Jeffrey Holland will star as Tom Ballard in the premiere stage production of the BAFTA-nominated Waiting for God which comes to the Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne from 25th – 29th April. He replaces Roy Hudd, who has withdrawn from the production on medical advice, due to ill health. Jeffrey will star alongside Olivier Award winning actress Nichola McAuliffe.
This comedy about a pair of ageing delinquents in a retirement home who are determined to do anything but grow old gracefully is sure to delight. The original TV show ran for 47 episodes over 5 series; set in the Bayview Retirement home, this new stage adaptation features all the favourite characters from the original series reimagined for 2017, facing the challenges that come with growing old disgracefully in the era of the silver surfer.
Battle-axe extraordinaire Diana Trent conspires with new resident Tom Ballard to give the conniving manager his comeuppance through a hilarious conspiracy with unexpectedly heart-warming results.
This all-new script is penned by the sitcom’s creator and writer Michael Aitkens, directed by Tony Award winner David Grindley (Journey’s End, Sideways) and features a cast of nine led by Holland and McAuliffe.
No stranger to the Eastbourne stage, Jeffrey Holland is still best known for his breakthrough role as Spike in Hi-de-Hi! He went on to create the stuffy footman James Twelvetrees in the popular Croft and Perry sitcom You Rang, M’Lord? and the starchy station master Cecil Parkin in Oh, Dr Beeching! His latest TV role is as tax inspector Clive Drinkwater in Coronation Street.
On stage, he has toured in a variety of productions that visited the Devonshire Park Theatre including Arnold Ridley’s The Ghost Train. More recently, Jeffrey starred as George Findley in Victoria Wood’s play Talent, directed by the playwright, and with Ray Cooney and an all-star cast in Two Into One, both at the Menier Chocolate Factory. He has also completed two successful runs at the Edinburgh Fringe and numerous performances around the country in his one-man show …and this is my friend Mr Laurel, written with Gail Louw.
Nichola McAuliffe is perhaps best known for her long running role in the sitcom Surgical Spirit. She has also enjoyed a prolific stage career including acclaimed performances in the West End and winning an Olivier award for her performance in Kiss Me Kate.
Waiting for God will be at Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne from Tuesday 25th – Saturday 29th April with nightly performances at 7.45pm and Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm. Tickets, priced from £19, can be booked by calling the box office on 01323 412000 or by visiting eastbournetheatres.co.uk
