Norman Wisdom News

Perfect medicine for the winter blues

Due to popular demand, 54 Below has announced an additional performance of Emmy Award winner Jennifer Bassey's “From Sexy Soaps to Classy Cabaret”.

This evening Leicester Comedy Festival, the longest running comedy festival in Europe, presented Johnny Vegas with the Legend of Comedy award at their annual ceremony to honour comedians and others involved in the festival.

If any show proves that physical comedy is timeless, it's One Man, Two Guvnors, which brings a subversive 18th-century Italian comedy onto the 21st-century stage, and then promptly pushes it down the stairs to uproarious laughter.

Two acclaimed actors play 25 characters in this brilliant staging of three classic Dad's Army radio episodes based on favourite scripts from the original TV series. Dad's Army Radio Show celebrates 50 years of Jimmy Perry and David Croft's quintessential sitcom, which won the Best One-Liner accolade in a poll of comedians conducted by digital channel Gold, with the immortal words "Don't tell him, Pike" from The Deadly Attachment episode.

Andrew Lloyd Webber with honoured artists Des O'Connor, Jimmy Tarbuck, Cliff Richard and Tommy Steele unveiled the Wall of Fame, a new art installation by Lee Simmons commissioned as part of the renovations to the Grade II listed facade of The London Palladium. Sited at the theatre's world famous Stage Door on Great Marlborough Street, this ongoing installation is a permanent legacy to the many artists that have headlined at The London Palladium and will provide an intrinsic link between icons of the past and performers of the future.

Tonight Leicester Comedy Festival hosted its annual award ceremony at The Haymarket Theatre (Leicester) honouring the comedians, venues and promoters that make the festival one of the largest and most successful in Europe. The ceremony was hosted by Mark Dolan and attended by Nicholas Parsons who collected the Legend of Comedy Award.  Previous legends have included Victoria Wood, Barry Cryer, Rik Mayall, Ken Dodd and Sir Norman Wisdom.

Wisdom of a Fool resurrects the much loved Norman Wisdom in Jack Lane's respectful and entertaining show that charts his rags-to-riches story.

Engine Shed and David Phillips present WISDOM OF A FOOL, running March 8th - March 11th, 2017 at LOST Theatre. 

A collaborative performance from BA (Hons) Acting, BA (Hons) Costumeand Performance Design, BA (Hons) Make Up for Media and Performance.

Engine Shed and David Phillips present WISDOM OF A FOOL, running March 8th - March 11th, 2017 at LOST Theatre. 

A collaborative performance from BA (Hons) Acting, BA (Hons) Costumeand Performance Design, BA (Hons) Make Up for Media and Performance.

A collaborative performance from BA (Hons) Acting, BA (Hons) Costumeand Performance Design, BA (Hons) Make Up for Media and Performance.

With the long, dark and cold winter nights upon us, we could all do with a bit of lighthearted comedy to cheer us up! Terry Johnson's 'Dead Funny' originally made its West End debut 22 years ago in the very same theatre where the current run is housed, the Vaudeville Theatre. Set in 1992 it takes place during the week in April where two much loved comedians, Frankie Howerd and Benny Hill, died within days of each other.

This Spring, the New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich will produce the second Ramps on the Moon touring production, The Who's Tommy, which will tour to Birmingham, Nottingham, Leeds, Sheffield and London. Ipswich will see the show first from Thu 30 March to Sat 15 April.

Cult movie musical THE NIGHT THEY RAIDED MINSKY'S is set for its Blu-ray debut today, February 24.

Norman Wisdom entertained the world for over six decades. But growing up was tough for Chaplin's favourite clown. In this new play, written by Martyn Bell and Jack Lane, WISDOM OF A FOOL takes you behind the cheeky character and ill-fitting suit, to show the life and early career of one of the most talented performers this country has ever produced.

Hummingbird in a Box, the latest work from legendary musician Peter Frampton, will be released June 23 via RED Distribution. The new music was inspired by the Cincinnati Ballet, featuring seven original guitar pieces in Frampton's virtuosic stylings. Frampton composed all songs on the mini-album along with Gordon Kennedy, who also co-produced the recording. The two previously teamed up for Fingerprints, which garnered them both a Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Album.

I had never heard of the television musical ANDROCLES AND THE LION until Masterworks Broadway announced they'd be releasing the cast recording. NBC originally aired the broadcast on November 16, 1967, and it was met with mixed reviews. Shortly thereafter, the show vanished. Now, with Masterworks Broadway recent release, this entirely forgotten gem is seeing the light of day again.

Collected by Martin Witts (Owner of The Leicester Square Theatre) from a lifetime's work in the UK's Comedy Industry, this is one of the most comprehensive collections of Comedy memorabilia ever to be amassed in one place.