A Gambler’s Guide to Dying
★★★★☆ Sublime storytelling
Traverse (Venue 15): Thu 31 Jul – Sun 24 Aug 2025
Review by Hugh Simpson
A Gambler’s Guide to Dying at the Traverse is every bit as funny, sad and compelling as it was ten years ago.
To celebrate the ten-year anniversary of the original production, the Traverse has brought home the acclaimed piece written and performed by Gary McNair about a boy and his grandfather (which may or may not be a true story). The production, however, never shows any sign of ageing, appearing completely fresh.
Gary McNair in A Gambler’s Guide to Dying. Pic: Mihaela Bodlovic.
Grandad Archie is an inveterate gambler and storyteller. Or perhaps that should be ‘liar, addict, cheat and hero’. Archie makes a packet betting on England to win the 1966 World Cup, which goes down about as well in the Gorbals as you might imagine. The winning streak does not last, but a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer in 1998 gives Grandad the brainwave of betting on himself to survive into the new millennium.
involving, humorous and poignant
It is an involving, humorous and poignant story, beautifully written and performed by McNair at his raconteurial best. The writing appears simple, which just goes to show how wonderfully considered and constructed it actually is. The performance, meanwhile, is outstanding; whether or not his granddad was an expert storyteller, there can be no doubt about Gary McNair.
This is a wonderful example of a one-hander – superbly acted by McNair, who is directed by Gareth Nicholls with empathy and grace. MJ McCarthy’s sound design, meanwhile, is first-rate, whether it is plangent piano, mellotron-like pastoral sadness, or snatches of football commentary. Simon Hayes’s lighting is also beautifully appropriate.
Gary McNair in A Gambler’s Guide to Dying. Pic: Mihaela Bodlovic.
McNair’s delivery, full of warmth and inclusiveness, engages constantly. This can be taken a little too far, however. There are probably too many references to over-familiar images of Irn Bru, Jammie Dodgers or coming out of the Clyde with a salmon in your mouth, which take it into comfortingly stage-Scottish, overly couthie territory.
This never lasts long, however. And, despite the title, it is more about life than death – certainly a sad piece at times, but full of joy too.
Running time: One hour and 15 minutes (no interval)
Traverse Theatre (Traverse 2), 10 Cambridge St, EH1 2ED. (Venue 15).
Thursday 31 July – Sunday 24 August 2025
Daily (not Mon): various times. See website for details.
Details and tickets: Book here on EdFringe.com.
Traverse website: Further details.
Gary McNair in A Gambler’s Guide to Dying. Pic: Mihaela Bodlovic.
ENDS
