IT’S an ugly truth that the world turns against those whom we deem to be less than attractive.

But what a great theme for a play.

Cyrano de Bergerac is with us once again, having previously allowed us a nosey into the story via film versions starring Gerard Depardieu in 1990 and Steve Martin’s Roxanne in 1987.

This time around, Cyrano is with is in the original play form, first created by Edmond Rostand in 1897, but rewritten into Glaswegian verse by Edwin Morgan.

Brian Ferguson stars as the eponymous hero, the poet, the polymath, the man with seeming confidence – yet he is wracked with self-doubt given the size of his proboscis.

Glasgow-born Brian acknowledges it’s a great part to play; Cyrano is cocky and gallus on one level, yet still can’t work up the courage to woo the beautiful Roxanne.

“I think the match of Cyrano’s story and Glaswegian is a fantastic match,” says the actor in hugely upbeat voice.

“It helps really capture the feel of the piece. The original version sees Cyrano with a swagger, a self-deprecating wit, which really hits a chord with Glasgow.”

Our world today is attempting not to judge people by their outward representation.

Read more: Actor Martin Quinn speaks out on new Oran Mor role

Does this give the play an added resonance?

“Definitely,” he agrees. “What he rails against is pomp and show and lack of substance and this is certainly relevant at the moment.

“If reality TV and our celebrity culture had been around in his day he would really have hated it.

“The superficiality of the world we live in is exposed.”

So he doesn’t watch Love Island then?

“Funny enough, my wife got really into Love Island during the run,” he says, grinning. “But thank goodness it’s all over now.”

This Citizens’ Theatre production sees director Dominic Hill play with Cyrano’s nose. It would have been all too easy to come up with a prosthetic. But that would have been too simplistic.

“What’s really interesting in this version is the nose is clearly kept on by shoelaces,” says Brian.

“There is a line in the text which says ‘You are always waiting for Cyrano to take his nose off.’

“No one believes it is a real nose. It’s tied on by shoelaces. So the theatre allows for a celebration of that.

“And maybe this adds a new layer, a suggestion perhaps he has a certain amount of agency or control over this nose. Which hints at the idea he could take it off. That the nose in a sense, doesn’t matter.”

The actor adds; “This to me says so much about theatre. It’s really refreshing that people in a space can make-belief.

“This isn’t Hollywood, and it’s about people coming together telling a great story.”

The play will be performed at the Tramway, given the Citizens’ Theatre’s renovation work, and is open out to three sides of the room.

“Yes, but it will make it more intimate. The three sides pulls the whole space in.”

In the storyline however, such is Cyrano’s love for Roxanne, he is prepared to sacrifice his own happiness by helping her find love with Cristian, whom she fancies the pants off.

Cyrano made be a show-off. But he puts Roxanne’s happiness above all.

“One of the reasons this play keeps on being produced is because Cyrano is such a contradictory character.

“He’s a helluva show-off, yet despises pomp.

“But I suppose people who are truly confident don’t need to show it.”

He’s acting, Brian. And of course, so too are you. How much of Cyrano is there in Brian Ferguson?

Did he lack confidence as a young man growing up in the south side of Glasgow?

“There have been times when I’ve gone through hellish times when I was so underconfident.

“Yet, when I speak to family and friends they felt I was actually boisterous.

Read more: Actor Martin Quinn speaks out on new Oran Mor role

“I suppose the showing off is a bit selfish, taking up oxygen.”

Was there always a performer lurking within? “Yes,” he says, grinning. “I did one class at Scottish Youth Theatre aged ten and I was hooked.

“All through secondary school I had my days set on what was happening after school drama. In fact, I only stayed at school long enough to get Highers because you couldn’t get into drama school without them.”

Brian attended Langside College before going on to RSAMD, aged 18. “The course put me through the ringer, but it was a fantastic experience. It was character building.

“When I left drama school I worked at the Citz in the Giles Havergal days and walked into a rehearsal room containing all the Scots actors of the day, and I felt totally confident and entitled. That’s what drama school gave me.”

Brian went on to work with a huge range of theatre companies and he has offered the world both his Hamlet and his Malcolm. And he has starred in the classic Blackwatch.

The actor has appeared in several major TV series including Outlander and Line of Duty, where he had to reveal a bare backside in a humiliation scene.

Now, he’s set to play the show-off with a very vulnerable side to his character. But what of Brian Ferguson, who happens to be a performer.

Would his wife Jen regard him as a Cyrano figure or Christian?

“I think she would see me as a Cyrano,” he says, smiling.

• Cyrano de Bergerac, Citizens’ Theatre at the Tramway, September 1-22.