Stage play of Classic Ealing Comedy is a pre-Christmas treat

Lyceum Theatre Oldham in the heart of the town, brings colour and life to the classic black and white film comedy The Ladykillers this month.

In 2011, TV writer Graham Linehan (known for sitcoms such as Father Ted and The IT Crowd) turned an Ealing Comedy into a comic play. However, he chose a film with possibly the most complex set – a run down, leaning, rickety house which needs to be constructed on two storeys with a scene on a roof and the knowledge that there’s a train track running close by.

Win two tickets to the play with Saddleworth News. Just send  the answer to this question to SN here : “What’s the name of Father Ted’s hilarious tea lady? ”  ( Competition guidelines as previously published on SN. ) Entries to be received by 12pm Saturday Nov 25.

Lyceum Theatre Oldham, famed for its ability to create realistic sets in its small basement theatre, have taken on the challenge! Coupled with an experienced set of actors and an imaginative Director, this promises to be the must-see production of the year in Oldham!

The comic play tells the story of one small woman who inadvertently welcomes a gang of criminal misfits into her home. Despite their larger than life threatening demeanour, diminutive Mrs Wilberforce refuses to let them get the better of her.

Joan Duffin, who plays Mrs Wilberforce, is the only woman on set for most of the play. She tells us “It’s fun being the only woman and the men are behaving themselves!” When asked about the set, Joan assured us “The set is coming along fine. It is indeed very complex but Ian and the team are working well on it. It is not so bad for me but becomes very involved and complicated for the Gang.”

Tickets for The Ladykillers are selling fast and are available online for only £8.50 each from lyceumtheatre.org.uk.

Author: Jude Gidney - Editor

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