LEGEND has it that John Byrne first started drawing while he was still a baby in his pram.

One of Renfrewshire’s best-known sons, he has carved out a hugely-successful career as an artist and playwright.

However, John could easily have ended up playing in a skiffle band, just like the hero of his latest musical play, Underwood Lane.

He has revealed that, during his time mixing powdered paint in the slab room at the Stoddard Carpets factory in Elderslie, he used to take an unofficial break from working – when his gaffer wasn’t around – to play a second-hand banjo.

John then bought himself an ‘Elvis Presley’ guitar for £15 – which, in the early 1960s, was a princely sum.

He reminisced as the cast prepare for Underwood Lane’s sold-out world premiere at Johnstone Town Hall.

The play is in memory of John’s long-time friend and fellow Paisley man Gerry Rafferty, who died nine years ago but was born and spent his early years living in the town’s Underwood Lane.

John grew up in the Ferguslie Park housing scheme, only a mile or so away from Underwood Lane.

He became friendly with Gerry’s older brother Jim, who worked beside him in the Stoddard slab room.

The Gazette:

One of John’s most iconic theatrical works is The Slab Boys, based on his time there.

“I loved skiffle music and, at the time, my favourites were The Vipers and Lonnie Donegan, who was wonderful,” said John.

“Then rock ‘n’ roll exploded into all of our lives and Bill Haley and the Comets was who I liked best.

“When Jim and I worked together, we went halfers buying a three-string banjo for ten shillings from a woman who worked in Stoddard’s design room.

“We would keep it in the slab room but put a dustcoat over it to hide it from the gaffer. And when none of the bosses were about, we’d get out the banjo and practise.

“We weren’t that good and, one day, Jim asked if he could take the instrument home to give it to his younger brother Gerry. I didn’t have a problem with that, as Gerry didn’t have an instrument at the time and I didn’t want to be caught playing the banjo when I should have been working, so the famous Gerry Rafferty’s first guitar was actually a banjo his brother and I gifted to him.”

John admits any thoughts of him achieving stardom in a band were soon dismissed, as he could only play three chords – G, C and D.

“Playing guitar was just a hobby for me and the difference with Gerry was that he turned his hobby into millions of pounds,” he said.

“I was always going to be an artist, as my mother used to say I was drawing while I was still in the pram.

“I can’t remember when I started and it’s as if I’ve been drawing all my life.”

The Gazette:

Down memory lane: Writing latest play was real labour of love

Set in the late 1950s and early 60s, Underwood Lane tells the story of pals Dessie, Donnatella and Joey, who form a skiffle band and try to make the big time.

John Byrne’s new show – a co-production between the Tron Theatre Company and OneRen – is also a tale of fierce love rivalry, broken hearts, dodgy dealing, sex and death.

Directed by Andy Arnold, it was originally to be staged at Paisley Arts Centre two years ago but the Covid pandemic caused its postponement and that venue is now undergoing a major refurbishment.

That has given Johnstone Town Hall the chance to stage the show’s world premiere, with performances on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, before it moves on to the Tron Theatre, in Glasgow, for a run between July 14 and 30.

John said Paisley has always been central to his creativity and he is delighted that a Renfrewshire audience will be the first to see Underwood Lane.

He said: “Paisley made me and I had absorbed everything that happened to me when I was growing up in the town.”