Glasgow Life community touring programme full of music, theatre and fun returns this autumn and winter
Glasgow Life’s community touring programme will bring musical, theatrical and interactive shows and events to venues across Glasgow in its upcoming autumn/winter season.
The line-up is packed with fun and mainly free performances which will light up community centres throughout the city over the coming months and help spread festive cheer in the run-up to Christmas.
Delivered by Glasgow Life, the charity which leads culture, events and active living in Glasgow, the programme opens with Martin O’Connor’s spoken word performance of Rebuilding a Nation (22-29 September 2025). It headlines a fun, free and thought-provoking double bill with Why d'ye talk lik' 'at? by The Village Storytelling Centre.
Rebuilding a Nation is a funny and personal look at language and cultural identity which is steeped in the playwright’s own Glasgow Scots. The tour follows O’Connor’s (top image) 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? explores the ties between voice and class, and how the way we speak is shaped by where we are from.
Children and adults alike can look forward to two separate free family ceilidh tours as part of Glasgow’s annual Celtic Connections folk, roots and world music festival. The first of the family ceilidh tours takes place in November 2025, with the second to be held in January 2026. The ceilidhs feature live Scottish folk music from The Celine Donoghue Band, stories and Gaelic songs, as well as an opportunity to try out some dance steps.
Glasgow Life’s community touring pantomime will make a welcome return this festive season, with a run of performances of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
After co-presenting the hugely popular Pinocchio with Glasgow Life in 2024, Hopscotch Theatre Company returns to present the new co-production written by Isla Cowan. In this modern take on the classic story, Dorothy is taken on an unexpected detour while dreaming of stardom.
The fun-filled and low-priced Wonderful Wizard of Oz shows (£3/£1) will help to get audiences from Barlanark to Knightswood and Castlemilk to Whiteinch into the Christmas spirit from 26 November to 20 December 2025.
Glasgow Life’s community panto has been bringing Christmas cheer and high-quality theatre to the places where people live at prices they can afford since staging its first show in 2009. In previous years, the tour has put a unique spin on family favourites such as Aladdin, Cinderella, Dick Whittington, Sleeping Beauty and Mother Goose.
Finally, Glasgow Life is taking a series of special art sessions to nurseries across the city as part of the Glasgow 850 celebrations. The tour will culminate in Wee City Big City, an interactive exhibition created by young people and artist Rebecca Fraser, which will be showcased at The Forge Shopping Centre on Saturday 8 November from 10am to 4pm.
Katie Duffy, Head of Arts and Music at Glasgow Life, said: “Glasgow Life's community touring programme provides high-quality, accessible and affordable arts experiences to communities across the city by taking fantastic shows to venues on people’s doorsteps. The programme is designed to bring music, theatre and performance to new audiences, particularly those who face economic, social or geographic barriers, so more people can experience and enjoy the work of our city’s internationally renowned cultural sector up close and in person.”
All Glasgow Life community touring events will be listed on www.glasgowlife.org.uk as details are confirmed. You can also sign up to receive news and ticket updates by visiting the Arts and Music section of the Glasgow Life website.
Glasgow Life 2025 autumn and winter community touring programme listings
Martin O’Connor – Rebuilding a Nation and Why d’ye talk lik’ ‘at?
22-29 September 2025
Free tickets are available from tour venues:
22 September: Whiteinch Community Centre – 0141 950 4434
23 September: Barmulloch Residents Centre – 0141 533 1056
24 September: Knightswood Community Centre – 0141 959 9419
25 September: Parkhead Health Hub – 07740600084
26 September: Pollok Community Centre – 0141 882 5869
27 September: Fairfield Heritage Centre – 0141 445 5866
29 September: Castlemilk Community Centre – 07779089595
Celtic Connections family ceilidh
3-15 November 2025
Free tickets are available from 22 September:
3 November: Whiteinch Community Centre – 0141 950 4434
6 November: Drumchapel Community Centre – 0141 276 0560
12 November: Darnley Community Centre – 0141 620 1120
14 November: Barrowfield Community Centre – 0141 550 0036
15 November: Pollok Community Centre – 0141 882 5869
Celtic Connections family ceilidh
January 2026 (details to be announced)
Free tickets will be available in participating venues from 26 November, when tour dates are announced.
Hopscotch Theatre Company and Glasgow Life present
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
26 November-20 December 2025
Tickets (£3/1) are available from tour venues from 24 October – contact your local venue:
26 November: Barlanark Community Centre – 0141 773 1812
27 November: Penilee Community Centre – 0141 882 3309
28 and 29 November: Barmulloch Residents Centre – 0141 533 1056
4 December: Netherton Community Centre – 0141 954 4250
11 December: Drumchapel Community Centre – 0141 276 0560
12 December: Castlemilk Community Centre – 07779089595
13 December: Knightswood Community Centre – 0141 959 9419
20 December: Whiteinch Community Centre – 0141 950 4434