The story of how, in 1967, Glasgow Celtic became the first British team to win the European Cup with victory over the mighty Inter Milan. Two fans look back and fondly recreate how the Bhoys in Green and White beat the toughest team in the world and draped Europe in green, white and gold.

The whole mad and magnificent campaign comes to life as the two supporters become everything from a vicious Swiss football team to the entire population of Lisbon. Put on those scarves, dust off your passport and join us as Celtic steamroll over the best teams in Europe to become the immortal Lisbon Lions.

“If you love Stones in his Pockets you’ll love this show too” Irish Post

“hilarious impersonation…excellent writing, expertly performed” The Stage

The Reviews

EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS

PASSION PLAY THAT'S NOT JUST FOR CELTIC DIEHARDS

However Celtic's European fortunes fare against Olympique Lyonnais tonight, the fans will always have Lisbon, May 25, 1967.

That was the date on which Glasgow Celtic Football Club won the European Cup. A date which is inscribed on the heart of any truly green-blooded supporter of a certain generation. A date they only have to mutter for the fog of memory to decend.

So it is for Denny and Tony, waiting out a long hour for the start of the funeral of their pal Gerry. And as the whiskey glugs back, the pair remember the glory days of the winter leading up to that date with all the energy and vitality of those who were there. Who saw not just the winning goal, but every home game before.

And it is the energy generated on stage by Pat Abernethy as Denny and Dave Marsden as Tony which turns the play into much more than a misty-eyed trip down memory lane for Celtic fans. That, and some top direction by Jim Dunk.

In fact, with the understandable exception of died-in-the-wool Rangers fans, this is a play which would work for any football supporter. As th games progress from the first round against Zurich to the final against Inter Milan, Abernethy and Marsden capture the passion of the fans.

While maintaining the two central characters and developing them through the play, the two provide comentary - both live and on tne radio, act out vital points in the games in slow motion and generally manage to get you onto the edge of the seat to find out what is going to happen - even though you know the final result.

The slow motion replays are particularly hilarious. As one of the hard men from Vojvodina, picks on a poor, innocent Celtic player, for example, the slow motion effect allows the two to show all sorts of ironic facial expressions of the players. Expressions familiar to anyone who saw Bobo Balde's exploits against Hibs on Saturday.

Being able to drop back into the characters of the two 50-year-olds, waiting for the funeral of a friend who has just died of cancer, gives Abernethy and Marsden the chance to provide some gravitas to the piece. And it helps to give the feeling that they were actually there, that these are real people.

It also give the two a chance to take a breather, as the energy they build up, leaves them slumped in their chairs after each round. It is all acting, of course, but you really feel that they have done the whole two legs of each round with the players. And their terrace chants leave them as hoarse as any fan.

It these sorts of effect work particularly well ror the football fan, they also serve to make the whole play universally understandable. In many ways, On Our Way To Lisbon does for football what this year's Fringe hit Hurricane, did for Alex Higgens and the game of snooker.

The chants and the singing also help remind us that the whole European adventure actually happened. And combined with the subtle use of radio commenrary, they also remind you that this was a time when international travel was a much more complicated affair than it is now.

Far from being a game of two halves, this is a fascinating piece of social commentary. And yes, it is quite easy to say: "Chick, the boys done good."

THE STAGE

Patrick Prior has created this timely yet timeless little vignette detailing how in 1967 Celtic became the first British team to win the European Cup. Thanks to excellent writing and simple, precise direction by Jim Dunk you do not have to be a Celtic supporter or even a soccer fan to appreciate this hysterical duologue.

The whole mad and magnificent campaign is told by two fans reminiscing as they are about to attend the funeral of a third. Both Pat Abernethy and Dave Marsden joyously recreate their own paths to the final using a sublime mix of physical theatre, conversational dialogue and hilarious impersonation - the two actors never let up the pace until the euphoria of that final whistle.

Mild xenophobia is a naturally occurring theme, comically handled and healthily balanced against their innate recognition of the skill of the Inter Milan team.
We are also reminded that when qualifying for the semi-finals, they suddenly became a British hope rather than Scottish for an entranced media.

Well scripted and expertly performed by the two actors, more commonly known as the comedy duo Isosceles, this piece is the ultimate antidote to those suffering from a severe overdose of football cynicism over the coming weeks.

THE IRISH POST

Two fans look back fondly on how Glasgow Celtic became the first British team to win the European Cup. If you loved 'Stones In His Pockets' you'll love this show too.

THE MAIL ON SUNDAY

Patrick Prior's warmhearted play about how Celtic came to win the European Cup back in 1967 is almost enough to convince even the most cynical person that football is worth all the fuss. It's not of course. This is just a play.

But as World Cup purgatory casts it's shadow, it was interesting to see the Arches Theatre take on just a little of the atmosphere of a football match. Gone were the louche arty types and in came Glasgow's loyal working classes, willing to make their way down into the bowels of Argyle Street to support their team.

'On Our Way To Lisbon' is a two man play with a cast of thousands. Pat Abernethy and Dave Marsden were the supporters, the players, the commentators, and even the bemused locals of Lisbon. They were also two friends gathered to mourn a third who had just died.

Together, the trio had followed Celtic as the team nerve-shatteringly progressed to the famous final against Inter Milan in the Portuguese capital. All three men made it there, thanks to a raid on the holiday cash in the face of wifely disapproval.

Director Jim Dunk coached his actors well in what was physical theatre at it's best. Hilarious slow motion scenes served as match highlights, bringing tears from an audience who were clearly as much engaged in the football as the drama.

There were sudden break-offs into radio commentary in which both actors perfectly mimicked the still-refined voices and almost literary comment of the 1960s broadcasters. It was high octane stuff and marvellously executed and the two actors shine as the Celtic supporters.

Patrick Prior did allow a moment's touching reflection. As the friends recalled their dead companion, they got to musing over what life would have been like otherwise away from working class Glasgow, work and marriage.

Tellingly, this was a world in which football had no part and was centred more on the dreamy new year of San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge and a girl with a flower in her hair. If these men had had the opportunity, Patrick Prior seemed to be saying, then Celtic and Glasgow would have been nothing to them. As it was, their musings led them into the whiskey soaked singing of The Fields of Athenry. At less than ninety minutes straight through, 'On Our Way To Lisbon' did not outstay its welcome. Indeed, I felt the entirely enthusiastic audience could happily have stayed for more.

THE SCOTSMAN

Actors Pat Abernethy and Dave Marsden take us through each leg of the competition, home and away, with energy, humour and bonhomie. Moments such as Denny's use of Tony's head as a radio, as he deperately tries to get a decent reception of the commentary of an away match, are theatrically inventive..... A folk play like this has plenty of opportunities for audience participation as we are treated to a game-by-game and, quite literally, goal-by-goal account of Cetic's victorious run.... Enjoy the memories!

THE IRISH TIMES

A physical two hander... the strong point is the spirited performances... All credit to Abernethy and Marsden.

P. Sweeney (Secretary)
Parkhead House,
Dungloe,
Co.Donegal.
Ireland.