Village hall put on Firm footing
Glassford Village Hall has been announced as the launch venue for the global 20th anniversary tour of Scotland’s biggest stage show, Singin’I’m No a Billy, He’s a Tim.
Outlander and The Angels’ Share star Scott Clark is taking the phenomenon on a worldwide tour across the British Isles, to the bright lights of Las Vegas and down under in Australia after reclaiming the rights to the play he discovered in a Lanarkshire library.
The Rutherglen actor turned his life around after discovering Des Dillon’s Old Firm play and took the show from relative obscurity to playing in front of 3000 and grossing over £1million at the box office in what was described as one of Scottish theatre’s greatest success stories in modern times, without any financial support.
Now, the show will return in its 20th anniversary run in 2024 and 2025 with the original cast of Scott, River City’s Colin Little and James Miller in a worldwide tour – opening at Glassford Village Hall on April 27.
Describing the event as a “major coup for Glassford”, Les Hoggan, Glassford Community Group secretary, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be the launch venue for this major tour of Singin’ I’m No a Billy, He’s a Tim.
“We are sure this will be a popular event coming between our sell-out comedy night with Stuart Mitchell, Des Clarke and Raymond Mearns and the Glassford Beer and Gin Festival on
March 23.
“It all helps with our fundraising as we await the outcome of our planning application to redevelop the village hall into a community hub.”
A play exploring bigotry and ethnic identity, Singin’ I’m No A Billy, He’s A Tim is a phenomenon in Scotland where it has sold out countless nationwide tours, has been a sensation at the Edinburgh Festival and is now touring internationally.
Written by Des Dillon and directed by Stephen Cafferty, the show stars Scott Kyle (Outlander, Angels Share, Kajaki and winner of Stage Award for Acting Excellence), Colin Little (River City, Fried, Gasping, The Secret Agent) and James Miller.
Scott said: “This is the original award-winning cast coming back and people have noticed that already and are buying tickets for two years down the line.
“Hopefully, people will come and see the 20th anniversary.
“So many venues were trying to get it now and not wait until 2025, it has been mad.
“Hundreds of tickets sold for the Pavilion Theatre on the first day.
Israeli vs Palestinian, Catholic vs Protestant, Celtic vs Rangers... When tribal factions clash can reason ever prevail?
What happens when on the day of the Old Firm Match, you lock up a Celtic and Rangers fan in a cell together? Fireworks! And a weird kind of unity. The tour officially starts in London this May and finishes at the Pavilion in Glasgow in October 2025.