WHO PAYS THE PIPER
by Jen McGregor
A Play A Pie and a Pint, Òran Mór. April 2024
Who Pays the Piper is a new tragicomedy exploring what it’s like to fall in love with music and who gets to make their ambitions into reality. Talented young singer Sarah is hanging on by the skin of her teeth. Living where the paid gigs are is expensive, and she’s working all hours giving singing lessons and delivering takeaways to make ends meet. When Marie, one of Sarah’s students, decides to embark on a singing career at retirement age, Sarah decides to not put her off and let Marie make her own mistakes. However, this decision pulls Sarah deeper and deeper into Marie’s fantasies and costs her more than she ever could have predicted.
★★★★ ‘…a story of a generation heartbroken by empty promises of equality and opportunity… In Tom Cooper’s production, Helen Logan makes a heroic job of the role of Marie… and Christina Gordon’s quietly brilliant performance as Sarah is the heart-wrenching emotional centre of the show’ - Joyce McMillan, The Scotsman
‘… great performances from Gordon and Logan… the pair have a really interesting dynamic together…’ - Broadwayworld.com
‘… strong performances… a neat way to explore one of the most urgent issues facing the arts today - the way it has become impossible for working class talent to compete in a world designed for those not bankrolled by mum and dad… makes its points clearly and with nuance… McGregor avoids glib solutions… ’ - acrossthearts.co.uk
Cast: Christina Gordon, Helen Logan
Director: Tom Cooper
Set and costume design: Kenny Miller
Lighting design: Ross Nurney
Sound design: Mark Gillespie
Live music support: Hilary Brooks
Assistant director: Debi Pirie
Photos: Tommy Ga-Ken Wan