An innovative cultural collective is making a dramatic bid to create, entertain and inspire at a new affordable theatre for all in the heart of Glasgow.
Everyone is rooting for each other to succeed and to make stuff happen here
From the outside, the uninspiring front of 118 Osborne Street looks like any other office building – although many people will know it not for its number, but for its exterior side wall, adorned with John Byrne’s famous portrait of Billy Connolly. Inside, there is a creative oasis flourishing within a world of grey concrete and gleaming metal – and one colourful corner is home to Theatre 118, a groundbreaking grassroots company aiming to produce cutting-edge plays and open up opportunities for local talent.
The plan is to create a hub of artistic activity in an environment of mutual support and co-operation. Its opening season kicks off with Play of the Week, a series of new one-act plays being performed throughout July 2025, ranging from comedy to drama and everything in between. Ticket prices are a bargain at £10 (or Pay What You Can), with a season pass offering all four plays at a 25% discount. There’s also no need to worry about bar prices, as the venue has a BYO policy – making it ideal for a night out with friends.
Theatre 118 is run by a small collective, primarily the people behind two grassroots West of Scotland companies – Roughly Staged and Short Attention Span Theatre. The steering committee includes David Hewitson, Graham McDougall, Stephen Brackenridge, Tom Brogan and Karen Barclay. It has emerged from the already well-established theatre scene in the area, with support from other venues.
David Hewitson says: “Theatre 118 is heavily influenced by A Play, A Pie and A Pint at Òran Mór, and they've been consistently supportive of what we're up to. They absolutely led the way in making Glasgow a hub of new theatre-making, and I don't think we'd be doing any of this if they hadn’t blazed a trail.
“Truly, the best thing about the theatre community in Glasgow is how friendly and nurturing everybody is – we’ve had a great deal of assistance from companies like Sleeping Warrior Theatre, Take Me Somewhere and the Tron Theatre. It really does feel like everyone is rooting for each other to succeed and to make stuff happen here.”
Theatre 118 is part of the Outer Spaces Network, a charity collaborating with artists, organisations and property owners to activate the nation’s empty commercial spaces. It receives no public funding, so volunteers programme new work and facilitate others using the space, while all profits are used to pay creatives and cover the running costs and upkeep of the venue.
Hewitson adds: “As well as allowing audiences access to first-class entertainment, Theatre 118 is on a quest to find, develop and support new voices – creating opportunities in an increasingly challenging cultural environment. Please support us if you can.”
