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Early Doors opens to rave reviews
The much loved sitcom is now live on stage for the first time.
Early Doors, Britain’s best loved sitcom, is touring the UK for the very first time. The live version of the BBC TV classic started its run with various dates in Salford, with a full UK tour now to follow.
The tour follows the originally planned one week run at Salford Lowry’s Quay’s Theatre selling out instantly, and a further two weeks of shows following suit.
In a recent four star review by Chortle, the Early Doors live show is described as “full of geniality and honest humour”, and “a real crowd-pleaser, guaranteed.”
Giving the show full marks (that’s five stars), Manchester Evening News declare Early Doors “a warm, feel-good celebration of the characters that stays true to the original show.”
“It was wonderful, wonderful, wonderful,” they enthuse.
For the stage adaptation, Craig Cash and Phil Mealey have penned a brand new story featuring the same characters from the iconic TV show.
“Writing Early Doors again has been a joy and we’re really excited by the results,” the pair revealed ahead of opening night. “Putting it on stage for the first time ever will be a huge thrill. One that we hope you will come along and share.”
The show stars Cash and Mealey, as well as John Henshaw, Joan Kempson, James Quinn, Peter Wight, Lisa Millett, Judith Barker, Nick Birkinshaw, Neil Hurst, Vicky Binns, Laura Woodward and Susan Cookson.
Ken’s got love on his mind, but will barmaid, Tanya, ring the landlord’s bell? Old Tommy would play Cupid – if only he didn’t have IBS (Irritable Bugger’s Syndrome). Crime is on the rise but fear not, as local cops Phil and Nige are getting stuck in… to a couple of pints in the back room. After all, “Crime can’t crack itself.”
The much loved characters became household names when Early Doors aired on BBC Two in 2003. Running across two seasons, the sitcom delved inside the day-to-day pub life in Stockport.
Writers Cash (who also co-wrote the acclaimed The Royle Family) and Mealey star as lads Joe and Duffy.
The TV show also featured the likes of James McAvoy and Rita May.
Here are those Early Doors live tour dates:
24 September 2018 – SEC Armadillo, Glasgow
25 September 2018 – City Hall, Newcastle
27 September 2018 – Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham
28 September 2018 – Arena Birmingham, Birmingham
29 September 2018 – Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff
30 September 2018 – FlyDSA Arena, Sheffield
2 October 2018 – Apollo Hammersmith, London
3 October 2018 – Opera House, Blackpool
4 October 2018 – Manchester Arena, Manchester
5 October 2018 – First Direct Arena, Leeds
6 October 2018 – Venue, Hull
7 October 2018 – Echo Arena, Liverpool
Tickets for Early Doors are available now through Ticketmaster.co.uk.
