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Paisley Arts Festival: Christian

Experience Alan Bissett's gripping new play about Paisley's dark past at this exclusive staged reading, featuring top Scottish talent, as part of Paisley Arts Festival!

Paisley Arts Festival: Christian

About Paisley Arts Festival: Christian

26th March 2026
6.30pm
Paisley Arts Centre
Paisley Arts Centre New Street, Paisley PA1 1EZ
See event website for details
Visit the event website here

Edinburgh. 1732. Textiles magnate, Christian Shaw of House Bargarran, is visiting the esteemed Lady Dundas. But the host has also invited a certain Mr Home, who seems to know more about Christian’s past than he rightly should.

He uncovers her role in the Paisley Witch Trial of 1697 – the last mass witch execution in Europe – in which the testimony of eleven year-old Christian led to the deaths of eight people. But to what extent was she the puppet or the puppeteer?

In a play about memory and deception, piety and Satanism, the layers of our multifaceted protagonist are peeled away to reveal...whom?

Join us for a professionally rehearsed reading of a brand-new play by Alan Bissett, award-winning writer of stage hits The Moira Monologues and When Billy Met Alasdair, tackles one of Scotland’s darkest and most mysterious episodes.

Commissioned by One Ren for the Paisley Arts Festival.

Directed by Beth Morton and performed script-in-hand by a cast of leading Scottish actors, this one-night event offers a rare chance to experience a new work at the very start of its creative journey.

An exciting opportunity for anyone interested in new Scottish theatre and Paisley’s rich stories.

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