Life, the Universe and Everything are to be reimagined in a new stage production of Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, touring to Glasgow’s Theatre Royal this month. Original cast members from the long-running radio series reunite, alongside superfans in cameo roles, including Neil Gaiman and Billy Boyd for the Scottish dates. The protagonist, hapless, tea-lover Arthur Dent was originally written with actor Simon Jones in mind: he maintains that, while the touring show has a wealth of tricks up its sleeve, the more pernickety fans insist that certain aspects remain true to the original.

‘A lot of people want to hear the lines repeated verbatim,’ he says. ‘It’s important that the character is very much familiar to people, however it is fun to bring the show to a new generation.’

Whether a die-hard enthusiast or a new recruit, audiences can expect well-kent scenes interspersed with lesser-known scripts, a reimagined, less pessimistic ending and exciting stage chemistry, with a great deal of physical comedy and the occasional flying teacup.

‘It’s a rather nostalgic evening,’ reflects Jones, ‘but the audience will leave thinking seriously about the issues that Douglas raised: particularly the nuisance of everyday bureaucracy, albeit in fairly fantastical situations.’

Theatre Royal, Glasgow, Fri 7 & Sat 8 Jun.