STAGE: Ripping yarns
A wickedly delicious Jack the Ripper whodunnit at the Devonshire Park Theatre Eastbourne
The fascination with Jack the Ripper never abates and there is a dark and gripping whodunnit heading to the perfect setting of the Victorian Devonshire Park Theatre this autumn, as the deliciously wicked show, The Ripper Files! comes to Eastbourne.
Charles William Lestrange was a newly promoted Detective Inspector in the Metropolitan Police, just transferred to H Division in Whitechapel, when Jack the Ripper and the The Autumn Of Terror, as it came to be known, reached its grizzly height in 1888.
Now, 13 years later in 1901, and ably assisted by Samuel Edwards, formerly Detective Constable Edwards of H Division, and Samuel Edwards’ “close friend” Miss Elsie Fordham, rising star of the music hall stage, ex-Inspector Lestrange is touring the country to rehearse again for our titillation and delight the ghoulish events in Victorian Whitechapel which have been a source of universal fascination since the 1880s.
The Ripper Files! stars Jennifer Biddall (Jessica Harris in Hollyoaks), Mark Homer who is no stranger to the East End (as he previously took the role of Tony Hills in EastEnders) and National Theatre actor David Gilbrook reprises his acclaimed performance as Inspector Charles Lestrange.
The laughs vie with the jumps in this entertaining spine-chiller which is sure to keep audiences tightly wound until the nerve-jangling ending; audiences of a nervous disposition, please be warned! The unique and macabre fascination with Jack the Ripper continues to this day; the ghoulish draw of the infamous figure who stalked the streets of Whitechapel has inspired many films, television shows and of course stage productions. The Ripper Files! was first performed in 2007. Eastbourne is the only southern date on this latest tour.
A fascinating case, in all there have been over 100 suggested names for the unknown killer, a new book has just been published with supposedly new proof. Written by the great-great-great granddaughter of the final victim, Mary Kelly, it’s been released to coincide with the 125th anniversary of the Ripper murders.
The Ripper Files! Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne from Tuesday 5–Saturday 9 November, nightly performances at 7.45pm, Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm, tickets priced from £14.50–£20.50, to book call the box office on 01323 412000 or online www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk.
STAGE: BOND
Gavin Robertson brings his parody of the well known literary spy James Bond to the Hawth Studio in Crawley. Focusing his attention on the Bond phenomenon, spoofing the movies eagerly awaited by millions, and exploding every cliché in the book(s)… solo! In which Bond meets his greatest arch-villain yet – Ian Fleming himself! Minimum props, maximum effect!
Gavin Robertson comes from a physical theatre background (Lecoq, Kemp and Gaulier), producing, creating, directing and performing his own work for national and international touring. He has created a diverse portfolio of productions including Spittoon, The Three Musketeers, The Six-Sided Man, Fantastical Voyage and I Am Who Am I amongst many others, infamously, Thunderbirds F.A.B. which played in London’s West End on six separate occasions between 1989 and 2002.
Each of his productions has toured internationally via The British Council, independent producers and festivals, including several tours to Japan, Australia and New Zealand, the USA, Singapore, Tunisia, Senegal and Morocco, as well as Hong Kong, Lebanon, Turkey, Oman, Brazil, Chile, Taiwan, Senegal, Costa Rica, USA, various European countries, and many others.
The Hawth Studio in Crawley Friday 29 November 7.45pm, Studio
Tickets: £14 (discounts: £12) are available from the Box Office on 01293 553636 or book online at www.hawth.co.uk
