A second coming as Hugh Dennis returns to the stage for The Messiah tour
It has only taken 20 years but actor, comic and game show host, Hugh Dennis is returning to the stage to star in Patrick Barlow’s new show, The Messiah.
Three towering talents – Dennis, John Marquez and Lesley Garrett – will play a cast of thousands in this new comedy by the writer of the Olivier Award-winning West End hit The 39 Steps in a UK tour this autumn.
A travelling theatre troupe of two actors and an opera singer are set to arrive on camel at venues across the UK to masterfully enact the greatest story ever told.
Join the absurdly talented Maurice Rose (Hugh Dennis), the alarmingly unpredictable Ronald Bream RAC (John Marquez), and the distinguished diva Mrs Doreen Small (Lesley Garrett), in a hilarious Christmas comedy that conjures up the sublime, the ridiculous and the truly angelic.
Joseph, Mary, the Archangel Gabriel, Herod, God and an ox are all authentically portrayed in this vibrant comedy weaving visual invention with a hint of the divine, The Messiah is a love letter to theatre, theology and the great man himself.
Hugh Dennis is one of Britain’s best loved comics and an award winning and multi-award nominated actor and writer. He’s star of the BBC2 hit panel show, Mock The Week and BBC1’s hilarious sitcom Outnumbered. He is also a firm radio favourite, both writing and presenting Radio 4’s award winning comedy The Now Show and Radio 2’s It’s Been A Bad Week.
Lesley Garrett is Britain’s best-known soprano, regularly appearing in opera, musical theatre, concert, television and on CDs.
And John Marquez is best known for his role as PC Joe Penhale in the hit ITV Comedy series, Doc Martin. TV roles include Porridge, In the Club, Death in Paradise, Hotel Babylon and Suburban Shootout. Recent theatre roles include Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (The Savoy Theatre) and Once in a Lifetime (The Young Vic).
Writer, Patrick Barlow, will also direct the production.
Buy The Messiah theatre tickets from one of our recommended theatre ticket websites.
THE MESSIAH AUTUMN 2018/19 TOUR DATES
October 15 – 27, Birmingham Rep Theatre
October 29 – November 3, New Theatre, Cardiff
November 5 – 10, Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield
November 12 – 17, Cheltenham Everyman Theatre
November 26 – December 1, Richmond Theatre – BUY TICKETS
December 3 – January 5, The Other Palace – BUY TICKETS
Saw this last week and I don’t get the negative comments. Its funny and moving. A great cast that blended well, my 17 year old son doesn’t do theatre and he thoroughly enjoyed it! Ignore the knockers, don’t miss out on a great play.. imo
I cannot believe some of the reviews punters have given this play here. Just seen it now and the whole audience were in stitches. It is hilarious and brilliantly acted. Please don’t be put off seeing these negative posts and judge for yourself.
Reading the above comments and comparing them to “official” reviews, one is bound to believe that the only honest critics are the theatre-going public, although at the same time some people in the audience did appear to think it funny, which was a little mystifying.
Saw the messiah yesterday. What a shame such talented actors were wasted on such rubbish. They did the best they could with the material they were given but it was really dreadful. I think if I was a religious person I would feel very upset with this interpretation
We chuckled and joined in to be polite. Lovely actors who try their very best with the material, but sadly it is very weak. Have seen the playwrite’s The 39 Steps which was fun. But this really was one joke which was done after 5 mins. You’re waiting for it to take off but disappointingly it never does. It needs a rewrite and a rethink. Great idea though.
Well every cloud has a silver lining and in this case it was John Marquez’s sparkling performance, without which I would have left at the interval.
Because we like our Scottish friends too much to inflict this atrocity upon them.
excruciating painful to watch.
Chichester, Nov 12th: a few people left at the interval but only a few, so they missed the better half of the play. Many people found the play very funny indeed.
I personally liked what I was presented with, so ‘thank you’ to all involved. It was not what I expected – although I hadn’t really clarified my expectations beforehand – and it was not side-splitting slapstick, but it was presented and played very well indeed. A highly enjoyable stage production.
Yes -went yesterday. Truly awful, not at all funny. Left at the interval, so disappointed.
Two hours of your life that you won’t get back, hubby loved it though!
Don’t worry if it isn’t on near you, you will miss nothing, saw it yesterday and it is truly dreadful
Yes, I agree. Disappointing !
Thought it was a tour of the nation why no dates in Scotland???
I suspect that this initial tour is a bit of a try out. It is having a very limited run but, hopefully, if it is well received, then they may announce a bigger tour for 2019.