Martin O’Connor - Rebuilding a Nation / The Village Storytelling Centre - Why d'ye talk lik' 'at?

An entertaining, thought-provoking and free double bill about language, culture and place.

Martin O’Connor - Rebuilding a Nation
PLUS The Village Storytelling Centre - Why d'ye talk lik' 'at?

A spoken word performance about language, steeped in Martin O’Connor’s own Glaswegian Scots, Rebuilding a Nation is a personal and funny exploration of our relationship with voice, accent and dialect. Featuring Scots and Gaelic - a language Martin is learning - it unearths the words we lose when rural is swapped for urban, when industry disappears, and when we are disconnected from our cultural identity.

The tour of this show follows O’Connor’s recent nomination for Best New Play from the prestigious Critic’s Awards for Theatre in Scotland 2025 for his production Through the Shortbread Tin.  

Why d’ye talk lik’ ‘at? from The Village Storytelling Centre turns a working class lens on the ties between voice, class, and identity in Glasgow’s diverse neighbourhoods. How is the way we speak shaped by where we’re from, and how do we change it to fit in, be heard, or be safe? And what does that tell us about the opportunities and barriers carved into our city’s streets?

Recommended for ages 12+ (occasional strong language)

Free tickets are available from tour venues, collect in person or get in touch:

Whiteinch Community Centre
22 September 5.00pm
0141 950 4434

BCDC - The Residents Centre
23 September 7.00pm
0141 533 1056

Knightswood Community Centre
24 September 1.30pm
0141 959 9419

Parkhead Health Hub
25 September 4.00pm
07740600084

Pollok Community Centre
26 September 6.00pm
0141 882 5869

Fairfield Heritage Centre
27 September 4.00pm
mail@fairfieldgovan.co.uk

Castlemilk Community Centre
29 September 6.00pm
07779089595

This programme will also be performed at Lodging House Mission