Short Attention Span Theatre Returns to Ayr Gaiety with Six New Plays

Short Attention Span Theatre returns to Ayr Gaiety for third consecutive year

Short Attention Span Theatre is set to return to the Gaiety Theatre in January with a brand-new programme of short plays, marking the company’s third consecutive year at the Ayr venue.

The acclaimed theatre collective will present six specially commissioned productions in the Gaiety Studio, offering audiences an evening of new writing that spans comedy, drama and the supernatural. The performances aim to banish the January blues with an eclectic mix of storytelling that reflects both contemporary life and historical imagination.

Audiences can expect themes ranging from post-apocalyptic survival and Victorian literary history to grief, family dynamics and the modern obsession with viral online content. The short-form productions are designed to showcase emerging Scottish theatrical talent, with each play offering a distinct voice and perspective.

Performances will take place on Friday 16 January at 7pm, and on Saturday 17 January 2026 at 2.30pm and 7pm.

Tom Brogan, co-founder and producer of Short Attention Span Theatre, said the company was delighted to be returning to Ayr.

“We’re so pleased to begin 2026 with a return to the magnificent Ayr Gaiety,” he said. “This is our third consecutive year and we can’t wait to be back. It’s a chance for people to see six brand-new plays for a bargain price.

“Not only is it great value, it’s a fantastic way to support grassroots theatre and a chance for audiences to enjoy a magical mix of comedy, drama, chills, thrills and thought-provoking themes in a fantastic venue.”

The programme

The 2026 programme features six new short plays:

• My Little Island by Mark Daniels, directed by Emily Mahi’ai

  
  

  A darkly comic two-hander following two mismatched survivors stranded on a mysterious island, exploring class, crisis and the need for familiarity at the end of the world.

• King Size Mars Bar by Elaine Malcolmson, directed by Emily Mahi’ai

  
  

  When 21-year-old Julie is arranging her father’s funeral, his girlfriend begins to change everything. The play offers a sharply observed and humorous take on grief and growing up.

• Bog Witch LLC by Katherine Lyle, directed by Kay Marquis

  
  

  An ancient bog witch, a deal with Beelzebub and the realities of working from home collide in a witty exploration of ambition, relationships and imposter syndrome.

• The Foreseeable by Alasdair Shaw, directed by David Hewitson

  
  

  A would-be robbery becomes an unexpected encounter involving an ancient Highland gift, humour and an urgent desire to get back to the football.

• Hyde Within by Jolyn Lynn Crawford, directed by David Hewitson

  
  

  Set in Edinburgh in 1885, the play imagines Robert Louis Stevenson confronting Hyde herself, offering a haunting interpretation of the origins of one of literature’s most famous characters.

• The Bloody Attic by Kay Marquis, directed by Kay Marquis

  
  

  A former television chef teams up with a young content creator to investigate a derelict farmhouse, in a darkly comic look at performance, belief and the pursuit of online fame.

Cast and creative team

The ensemble cast includes Gregory Bonnar, Rebekah Copeland, James Keenan, Frazer Kirkland and Sarah Pieraccini. Direction is shared between Emily Mahi’ai, David Hewitson and Kay Marquis, with Tom Brogan producing.

Ticket information

• Venue: Gaiety Theatre Studio, Carrick Street, Ayr, KA7 1NU

• Dates: Friday 16 January 2026 at 7pm; Saturday 17 January 2026 at 2.30pm and 7pm

• Tickets: £15

• Booking: via the Gaiety Theatre website

• Box Office: 01292 288235

• Email: info@ayrgaiety.co.uk

Tickets are on sale now, with audiences encouraged to book early for one of Ayr’s first major theatre events of the new year.