Ale House Opens for Business Feb 25th - Dome Theatre

One week ago I had the privilege of attending the Press launch of "Ale House" alongside members of the media. It is a hilarious comedy written by writers Furlong & Powers. Actors Philip Olivier and Jake Abraham have joined forces with the writers and formed their own production company called Bear Ass Productions Ltd. They have co-directed a brand new version of the comedy as their very first project.

We were treated to a sneak preview at Doctor Duncan's, the famous pub on St John's Lane. The comedy play will be staged at The Dome Theatre in Grand Central Hall at the end of February until the third week in March.

The cast Photo Credit: David Munn

 The cast delivered a highly entertaining promenade performance of the show, giving us an insight into some of the characters of the comedy play.

Me and Philip Olivier after the performance

Photo Credit: Shazney Spence

Photo Credit: Shazney Spence

 Philip Olivier said: “The comedy has been really successful so far because it’s so true to life. It portrays life in a typical boozer with all the characters and shenanigans that go on. The audience can identify with the characters and are always saying ‘I know people like that in my pub!’”

“We’ve just updated it and brought it into the 21^st century,” he revealed. “We’ve added more emotion including a love story between two lost and lonely souls.”

“It’s a little darker in places too,” added Jake. “One of the characters has become quite sinister… We’ve been working with Liverpool College creating prosthetics for the characters to make them more real. And we have added more musical numbers.”

Liverpool indie rock band Space have written a piece of music to open the show and local band The Stamp will be playing live afterwards.

“There will be a late bar so we want people to make a whole night of it,” said Jake. “And we’re hoping to transform a new generation of people who wouldn’t normally spend a night at the theatre, into regular theatregoers!”

It will be the first experience of directing for the duo who are certainly not strangers to the stage or screen. Philip and Jake have many years’ acting experience between them with Phillip having starred in TV shows Brookside and Benidorm and Jake appearing in Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, to name but a few of their performances.

Photo Credit: Shazney Spence

Photo Credit: Shazney Spence

Talented actress Lindzi Germain served the cast as we watched and then burst into spontaneous song. Her voice was absolutely outstanding. The whole ale house stood to attention. She plays the role of Lucy, the kindhearted landlady. Yogi (Philip Olivier) is a bragging looney tune and Trevor (Jake Abraham)  a Tourettes suffering war veteran. Throw in Kick Off played by George Wilson, a punch drunk bruiser, Robbo played by James McMartin with the hangover from hell and dodgy guts, Les O’Dochartaigh as Father Flaherty, Bernie Foley as Mary and Nelly and Kivan Dene as Hawker and Les, not to mention pint guzzling old Joe played by Nick Birkinshaw and you have a comedy mix of crazy characters you may find familiar from your local pub.

Price: Tickets are priced at £20 with 2-4-1 mid-week offers. Tickets are available for purchase here

Box office details: 0844 8000 410

https://www.ticketquarter.co.uk/Online/

Run Time: Thursday February 25th to Saturday March 19th

Credits: Interview commentary - Press Release - Bill Elms Associates