Park Theatre presents the World Premiere of
END OF THE PIER
11 July – 11 August 2018| Park Theatre
Les Dennis, Nitin Ganatra, Tala Gouveia and Blake Harrison are to star in powerful new black comedy End Of The Pier, coming to Park Theatre from 11 July. As a former national treasure begins to reflect on his fading career and embrace his dimming stardom, his life is upended by the surprise arrival of the nation’s favourite young comedian.
Bobby (Les Dennis) was once a household name with 20 million TV viewers – but now the laughter has faded. Resigned to a life of solitude and second-rate panto performances, his glory days are behind him. When Michael (Blake Harrison), the nation’s favourite comedian, arrives at his door asking desperately for help to save his career, Bobby is unwillingly thrown into the limelight once again. A dark question lurks behind the laughs: What if, inside, you’re not the person everyone thinks you are?
‘I used to dream of people remembering my jokes. Now I just wish they’d forget.’
End of the Pier is penned by acclaimed writer Danny Robins (Rudy’s Rare Records, starring Lenny Henry at Hackney Empire and on Radio 4, and Radio 4’s The Cold Swedish Winter). The production is directed by Hannah Price, Co-Artistic Director and Founder of Theatre Uncut, whose directing credits include Again(Trafalgar Studios), Call to Prayer (Southwark Playhouse) and The Rise of the Right (The Young Vic).
Les Dennis is one of the UK’s best-known entertainers. Born in Liverpool, he came to prominence as a comedian in the 1970s after honing his craft on the northern Working Men’s Club circuit and turning pro after a winning set on Opportunity Knocks. He became a stalwart of Saturday Night TV in the 80s and 90s, starring in TV comedies including The Russ Abbot Show and The Les Dennis Laughter Show performing sketches and impressions, and most famously as the host of Family Fortunes between 1987 and 2002 on ITV. His stage credits include The Addams Family (UK Tour), She Loves Me (Menier Chocolate Factory) and Spamalot (West End).
Blake Harrison starred in three series and two subsequent films of the multi-award-winning comedy The Inbetweeners. His other film credits include the 2016 remake of Dad’s Army (in which he played Private Pike), Keeping Rosy and Madness in the Method. Harrison’s TV work includes three series of US comedy The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret, as well as A Very English Scandal, Prime Suspect: 1973, Trust Me, Way to Go and Him & Her. His stage credits include Step 9 of 12 (Trafalgar Studios). He recently made his directorial debut with the short film Hooves of Clay.
In addition to his popular role as Masood Ahmed in EastEnders (BBC One), Nitin Ganatra’s stage roles have included Animal Farm (Belgrade Theatre), As I Lay Dying (Young Vic), D’Yer Eat With Your Fingers? (Stratford East Theatre) and Haroun and the Sea of Stories (National Theatre).
Tala Gouveia is best known for her roles in Scream Street (CBBC), Fit (CBBC), Tracey Ullman’s Show (BBC One) and Love Sick (Channel 4). Her stage credits include The Here and This and Now (Southwark Playhouse), Husbands and Sons (National Theatre), The Mountaintop (New Vic Theatre) and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (The Globe).