CASTING has been announced for Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, the hit, critically acclaimed West End musical which will run at the King’s Theatre, Glasgow next year as part of a UK tour.

Taking to the stage in Glasgow from Monday 8 June until Saturday 13 June will be Layton Williams as Jamie New and EastEnders star Shane Richie as Hugo / Loco Chanelle. Both Layton and Shane will be reprising their roles from the West End production.

The play follows Jamie, who is 16 and lives on a council estate in Sheffield but is struggling to fit in because of his love of drag. Supported by his brilliant, loving mum and surrounded by his friends, Jamie overcomes prejudice, beats the bullies and steps out of the darkness, into the spotlight.

Shane Richie said: “I had such a fantastic time playing Hugo/Loco Chanelle in the West End, so when I was offered the chance to be involved in the touring production I jumped at the opportunity to get back into those heels. I believe this show has such an important message for younger and older generations. I’m excited to be taking it to a larger audience around the UK.”

JON Richardson and Christopher Macarthur-Boyd are among the comedians appearing at this year's Edinburgh Comedy Gala in aid of Waverley Care, Scotland’s biggest charity providing care and support to those living with HIV and Hepatitis C.

The hosts this year are Josh Widdicombe and Joel Dommett. Josh Widdicombe is one of the most in-demand live comedians of recent years and is best known as co-host of The Last Leg on Channel 4 alongside Adam Hills and Alex Brooker. Joel Dommett is known for I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here.

All proceeds raised from the Edinburgh Comedy Gala go straight to supporting the life changing work of the charity. Since its launch in 2003, the now annual event has raised almost £500,000.

THE critically acclaimed sculptor and writer Brian Catling is to bring his first-ever play Resurrecting Bobby Awl to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

The new play charts the story of a real disabled street urchin Robert Kirkwood, who was known as Bobby Awl and survived in the bleak gritty poverty of 19th century Edinburgh. Between Bobby’s parents giving him up at birth for being less than human, and his death in 1820 from a mule kick in the groin, he was famous. It was said his name would live forever, but instead it was wiped out of Scottish history.

Brian Catling says: “I first discovered Bobby in a museum of the Edinburgh Phrenological Collection, where a post mortem cast of his head lived alongside the famous, the infamous, the talented and the abnormal. That is where the fascination began. This play continues to carry the aim to re-establish the identity and humanity of one of Scotland’s lesser sons.”

Directed by Josh Roche, the play will be performed by an ensemble of disabled and non-disabled actors.

Resurrecting Bobby Awl is at Summerhall, Anatomy Lecture Theatre from 31st July to 25th August.

FRANKIE Boyle is going back on the road to gig at some colourful smaller venues around the country for new BBC2 series.

Boyle will be exploring and documenting what he sees across four journeys and will meet people he thinks could help him understand what Scotland's like in 2019. At the end of each episode, he will arrive at a town and take his fresh material onto a brand new stage.

Clare Sillery, the head of documentary commissioning, said: “Frankie never fails to bring his own unique and uncompromising analysis to the world and it’s a hugely exciting prospect to see him turn his gaze on home turf. At a fascinating time for questions about Scotland’s identity and future, this series will explore the nation’s past and present via one of its sharpest minds”.