Portrait: Gary McNair for A Gambler’s Guide To Dying

I shot a portrait of Gary McNair, writer-performer of A Gambler’s Guide To Dying, for the Traverse. We met at the Lauriston Bar in Glasgow, a place suspended in time, with wood paneling, old leather chairs and a feel like walking into a bar in the 70s. A fantastic location for capturing character and atmosphere.

A Gambler’s Guide To Dying is Gary’s award winning solo show about his grandad, who won a fortune betting on the 1966 World Cup and then gambled it all on living long enough to see the year 2000 after being diagnosed with cancer. It is a heartfelt story about family, luck, hope and what we leave behind.

The portrait was commissioned by the Traverse marketing team for use in their communications around the show. What a fun shoot thanks to Gary’s presence and the vibe of that amazing bar, and thanks also to the Traverse team for all the support on the day.

The show runs at the Traverse Theatre from 13–25 August 2025 as part of the Fringe.