Out of Our Heads

Synopsis

A Glasgow pub in the 1970s. 

June, a housewife obsessed with normality, finds herself trapped in an abusive marriage to Harry, an alcoholic factory worker. As their story unfolds, we follow Harry and his friends through pivotal moments in their lives – from schoolyard initiations to soul-crushing jobs and nightly pub crawls. Meanwhile, Davey, a disillusioned union organiser, grapples with his commitment to the working class cause in the face of widespread apathy.

McGrath’s play is a searing exploration of working-class Scottish life, blending gritty realism with moments of surreal musical interludes. Through a series of vignettes and monologues, the playwright dissects the impact of alcoholism, domestic violence, and social conditioning on individuals and communities. The pub setting serves as both refuge and prison, a place where characters confront their demons and dreams. With biting humor and raw emotion, McGrath challenges notions of masculinity, class solidarity, and the possibility of social change in a system that seems designed to keep people down.