THE Dick and Lottie company, now familiar visitors to the Lawrence Batley Theatre, are back tomorrow with a new production of a comedy favourite, Table Manners.
The company, founded five years ago by Honley High teacher John Cotgrave and nurse Richard McArtney, is thought to be the only one in the world that devotes itself entirely to the works of Scarborough-based playwright, Sir Alan Ayckbourn. It even takes its name from two characters created by Ayckbourn who are referred to in a trio of his plays, but who never appear on stage.
John’s interest in Ayckbourn’s plays goes back to sixth-form college and over the years he and Richard have gathered together a company of Huddersfield-based actors.
This week, John, who directs most of the shows, will be centre stage in the LBT’s Syngenta Cellar Theatre as Norman in Table Manners, one of Ayckbourn’s famed trilogy, The Norman Conquests.
Alongside him will be Richard McArtney, Mark Breen, Maria Sykes and Hannah Williams.
Another familiar face is Bal Sopal, who when not working as a professional actress, can be seen behind the box office counter at LBT. Bal has spent four years working on Silver Street, the nation’s first Asian radio soap which is broadcast by the BBC and has also played with Huddersfield’s Chol Theatre and at the West Yorkshire Playhouse.
Dick and Lottie performances run all week at the LBT at 7.45pm and there is also a Saturday matinee.
