With an all star cast including Liza Goddard, Gareth Hale and Norman Pace, John Chapman’s Dry Rot is heading to Blackpool’s Grand Theatre from Monday 28th May! A crooked bookie and his two accomplices devise a cunning ‘get rich quick’ plan; to kidnap the odds-on favourite horse and replace it with their own decrepit nag. But Honest Alf, Flash Harry and Fred find more hurdles than they bargained for on their way to the final post – a comatose horse, a blossoming love affair and a bewildered French jockey all see chaos reign under the roof of the eccentric Colonel Wagstaff and his wife.
Listed in the National Theatre’s top 100 plays, Dry Rot ran for more than 3 years in the West End and is coming to The Grand this May with an all-star cast including Liza Goddard, Gareth Hale& Norman Pace and Susan Penhaligon.
Liza Goddard began her career in Australia, where she starred as Clarissa ‘Clancy’ Merrick in Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. When she moved to the UK in 1969 she appeared in Take Three Girls and its sequel, Take Three Women. Her career breakthrough was in the 1972 series The Brothers which also starred her first husband, Colin Baker.
Liza has starred in Doctor Who, Yes, Honestly, Woof! and Brendon Chase. She replaced Una Stubbs as the team leader on Give Us a Clueand has had a recurring role in Bergeracand alongside Catherine Tate and Dawn French in Wild West.
Gareth Hale and Norman Pace are better known as the comedy duo Hale and Pace. Both former teachers they fronted several TV programmes in their comedy partnership including The Management, Pushing Up Daisies and Jobs for the Boys. As actors Gareth and Norman fronted the original TV adaptation of Dalziel and Pascoe and made a guest appearance in the 1989 Doctor Who serial, The Survivor. Gareth Hale was a regular on Family Affairs until 2005. In 2008 he joined the cast of The Royal. On stage Gareth has appeared in A Christmas Carol, Keeping Up Appearances and Murder By Misadventure.
Norman Pace appeared as Amos Hart in Chicago in the West End. Since Hale and Pace ended he has concentrated on theatre and has appeared in, amongst others, Satin and Steele, Murdered to Death, Our Man in Havana, Murder by Misadventureand Breakfast with Jonny Wilkinson. He is also a regular presenter for The Open on the Sky Poker Channel.
Susan Penhaligon appeared at The Grand in last year’s gripping crime chiller Verdict. She shot to fame after appearing in Bouquet of Barbed Wire in the 1970s and since then has appeared in Upstairs Downstairs, A Fine Romance alongside Dame Judi Dench, Doctor Who and Emmerdale.
Dry Rot, a vintage 50’s comedy, was written by John Chapman, who wrote over 200 TV comedies including the Emmy award winning Fresh Fields and Happy Ever After John is also known for his collaborations with Carla Lane on The Liver Birds and Ray Cooney on Move over Mrs Markham, My Giddy Aunt, Not Now Darling and There Goes the Bride.
Secret doors, split-second timing, flawless physical comedy and an all-star cast make Dry Rot a sure bet for an explosive night that will have you roaring with laughter!
Dry Rot will be at the Grand Theatre from Monday 28th May to Saturday 2nd June. Tickets from £17.00
Book your seats now by calling the Grand Theatre Box Office on 01253 743339, online at www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk or at the Grand Theatre information sales point in the Houndshill Shopping Centre.
Due to unprecedented popular demand, we will be repeating our highly acclaimed "New Releases" show on 103.2 Preston FM on Friday 8th June from 7pm. This means listeners will now have another chance to hear those exclusive UK radio play premieres of new songs by Monica and the Explosion and Magic Trees (in photo).
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