In this diverse and inventive autobiography, painter and author John Byrne travels from his youth, through his art school years to the period of his stage and TV plays, and on to his death, sometime in the future. With him is Robbie Coltrane as himself and as a shamus invented by Byrne, who discovers there are as many aspects to the author as there are actors playing him.
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
 John ByrneSelf/Mobile Library Driver | Self/Mobile Library Driver |
 Robbie ColtraneSelf/Detective | Self/Detective |
| SStuart DavidsYoung Byrne/Phil McCann | Young Byrne/Phil McCann |
 Robert CarlyleSpanky Farrell | Spanky Farrell |
| WWilliam BlairHector McKenzie | Hector McKenzie |
 Alastair GalbraithGunman | Gunman |
| WWilliam BuchananLittle Byrne | Little Byrne |
| EEwen DuncanMusical Byrne | Musical Byrne |
 Juliet CadzowMother | Mother |
 Bill PatersonFather/F.S. McDade | Father/F.S. McDade |
 Katy MurphyUsherette/Backing Vocals | Usherette/Backing Vocals |
| MMuriel GrayWaitress/Backing Vocals | Waitress/Backing Vocals |
 Ralph RiachCollector | Collector |
 Kate DonnellyBride | Bride |
 Richard WilsonEddie Clockerty | Eddie Clockerty |
| JJacqueline AndersonCartwheel Doll | Cartwheel Doll |