Theatre
Stand-up stars, racy romps... and jungle fun
Post-panto can mean lean times for provincial theatres, but not in Kent as we discover four gems in the schedules…
Danny Baker: Cradle to the Stage
If, in your world, a love for popular music collides with football (likely to be the perennially mediocre, lower division variety), old friends and a sense of mischief, then you probably discovered The Danny Baker Radio Show on Radio 5 Live long ago. Over the years, listeners
have been encouraged to take part in discussion threads like “bands you’ve pretended to have seen”, “complicated addresses” and “sensational entrances and exits”. It’s all total nonsense, of course, but fuel to the superfast Baker brain and machine-gun mouth. At some point in the two- hour Saturday morning romp, someone famous (no one on the “circuit” but somebody of genuine
interest, if a little faded and forgotten) would be interviewed gently with awe and respect.
It has been one of the best things on radio, and one fancies the script and running order for the show could be condensed into half a bus ticket with room to spare. His life story was recently
televised on BBC2 as a sitcom, Cradle to Grave, and it was this critically- acclaimed show that helps to give Baker the title of his first one-man foray onstage. There won’t, methinks, be a
script or a running order for this either but there’ll be anecdotes, gags, audience participation and a dash of jungle fun thrown in, for sure. This is probably not one to
miss.
March 18, Hazlitt Theatre, Maidstone
www.parkwoodtheatres.co.uk/Hazlitt-Theatre
Rob Brydon - I Am Standing Up
Actor and comedian Rob Brydon cemented a place in the hearts of Britons when he portrayed Uncle Bryn in the multi award-winning TV comedy, Gavin and Stacey. His sexually ambiguous, bachelor character was a favourite of the legion of disciples of the BBC show, written by Ruth Jones and James Corden. But his back catalogue of work contains much more
than one hit series as The Trip,
Marion and Geoff, Best of Men and QI testify to. His films include The Huntsman and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. This is Brydon’s first stand- up show since his sell out national tour and West End run of 2009.
March 2, Assembly Hall Theatre
www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk
26 Mid Kent Living Pride and Prejudice
There are quite a few theatres across the country which might struggle to survive without packing out its schedules with the increasingly popular–bewilderingly so–tribute act. Abba, Bee Gees, Rolling Stones, Beatles and even Simon and Garfunkel sound-alikes (if not entirely convincing in the lookalike stakes) are all currently hogging the spotlight somewhere. What a nice surprise to find a Jane Austen play which still shines as brightly today as when it was written. This adaptation by Simon
Reade depicts the Bennet sisters looking for love but, as we all know, it is the dashing Mr Darcy who finds his match. This staged version comes to
Canterbury after sell-out performances at the Regent’s Park Theatre. It stars the ever- versatile Matthew Kelly, whose CV includes Cold Blood, Benidorm and, of course, Stars In Their Eyes. He plays Mr Bennet while Felicity Montagu fits into Mrs Bennet equally well. This production is a timely reminder of Austen’s story-
telling brilliance as the world approaches the 200th anniversary of her death in July.
Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury January 31 – February 4
www.marlowetheatre.com Seriously Dead - Comedy Play
Old hands Crissy Rock (of Benidorm fame) and Frazer Hines (Emmerdale) are the leads in this brand new musical comedy at the Assembly Hall Theatre. The plot, set in the quiet
little town of Olwinskirk, follows events bringing the lives of Betty, Albert, Billy and the local undertaker, Tristan de Winter, to “an uncomfortable crossroads”.
February 2, Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells
www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk
Edited by Simon Finlay
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64