Stage: Cissie and Ada – an hysterical rectomy

Andrew Kay finds a night of pursed lips and heaving bosoms at Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne

A short time before Les Dawson’s death I was lucky enough to spend an evening with him in York. He was there to promote an autobiography and had recently married his young bride who, quite rightly, was desperate to make him quit the fags. We were stood chatting on the terrace overlooking the river and the ministry beyond and he was, of course, chain smoking.

I was charged with the task of taking the cigarettes should his wife Tracey join us – and this I dutifully did. Whether that makes me complicit in his demise I do not know, but I did it out of reverence for a man that over my life that far had made me laugh more than any other entertainer.

And the memories of those gags and sketches still bring a wide smile to my face now I will be able to recall those pursed lips and heaving bosoms at the Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne, as the beloved Les Dawson and Roy Barraclough characters Cissie Braithwaite and Ada Shufflebotham, an act copied faithfully from his hero, Norman Evans, who had made famous his act ‘Over The Garden Wall’, are now recreated in an acclaimed theatre show.

With the original sketches by Terry Ravenscroft, the comic characters, immortalised by Les and his long-suffering sidekick Roy, return to the stage after 30 years. Former Coronation Street actors
Eric Potts and Steven Arnold revisit the story and culture behind the hilarious sketches.

Cissie and Ada first appeared on TV in the British comedy sketch show Sez Les, where it became a regular sketch. The show ran for 11 series from 1969-1976 with the duo making Ian McKellen’s Ten Best Drag Acts in The Independent in 2006. The pair were last seen on the Grand Theatre Blackpool stage in 1983 as part of ‘Laugh With Les’.

Les Dawson died 20 years ago in June 1993. The ITV tribute in May of this year, An Audience That Never Was, revived the comedian as a hologram and reached an astonishing eight million viewers, proving that he remains an iconic British comic.

Cissie And Ada – An Hysterical Rectomy features Eric Potts who is widely known for his portrayal of eccentric baker Diggory Compton in Coronation Street. A graduate of Bristol Old Vic, his other television credits include Emmerdale, Doctor Who, and Last Of The Summer Wine. Joining him is Steven Arnold, another Corrie favourite for his portrayal of Ashley. They are joined by Steve Nallon (Margaret Thatcher on Spitting Image) and Natasha Magigi (Casualty).

Cissie and Ada – An Hysterical Rectomy, Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne, Monday 21 – Wednesday 23 October, nightly performances at 7.45pm and Wednesday matinee at 2.30pm, tickets £14.50 to £19, available from the box office on 01323 412000 or book online www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk

Brighton Festival 2014 Guest Director is… Hofesh Shechter

Brighton Festival has announced that the 2014 Guest Director is critically acclaimed choreographer, musician, composer and performer Hofesh Shechter.

One of the UK’s most exciting contemporary artists, Shechter is renowned for creating raw, physical live contemporary dance pieces set to his own, highly-charged, atmospheric musical scores. His eponymous Company are a Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival resident company, and their brand new work, ‘Sun’ – co-commissioned by Brighton Festival – will open the three week arts extravaganza on Saturday 3 May when it comes ‘home’ at the conclusion of its first world tour.

Hofesh Shechter says: “Brighton has a magic to it that no one can explain. Finding a place where one can develop and grow artistically is a delicate thing, an important thing. Brighton Dome and Brighton Festival have been an inspiring, energising and encouraging place for my company and me in the last five years. To be asked to lead this amazing event in 2014, to be asked to inspire, energise, encourage… well, delighted, is just a boring word.’

Andrew Comben, Chief Executive of Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival adds: “We’re very pleased that Hofesh Shechter is our Guest Director for Brighton Festival 2014. As the artistic director of our resident company Hofesh Shechter Company, it has been exciting for us and our audiences to experience first-hand his ascent to becoming a major force on the international contemporary dance scene.”