Saturday 9th February 2019 7.30pm (doors open at 7pm)
Tickets £14 (£12 concessions) Buy NOW here
In this acclaimed tribute to one of Britain’s best-loved comedy stars, leading impressionist Julian Dutton (BBC1’s The Big Impression, BBC R4’s The Secret World) brings to life the man behind the wry smile and urbane English repartee that charmed millions and turned John Le Mesurier into a household name as Sergeant Wilson in Dad’s Army.
Set in a dressing-room at BBC Television Centre during a break in camera-rehearsals for Dad’s Army in 1972, John Le Mesurier waits for a journalist. The home guard sitcom has been a hit for three years, and after a lifetime playing bit-parts Le Mesurier has just won a BAFTA for his leading role in Dennis Potter’s Traitor. As he waits he looks back at his life and traces his journey from his rejection of his upper-class origins in Suffolk to a life onstage and work as a jobbing actor in 1950’s cinema. He rehearses some anecdotes and funny stories for the reporter.
But as he digs deeper, cracks begin to appear, and for the first time he confronts the shadows in his life – the unfaithfulness of his wives, the betrayal by his best friend Tony Hancock. How did he overcome these setbacks? How did this complex, sensitive actor finally break away from a life of cameos to achieve ultimate triumph with Dad’s Army and the BAFTA-winning Traitor? For the first time he faces head-on the events that almost broke him both as a performer and as a man.
Le Mesurier’s career straddled the twentieth century like a colossus. Full of glorious reminiscences and stories from the Golden Age of Classic British Comedy, Julian Dutton’s show is a long overdue celebration of one of the most popular comic actors of our era.
WHAT PEOPLE HAVE SAID ABOUT THE SHOW:
‘A brilliant tribute to the great John Le Mesurier,’ – Jeffrey Holland, Hi-de-Hi!
‘A compelling performance,’ – Steve Bennett, Chortle.
‘Absolutely brilliant,’ – Steve Doherty, Craft of Comedy Festival
‘Beautifully written & performed,’ – Sarah Ecob, Venue Cymru
‘Uncanny,’ – Nick Steel, Bath Comedy Festival
‘One of the best vocal performers around,’ – BBC Comedy
‘A superb impersonation,’ – Claire Cavanagh, BBC Bristol