Comedy classic comes to Swan - The Worcester Observer

Comedy classic comes to Swan

Worcester Editorial 24th Jun, 2014 Updated: 19th Oct, 2016   0

A STAGE adaptation of the popular BBC comedy Open All Hours is coming to The Swan from July 2 to 4.

Theatre director Gary Simmons made the show possible when he decided in 2013 to mark the 40th anniversary of the popular British classic.

But faced with no script for a stage version, Gary was forced to box clever and contact the writer for permission to write one himself.

He made contact with Roy Clarke and set about adapting it with his directing partner Jane Aston.




“I think it’s fair to say we’ve become Open All Hours anoraks,” Gary said.

“We’ve watched every episode, visited the shop where the location filming happened and traced most props present in the TV show.”


The bike came from Clacton-on-Sea and was in pieces until Gary’s father loving restored it.

The notorious till came from Reading and the scales from just outside Manchester.

The whole project is very exciting and full credit should be given to Gary who has relinquished the directorial reins in order to take the lead role of Arkwright.

Although learning the countless lines including the ster ster strutter has been not been easy, Gary said: “Normally Jane and I direct together so to cross the fourth wall and be directed is quite different but I’m having a great time.

“If the audience have half as much fun watching as we’ve had in rehearsal they will be guaranteed a fantastic night out!”

Jane said: “The adaptation is a calibration of episodes so audiences will see all the much loved moments made famous by Ronnie Barker and David Jason, blended into one storyline.

“The stage show is faithful to the television series, with something this iconic as Open All Hours you need to meet audience expectation and this production most defiantly does.”

Tickets for the show are available from The Swan Box Office on 01905 611427.

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