Review: The Corinthian by Joe McCann at A Play, A Pie and A Pint, Glasgow

Lisa in the theatre
2 hours ago
4 min read

Just ahead of Scotland playing in their first World Cup for 28 years, a new play about Scotland captain Andrew Watson - the world's first international black footballer - has opened at A Play, A Pie and A Pint. The Corinthian plays at Òran Mór, Glasgow, this week before transferring to Edinburgh's Assembly Roxy. Read my review here.

The Corinthian ★★★★☆

Review: 02 June 2026 | Òran Mór, Glasgow

In just a few weeks, Scotland's men's football team will play in the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 28 years. What perfect timing then, for the world premiere of a new play about a largely forgotten, black Scotland team captain who led his side to glory against England.

Award-winning Scottish playwright Joe McCann's new play, The Corinthian, tells the untold story of the world's first international black football player Andrew Watson. Born in South America to a father from Orkney and a local British Guianese woman, Andrew grew up in a very wealthy home, thanks to his dad managing the local sugar plantation. Due to the family's status and privilege, Andrew struggled to fit in with the locals.

When the family relocated to Scotland, the colour of his skin meant that Andrew wasn't too welcome here either. But his love of football and natural talent saw him earn the respect of the boys on the street, and he was eventually signed to Queen's Park Football Club - the oldest association football club in Scotland and one of the best teams in the world at that time. In an incredible achievement, Watson then went on to captain the Scottish national football team, although being mixed-race, it wasn't just the opposing teams' fans who booed his every touch of the ball.

The Corinthian is a fascinating biography, and a one-man play that, in the hands of this performer and creative team, becomes the most enthralling, surprisingly relevant piece of theatre. Writer Joe McCann's research has uncovered a story that's definitely worth telling today, and Director Martin McCormick skillfully weaves a tale set 150 years ago with a humour and a passion that will resonate with contemporary Scottish audiences.

The difficult job of telling the tale, alone on stage, falls to Dayton Mungai. Making his professional debut here at A Play, A Pie and A Pint at Òran Mór, Mungai - who is a final-year student on the BA Acting course at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland - whips up the crowd with his eager, expressive, heartfelt performance.

Mungai's accent work is superb, from Orkney and Glasgow dialects, to Caribbean and even impeccable English; his pronunciation and quick transitions between roles is impressive. His tender portrayal of real, sometimes complex characters is handled with care, and he even demonstrates a few impressive ball skills!

It's not often that I cry at 'A Play, A Pie and A Pint' productions, but I was so moved by this man's story and this glorious performance that I did well up as the tale unfolded, and it became clear that Andrew Watson never fully belonged anywhere despite his historic sporting accomplishments.

This is a gorgeous new piece of writing and a superb tribute to a man who most definitely should not be erased. Every Scotland football fan should know Andrew Watson's name. We (Scotland) are often seen as the underdogs in international competition, and Andrew Watson was the ultimate underdog. But until a statue or memorial is erected for him, his legacy thankfully now lives on in Joe McCann's The Corinthian. Go see it!! ★★★★☆

Writer Joe McCann said:

“As a Black man growing up in Glasgow, I wish I knew about Andrew Watson. He was capped three times for Scotland and then vanished from the record books. He was forgotten from history despite being the world’s first international Black footballer, and the next Black Scottish footballer after him was Nigel Quashie - 125 years later. My small ambition for this play is for the audience to leave knowing and remembering Andrew Watson’s name. My bigger ambition is that they leave thinking about what it means to belong everywhere and nowhere at once.”

Brian Logan, Artistic Director at A Play, A Pie and A Pint, said:

We’re thrilled to be staging the premiere of Joe McCann’s fantastic new play in the run-up to something equally fantastic – Scotland’s first appearance in the World Cup since I went to St Etienne to see us thumped by Morocco in 1998. So much of Scotland’s globe-straddling contribution to the beautiful game can be traced to this story Joe has uncovered, a hidden and extraordinary history about belonging, prejudice and national identity. One can only hope that Scotland do half as well in the World Cup as Joe’s done bringing this remarkable tale to the page – and now the stage.”