Welcome to The Occasion
The Occasion exists to create live theatre that will entertain, challenge, surprise and – above all else – excite audiences.
The Occasion is a charity. Any donation, any amount, that you feel able to give would help us continue our work and would be enormously gratefully received. Thank you.
The Splitting of Latham
The Southside Group premiered ‘The Splitting of Latham’ on Thursday April 23rd at Queen’s Park Govanhill Church, Glasgow.
Glasgow, 1938: As the British Empire Exhibition dazzles Glasgow’s Bellahouston Park, an innovative scientist attempts an experiment in personal betterment with catastrophic results.
Latham’s individual traits – irritability, amazement, frivolity and more – split from their host, becoming fully formed characters of their own. What follows is a whirlwind of mayhem, mistaken identity and comic chaos.
Working with the award-winning playwright, Michael Duke, this exciting new work saw a further development of the comedic melodrama for which The Southside Group has become known.
Direction : Peter Clerke and Catherine Gillard
Script: Michael Duke
Costume and set design: Ali Maclaurin
Music: Richard Williams
Lighting Design: Simon Gane
Photography: Stewart Ennis
Performed Thursday April 23rd, Friday April 24th & Saturday April 25th 2026
All shows captioned and BSL interpreted.
A witty, invigorating show about a special moment in Glasgow’s history; with a narrative climax to relish.
The power of theatre is absolute, obvious, creative, inventive, delightful, worthwhile. It’s something to remind yourself that the reason we get involved in theatre is because of its transformative power. There are very few organisations, companies, or theatres which can demonstrate that more than The Southside Group.
The Occasion gratefully acknowledges funding for The Splitting of Latham from: Creative Scotland, The Conundrum Charitable Trust, The Endrick Trust, Bellahouston Bequest Fund, The WM Mann Foundation, The WA Cargill Trust.
The Southside Group’s Christmas Carol
Produced late November in Queen’s Park Govanhill church The Southside Group’s ‘Christmas Carol’ performed to a sell-out audience.
Charles Dickens first published his Christmas classic in 1843 and, in the intervening 182 years to the present day, its appeal has never waned. Extracts from ‘A Christmas Carol’ previously featured in ‘The Southside Group’s Christmas Tales’ in 2023.
Featuring all of The Southside Group’s “world of joyful ensemble work” (The Scotsman) stuffed full of “objectively good theatre” (The Quintessential Review) and bursting with “all the trickery and the beauty of performing” (The Fringe Review), The Southside Group’s Christmas Carol is the perfect way to start this festive season.
Directed by Peter Clerke & Catherine Gillard
Set & Costume Design by Ali Maclaurin
Music by Richard Williams
Lighting Design by Simon Gane
Adapted by Peter Clerke
Audience reaction
“I thought it was a lovely show that told the story really well.”
“The show was fabulous and thank you to everyone for their hard work.”
“Thanks again for all the hard work and dedication you give to this group. I am so delighted we found you and that DH is part of it, he enjoys it immensely.”
“Great night last night, and thank you for all your time and effort getting everyone to the stage that they can go up and perform to a room full of people.”
“Excellent.”
The Occasion gratefully acknowledges funding from: PF Charitable Trust administered by Foundation Scotland; Glasgow Community Area Partnership – Southside Central; The Commonweal Fund.
Recent projects
Five Years of The Southside Group
Featuring all of The Southside Group’s ‘world of joyful ensemble work’ (The Scotsman) stuffed full of ‘objectively good theatre’ (The Quintessential Review) and bursting with ‘all the trickery and the beauty of performing’ (The Fringe Review) this short film, packed with interviews and performance footage, describes a remarkable journey.
Formed in January 2020 to present new and exciting opportunities for learning disabled adults to become actively involved in theatre, The Southside Group has grown into a ground-breaking company of 17 individuals.
Ranging in age from late teens to sixty, all have some degree of learning disability. Some are experienced performers; others are relative beginners. All contribute enormously, in their own ways, to the work of the company.
Together, they are The Southside Group.
Please watch, enjoy and feel free to share, far and wide, their phenomenal journey over the past five years.
Five Years of The Southside Group:
Filming, sound, and music by Richard Williams
Edited by Peter Clerke, Catherine Gillard and Richard Williams
Directed by Peter Clerke and Catherine Gillard
In development – a new touring production from The Occasion
Mrs. Heckleburnie’s Ha’penny Theatre
Touring throughout Scotland in 2026 / 2027
1848. The year of revolution, with uprisings throughout Europe. Tens of thousands attend the glorious, notorious Glasgow Fair where show folk from around the country, and beyond, congregate to provide cheap entertainment. To loud disapproval from the great and good.
Onto Glasgow Green rolls the gawdy coloured wagon of Mrs Heckleburnie’s Ha’penny Theatre and her family of raggedy show folk.
No-one has heard of her. Who is she? Where has she come from?
‘Heckleburnie? Heckleburnie?
Who the hell is Mrs. Heckleburnie?
I’ve heard the name.
A source of shame.
I heard she had drowned.
I heard she’d been buried in unholy ground.
Heckleburnie? Heckleburnie?
Who the hell is Mrs. Heckleburnie’?
Produced by the same team that created The Monster and Mary Shelley (2018/19) and Another Nice Mess (2023), Mrs. Heckleburnie… involves six members of The Occasion’s highly acclaimed adult learning disability theatre project, The Southside Group, performing alongside the company’s co-Artistic Director, Catherine Gillard.
Script by Stewart Ennis; directed by Peter Clerke; set and costume design by Ali Maclaurin; music composition by Richard Williams; video by Tim Reid.
The Occasion gratefully acknowledge support for ‘Mrs. Heckleburnie…’ from: Glasgow Life; People’s Postcode Lottery; RTR Foundation; Hugh Fraser Foundation; Merchant’s House; James T Howat Foundation.
Photo: Stewart Ennis.
The Occasion gratefully acknowledges funding from:
PF Charitable Trust administered by Foundation Scotland; Glasgow Community Area Partnership – Southside Central; The Hugh Fraser Foundation; The RTR Foundation; The Commonweal Fund; The Endrick Trust.
Photography: Stewart Ennis and Tim Morozzo
