Whaur’s Yer Wullie Shakespeare Noo? review – when John Home outdid Stratford’s Bard

Òran Mór, Glasgow
Brian Logan revisits the 18th-century production of Home’s Douglas in a shouty comedy about nationalism, religion and the power of theatre

It is the most famous heckle in Scottish theatre history. In an exclamation of nationalist zeal after a performance of Douglas at Edinburgh’s Canongate playhouse in 1756, an audience member declared playwright John Home to be better than England’s most revered dramatist. “Whaur’s yer Wullie Shakespeare noo?” went the cry.

Safe to say posterity cares for Shakespeare more than Home, but the performance of Douglas remains a symbolic flashpoint. As presented by Brian Logan, writer, director and Guardian comedy critic, the play – and its excited reception – exemplifies the national and religious schisms that have played out in Scotland ever since. It is one of those theatrical events that meant more politically than it did artistically.

At Òran Mór, Glasgow, until 3 October, then touring until 17 October