Review: Our Brother | A Play, A Pie and A Pint, Oran Mor, Glasgow 2025
- Lisa in the theatre
- 10 hours ago
- 3 min read
The 2025 autumn season at A Play, A Pie and a Pint continues this week with a political drama based on the true story of one Scottish writer's meeting with the secretive leader of Cambodia.
The world premier of Our Brother by Jack MacGregor, directed by Andrea Ling, is co-presented with the Traverse Theatre. It runs at Òran Mór, Glasgow from 8 - 13 September before transferring to the Traverse in Edinburgh.
Our Brother | A Play, A Pie and A Pint 2025 ★★★★★
Review: 9 September 2025, Òran Mór, Glasgow
1978 Cambodia. A Scottish writer (Bobby Bradley) has secured a fifteen minute private meeting with an illusive man known as 'Brother' (David Lee-Jones). The leader of Democratic Kampuchea, Brother's revolutionary ideas of a Communist utopia have transformed his country and fascinated the Scottish writer.
Inspired by a true story, Our Brother by Jack MacGregor imagines what happened behind the closed doors of this very real meeting. Staged almost in the round at Òran Mór, Andrea Ling's extraordinary direction immerses the audience in the midst of the intimate and horrifying events.
Brother is the leader of the Khmer Rouge government; and the Scottish stranger and his American colleague (Nicole Cooper) are just a few of the Western visitors allowed a (very controlled) peek inside this closed regime.
In MacGregor's expertly constructed play, the audience learns about the Khmer Rouge's propaganda and Brother's part in the genocidal atrocities in real time, just as the Scottish stranger does. It's a powerful, chilling piece of carefully researched and beautifully written drama, played out exquisitely by three outstanding actors. Although a work of fiction, Our Brother is nonetheless breathtaking in its plausibility.
Frequently home to lunchtime laughs and fringe theatre hijinks, Our Brother brings a deadly serious tone to the Òran Mór theatre. Jack MacGregor’s debut play for A Play, A Pie and A Pint is as gripping as it is horrifying. You could hear a pin drop in the dark, red-light-bathed basement auditorium.
With devastating cognizance, Our Brother is a terrifying examination of persuasive power and a stunning example of truth-based, fictional storytelling, For optimal impact, I'd recommend that you don't read into the true story before seeing the play. Let this talented creative team and cast tell you their version. It will be worth it. Jack MacGregor’s Our Brother is an unforgettable play. ★★★★★
Our Brother plays at Òran Mór, Glasgow until 13 September before transferring to Edinburgh's Traverse theatre. Jump to full listings here
Writer Jack MacGregor says of Our Brother:
“I was really drawn to this idea of denial and belief, and how smart and compassionate people, like (Malcolm) Caldwell, can be persuaded into supporting evil regimes like the Khmer Rouge. Whilst very much rooted in the historical period that the events took place, the themes of this play echo powerfully with humanitarian catastrophes happening in today’s world.”
MORE: Find the full list of plays and more info about A Play, A Pie and a Pint's 2025 Autumn season here
A Play, A Pie and A Pint production, co-presented with Traverse Theatre
Our Brother
By Jack MacGregor
Directed by Andrea Ling
WORLD PREMIERE
A Play, A Pie and A Pint: Our Brother - Cast
Bobby Bradley as ‘Stranger’
Nicole Cooper as ‘American’
David Lee-Jones as ‘Brother’
A Play, A Pie and a Pint: Our Brother - dates and venues
Òran Mór, Glasgow, G12 8QX
Mon 8 - Sat 13 September 2025, 1pm
£15.50 - £21.50 (inc. food and drink)
Tickets: 0141 357 6200 (option 4) or via playpiepint.com
Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, EH1 2ED
Tue 16 - Sat 20 September 2025, 1pm
£13 (play only), £18.50 (inc. food and drink)
Tickets: traverse.co.uk
