Comedian brought to life in confrontational new play

Las Vegas, 1954. In a small hotel room the up-and-coming Tommy Cooper faces the prospect of his first big failure. With the show closing and a warring relationship with his manager, Tommy finds an offer on the table and a drink in his hand.

Powerful, provocative, painfully funny and true, Tom Green’s astonishing play celebrates the brilliance in Britain’s most famous comic and explores the pressures and loneliness of fame.

The man who could make you laugh just by walking on to stage comes vividly alive in this confrontational new play.

Tommy Cooper is one of Britain’s best-loved comedians.

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After his television debut on the BBC in 1948, he went on to star in many variety shows in a career that spanned four decades, and became one of the world’s most recognisable comedians.

Tommy died in 1984, famously collapsing from a heart attack on live television in front of millions of viewers during his act on variety show Live From Her Majesty’s.

Damian Williams, the star of the show is well-known to television audiences as the presenter of Damian’s Are You Smarter Than a 10 Year Old on Sky One. Other television credits include Billy Webb and Alfonzo Bonzo for CBBC, and ‘Ian’ in ITV’s The Bill.

On stage Damian is well known as resident Dame at the Sheffield Lyceum theatre, a role he has played for the last five years.

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He has also appeared in repertory seasons all over the country in roles including ‘Bernard’ in Don’t Dress For Dinner, ‘Reece’ in Communicating Doors, and ‘Frank’ in Educating Rita.

The cast also includes Morgan Deare whose many theatre credits include Rocket to the Moon, August: Osage County and Buried Child at the National Theatre, Little Shop Of Horrors, and Whistle Down the Wind in the West End, and UK Tours of Carousel, and 42nd Street among others.

Halcro Johnston has appeared in the West End in productions including Scrooge, Oliver! and Les Misérables. His television credits include Doctor Who, EastEnders and The Bill.

Rebecca Thorn has appeared in The Devil’s Disciple and Fair Ladies at a Game of Poem Cards at the National Theatre, Harold Pinter in Havana at The Print Room, and The Kitchen at the Royal Court, among others.

Her recent television work includes Wallander, The Old Guys, Casualty, and The Bill.

Tickets for the show are £18.

Book online at whiterocktheatre.org.uk or call the box office on 01424 462288.

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