It was a surprise earlier this year to hear that Frankie Boyle would be returning to the stage, but this time taking second billing. It was announced in the Spring that he would be opening for his friend Glenn Wool on his “The Jokes I’m Most Fond Of" Tour. Boyle is still appearing with Wool at gigs in Scotland but it emerged this week that he would not be appearing at the Soho Theatre from May 6 - 10.

The news came out when Boyle tweeted that “I’m supporting Glenn Wool at The Stand in various towns next week but not in London as I have torn some kind of muscle in my neck.” It was not quite clear from this whether tearing a neck muscle was some kind of arcane Glaswegian euphemism, but we presume he has an injury and is perhaps unable to travel long distances because of the pain in the neck. Soho Theatre and the tour’s promoters have not clarified this.

It’s a potentially sticky situation, however, when it comes to fans who have bought tickets for the Soho shows. If the headliner cancelled his appearance I would assume that refunds would be made available, but when it is the supporting act that pulls out it might be a different case as it could be argued by the venue that fans had not bought tickets for the supporting act. Yet I suspect that while Glenn Wool is well worth the £10 - £12.50 ticket price, a significant number of people who bought tickets for this short run bought them to get their helping of bile from Frankie Boyle.

Wool has tweeted that he will be warming up for himself in Boyle’s absence. Lewis Schaffer did offer to stand in for Boyle but Wool politely turned him down, suggesting that nobody can follow Schaffer. Wool certainly has enough material to plug the gap. The show is a greatest hits set drawing on stories and gags from his last seven full length solo shows. 

Soho Theatre can be contacted on 020 7478 0100.