Alumni

Stuart-John Irvine (MA 2011) features in the new Scottish theatre production Jessies, the most recent winner of the Creative Arts Award at the Proud Scotland Awards 2025, and is set to go on tour this spring.

The play, written by Grant F Kidd and James T Smith, has gained significant attention for its portrayal of LGBTQ+ lives in Glasgow during a period of major social change.

Set between 1980 and 1995, Jessies follows three drag queens – Old Jessie, Big Jessie and Wee Jessie – and two members of their bar staff as they navigate the realities of queer life in the late 20th century. The play draws on real stories and experiences. Balancing humour, warmth and community, with the challenges and losses faced by many during these years. It has been described as both deeply moving and funny, offering audiences a celebration of resilience, chosen family and the determination to find joy even in the most difficult circumstances.

Stuart-John appears in the production as “Marc,” one of the bar staff. Although he originally supported the development of Jessies as a friend and colleague, the encouragement of co‑writer James T Smith and performer Michaela Sweeney led him to join the cast professionally. The character he portrays serves as comic relief within the story, but, as Stuart-John describes, Marc also represents a generation of queer men who lived through the impact of the AIDS crisis and the wider discrimination of the period, while unapologetically being themselves, showing passion and resilience to live life to the fullest.

Reflecting on his journey, Stuart-John says:

Aside from receiving the world class education at The University of Glasgow (MA History 2011), the most profound lesson I received while at Glasgow was that realisation and affirmation that I could do anything.

I was late in my academic journey, expelled from school at 16, raised in an unemployed single parent household in Drumchapel, I had a few false starts at college and ADHD.

I had been told, numerous times both at school and college that “boys from Drumchapel don’t go to university” but acceptance was not for me. Rebellion, however, has always been so attractive, which I have channelled into being an aggressive force for good.

Beyond University I have successful career delivering significant National and International projects for The Scottish Government, alongside a strong career in theatre.

Stuart-John shares how he found his passion for history, theatre and production as a young child, when he and his mother would visit the Britiannia Panopticon Music Hall – the world’s oldest surviving music hall. He then goes on to share:

Around 12 years later in 2017 I saw a casting opportunity for the Christmas family pantomime (Puss in Boots) and despite having not musical or theatrical training I auditioned and the rest is history… literally.

Since then I have been a permanent fixture performing as comic-lead in the pantomimes since 2017 and leading into other productions including writing, directing, and starring in a Queer-Drag comedy spoof of the Mafia Movie Genre “The Godmother” which returns for it’s second run at the Glasgow International Comedy Festival on March.

You can find out more about Jessies here.

First published: 9 March 2026

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The cast of Jessies