PAVILION box office figures released this week reveal new comedy show The Real Hoosewives - Fae Glega is one of the theatre's biggest success stories ever.

 

The comedy is rivalled only by Brendan O'Carroll's Mrs Brown in box office revenue.

However, writer Stuart Thomas had no idea his show was on its way to becoming theatre legend.

Stuart lives in San Francisco where he teaches screen writing at the university. He emailed off his script at the end of last year - and now can't quite believe it's playing to packed houses.

"I still haven't seen the show," he says in excited voice.

"I was in London a few weeks ago work-shopping a new play and I was hoping to stay on and come up to Glasgow but I just didn't have the time.

"But I'm really glad it's doing as well as it has. It's incredible."

Stuart grew up in Inchinnan near Glasgow Airport and attended school in Erskine. Thirty five years ago he became school friends with Alyson Orr.

And that connection resulted in Stuart writing The Real Hoosewives.

"Alyson and I remained friends, and while I was at Glasgow University we formed a theatre company and did lots of shows together," he explains."

Stuart and Alyson (who went on to become a singer with the Swing Cats, a producer and an actress) had a huge hit in the nineties with Salon Janette, the comedy set in a hairdressing salon.

"I did a bunch of shows with Alyson, then I landed bits of TV work. I realised I didn't really know what I was doing so I had this idea to come to San Francisco and go to film school."

It sounds far easier a plan than it turned out to be.

"It was very difficult," he says with a wry smile. "I funded myself by writing panto for different Scottish theatres, but from the States. They funded my education.

"Meanwhile, I'd always stayed in touch with Alyson. And when she heard the Pavilion were looking for someone to write Real Hoosewives she suggested me."

He adds; "And what's great is Alyson is one of the stars of the show."

Stuart, who has now written his first feature film, Bar America, admits it's been a surreal experience, writing about five Glasgow women who sign up for a Glasga version of the hit TV show - from San Francisco.

"I've had to get my head back into the Glasgow world," he says, smiling of writing for audiences from Garthamlock to Govanhill.

"But it's fantastic to know people are enjoying it."

Stuart is now set to write the sequel to Real Hoosewives.

"The theatre is crying out for it," he says. "My sister went to the opening night and she said it was like a giant hen party with 1600 women having an incredible time.

"And the great thing is the characters have all been created. The audiences will want to see what happens to them next."

Travelling back to Glasgow in his head has made Stuart a little homesick.

"I love San Francisco. It's a great place to live," he says. "But there's isn't the honesty, the earthiness, the sense of humour you have in Glasgow."

He adds, grinning; "At least I get to write about it."

* The Real Hoosewives - Fae Glesga, the Pavilion, until February 14.