A Giant on the Bridge heads to Cottiers Theatre

A critically-acclaimed show about prison homecoming that mixes theatre and music gig performance is coming to Cottiers Theatre next month.

A Giant on the Bridge fuses original Scottish hip-hop, songwriting and storytelling to reveal the intimate human experiences of prisoners returning home to an uncertain future. 

Most of the songs featured in the show were co-written by people with lived experience of the prison system in Scotland, for example prison returnees, families, support workers, prison service employees and prison arts workers. 

Leading

Five of Scotland’s leading contemporary musicians bring these songs on tour to Scottish audiences - Louis Abbott (Admiral Fallow), Kim Grant (Raveloe), Dave Hook (Solareye, Stanley Odd), Jo Mango and Jill O’Sullivan (Jill Lorean). 

Louis Abbott from Glasgow band Admiral Fallow is among the performers

The show is co-devised by singer-songwriter Jo Mango and award winning theatre-maker Liam Hurley, developed through the work of the Distant Voices Community, including research from Phil Crockett Thomas, and creative input from Rachel Sermanni. 

The tour follows a successful premiere in March 2024 and run at Edinburgh Fringe (as part of the Made in Scotland Showcase) in 2024, and a special performance at Glasgow’s Tramway at Celtic Connections in 2025. 

“I’m truly delighted that we’ll be able to take A Giant on the Bridge on tour in 2026,” said Jo Mango, who co-devised the production. 

And I’m going to be thrilled to once more look out from the stage and see the huge impact that those songs and their stories have, written on the faces of audiences across Scotland - Jo Mango

“It’s a project that’s very dear to my heart, as it focuses on songwriting’s extraordinary ability to bring people together and to join voices in dialogue. 

“I saw that happen countless times in working with some of the 150 people who have written songs that fed into the show - from people in prison awaiting release, to those working in the criminal justice system, and others who are dealing with the harms caused by crime. 

“And I’m going to be thrilled to once more look out from the stage and see the huge impact that those songs and their stories have, written on the faces of audiences across Scotland.” 

Most of the songs featured in the show were co-written by people with lived experience of the prison system in Scotland

The show takes place at Cottiers Theatre, Glasgow on 25 and 26 February at 7.30pm (1 hour 20mins). The Scotland-wide tour in Spring 2026 is supported by the National Lottery through Creative Scotland. 

Tickets are available here https://cottiers.com/event/a-giant-on-the-bridge/