience, who were largely of the “Tim” persuasion and many bedecked in Celtic shirts, it seemed to go down well with them too. I hope some lessons are learnt, as both clubs are trying hard to eradicate the ingrained sectarianism hatred from their respective organisations. I wish them both the best of Irish...and British Luck!

Tony Higgins