Limited edition prints of John Byrne’s Underwood Lane artwork to go on sale in Tron Theatre fundraiser

Limited edition prints by John Byrne are to go on sale as part of a fundraising drive for the Tron Theatre.

The Glasgow theatre was due to present the world premiere of the artist and playwright’s latest work, Underwood Lane, later this month.

However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the companion piece to Byrne’s classic The Slab Boys has had to be delayed until 2021.

Between July 3 and 17, limited edition prints of the Underwood Lane poster artwork – created by John specifically for the production and with all the hallmarks of his distinctive illustrative style – will be on sale.

Only 100 prints will be available for purchase over this period and they will not be available to purchase when the production is staged in 2021, or at any other time.

A very small number of signed prints will also be available for purchase.

The Tron has taken a large financial hit due to the pandemic, with productions unlikely to return for many months.

Those who purchase a print will be helping to support the theatre through a very challenging time and buying a little piece of history – a rare print of a John Byrne original and a memento from 2020.

In addition to this, everyone who purchases a print will automatically be entered into a special prize draw to win 2 tickets to the Underwood Lane press night in 2021, along with Prosecco on arrival in the Tron Bar, and an interval drink of their choice plus a VIP goody bag on the night, which will include a copy of the Underwood Lane script signed by both John Byrne and director Andy Arnold.

Arnold said of the print sale: “Underwood Lane was going to be our big show of 2020 – it’s a classic John Byrne piece.

“John was excited to be finally seeing it staged in his 80th birthday year, I was looking forward to bringing his script to life with an brilliant cast of actor-musicians and superlative creative team and tickets were flying out of the box office.

“We’ll have to wait now until 2021, but the print sale offers a very special opportunity to not only own a little piece of theatre history and a piece of John’s wonderfully detailed artwork, but also to help the Tron survive financially.

“And it might just make the wait until we can stage the production in full a little more bearable.”

Underwood Lane, a co-production between Tron Theatre and Renfrewshire Leisure,  had been much anticipated by audiences and many tickets were sold in advance.

Telling the tale of a young skiffle band trying to make it, Underwood Lane was written in memory of John’s Paisley buddy, Gerry Rafferty, who was born and brought up on the titular street.

With the global pandemic throwing the entire theatre world into darkness, the Tron instead has had to focus its efforts elsewhere and in particular on fundraising initiatives to support the return of live performance to the venue.

The print sale will go live on the Tron Theatre’s website at 11am on Friday 3rd July http://www.tron.co.uk/shop