Young people in Wigan are playing it for laughs this summer. Classic gags and sketches from the golden age of comedy are being introduced to a new generation of performers in a home-grown drama festival celebrating the Best of British.
The Wigan Pier Theatre Company has joined forces with Wigan Little Theatre to stage three nights of classic routines from the days when home-grown comedy ruled the airwaves. Young people aged from 12 to 15 from two of the Pier Theatre’s youth groups at Standish and Hawkley High, together with the Little Theatre’s own youth group, are currently choosing the material for the mirth-filled marathon.
We can expect the likes of the timeless wit of the Two Ronnies, the wry musings of Victoria Wood through to the surreal and adcap world of Monty Python’s Flying Circus.
Wigan Pier Theatre Development Officer Martin Green explains: “Last year we ran a really successfully theatre festival for young people and our Best of British event follows on from that. It will involve 50 young people and it will give them a fantastic opportunity to perform on a real stage, hopefully in front of a packed audience, for the first time.
“Wigan Little Theatre really is the ideal venue for this event and we expect to see not just parents but all fans of comedy in the audience.”
Best of British will run at Wigan Little Theatre, Crompton Street, from Thursday July 10 until Saturday July 12. The show starts at 7pm. Tickets are £4 and are available from the Wigan Little Theatre Box Office (open weekdays 7pm til 9pm) on 01942 242561.
