Hosted by comedian Susan Morrison, a chance to listen to, and question, the veteran actor talk about his career, charity work, political views and plans for the future. Morrison began by asking how a Glasgow East End 'schemie' ever made it into acting. It wasn't the obvious choice from a working class boy whose father was suspicious of his son's career, until he became a 'name' on the telly. From drama college in his teens through the legendary Citizens Theatre Hayman emerged as a significant talent, a working class man in a middle class dominated profession. He's made his own choices (and does most of his own stunts), and established himself as actor, director and documentary maker. He's particularly proud of the latter, covering subjects like the decline of the Clyde shipyards and Scotland's role in the slave trade, with plans to look at toxic masculinity. Hayman is conscious he plies his craft in a privileged line of work and wants, needs, to give something back to society. The educational value of those documentaries is one thing, but his highly successful humanitarian charity Spirit Aid is a more practical expression of this desire to help neglected elements of societies, both here and in other countries. He's also a weel kent supporter of Scottish independence, and has toured one man shows in support of that aim.
What the above outline of the show fails to do is bring out just how funny Hayman is, how self-effacing about his creative achievements, how full of evangelical zeal for his charity work, and his strong passion for the need for Scotland to make our own way in the world. Add in the hilarious and curious Morrison (a self confessed fan from her teens) and some intriguing audience questions and this added up to the fastest hour I've spent at a Fringe show this year.
In Conversation With... is on in the New Town Theatre until 24 August, with a wide variety of guests - although I'd challenge any of them to be as funny, interesting and inspiring as Hayman.
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