The Apollo Theatre Company, producers of the critically acclaimed tours of Round the Horne and The Goon Show will tour another show based on a radio comedy classic, Hancock’s Half Hour, around the UK this autumn.

Back in 1954, Tony Hancock – the focus of the unconnected but relevant Tripwire award-nominated graphic novel, Hancock – The Lad Himself – burst onto the airwaves of the BBC Light Programme with a comedy show unlike anything the British public had heard before. Playing a less successful version of himself and surrounded by a cast of fellow comedy greats including Sid James, Hattie Jacques and Kenneth Williams, Hancock’s Half Hour was one of the first programmes in the genre we now know as sitcom.

Written by young up-and-comers Ray Galton and Alan Simpson, who later went on to create Steptoe and Son, Hancock’s Half Hour redefined radio comedy and has had people laughing non-stop for the past 65 years.

Hancock’s Half Hour – The Lost Episodes will take you on a trip to 23 Railway Cuttings, East Cheam to join ‘the lad himself’ and his motley crew for three classic episodes of the hilarious radio show, kicking off at Jermyn Street Theatre, London from 28th August – 2nd September 2023, followed by an extensive tour across of the UK from the end of September.

Apollo Theatre Company are a professional theatre company based in Guildford, Surrey, and aim to produce exciting productions of both classic and original plays and comedies.

Hancock’s Half Hour – The Lost Episodes is directed by Tim Astley.

• Check out the Apollo Theatre Company at apollotheatrecompany.com | Facebook | Twitter

Hancock’s Half Hour – The Lost Episodes – Tour Dates

AUGUST

Jermyn Street Theatre
7.30pm Monday 28th August – Saturday 2nd September
16B Jermyn St, St. James’s, London SW1Y 6ST
Book: jermynstreettheatre.co.uk

SEPTEMBER

Harlequin Theatre, Redhill
7.30pm Wednesday 27th September
The Harlequin Theatre & Cinema, Warwick Quadrant, Redhill, Surrey, RH1 1NN
Book: harlequintheatre.co.uk

South Hill Park, Bracknell
7.45pm Thursday 28th September
South Hill Park, Ringmead, Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 7PA 
Book: southhillpark.org.uk

Elgiva Theatre, Chesham
7.30pm Friday 29th September
The Elgiva St Mary’s Way, Chesham HP5 1HR
Book: elgiva.com

Louth Riverhead Theatre
7.30pm – Saturday 30th September
Victoria Road, Louth, England, LN11 0BX
Book: louthriverheadtheatre.com

OCTOBER

Mansfield Palace Theatre
7.30pm Sunday 1st October
Leeming Street, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire NG18 1NG
Web: mansfield.gov.uk/palacetheatre/

Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough
7.45pm Monday 2nd October | 1.45pm & 7.45pm Tuesday 3rd October
Westborough, Scarborough North Yorkshire YO11 1JW
Book: sjt.uk.com

Harrogate Theatre
7.30pm Wednesday 4th October
Oxford Street, Harrogate HG1 1QF
Book: harrogatetheatre.co.uk

Grand Opera House, York
7.30pm Thursday 5th October
Cumberland Street, York YO1 9SW
Book: https://www.atgtickets.com/venues/grand-opera-house-york

Junction, Goole
7.30pm Friday 6th October
Paradise Place, Goole, East Riding of Yorkshire DN14 5DL 
Book: junctiongoole.co.uk

Middlesbrough Theatre
7.30pm Saturday 7th October
The Avenue, Middlesbrough TS5 6SA 
Book: middlesbroughtheatre.co.uk

Leeds City Varieties
7.30pm Sunday 8th October
Swan Street, Leeds LS1 6LW
Book: leedsheritagetheatres.com/city-varieties-music-hall

The Plaza, Stockport
7.30pm Monday 9th October
The Plaza, Mersey Square, Stockport SK1 1SP
Web: stockportplaza.co.uk

Woodville, Gravesend
7.30pm Wednesday 11th October
Woodville Place, Gravesend DA12 1DD
Book: woodville.co.uk

Berry, Hedge End
7.30pm Thursday 12th October
Wildern Lane, Hedge End, Southampton
Book: https://www.theberrytheatre.co.uk

Stantonbury Theatre, Milton Keynes
7.30pm Friday 13th October
Stantonbury, Milton Keynes MK14 6BN
Book: stantonburytheatre.co.uk

Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford
7.30pm Sunday 15th October
Millbrook, Guildford GU1 3UX
Book: yvonne-arnaud.co.uk   

Theatre Royal, Brighton
7.30pm Monday 16th October
New Road, Brighton, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 1SD
Book: theatreroyalbrighton

Cast Theatre, Doncaster
7.30pm Tuesday 17th October
Waterdale, Doncaster, DN1 3BU
Book: https://castindoncaster.com

Harlow Playhouse
2.30pm Wednesday 18th October
Playhouse Square, Harlow CM20 1LS
Book: harlowplayhouse.co.uk

Marina Theatre, Lowestoft
7.30pm Thursday 19th October
Marina Theatre, Marina, Lowestoft NR32 1HH
Book: marinatheatre.co.uk

Norwich Playhouse
2.30 & 7.30pm Saturday 21st October
42 – 58 St Georges Street, Norwich NR3 1AB
Book: norwichtheatre.org

Swan, High Wycombe
7.30pm Tuesday 24th October
St. Mary Street, High Wycombe, HP11 2XE
Book: wycombeswan.co.uk

Haverhill Arts Centre
7.30pm Thursday 26th October
High Street, Haverhill, Suffolk CB9 8AR
Book: haverhillartscentre.co.uk

Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds
2.30pm and 7.30pm Saturday 28th October
Westgate Street, Bury St Edmunds IP33 1QR
Book: theatreroyal.org

Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch
2.30pm Sunday 29th October
Book: queens-theatre.co.uk

Riverside, Woodbridge
7.30pm Monday 30th October
QuaySide, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 1BH
Book: theriverside.co.uk

Palace Theatre, Southend
7.30pm Tuesday 31st October
Cliffs Pavilion, Station Road, Southend-on-Sea, Essex. SS0 7RA
Book: southendtheatres.org.uk

NOVEMBER

Radlett Centre
7.30pm Wednesday 1st November
The Radlett Centre, 1 Aldenham Avenue, Radlett, Hertfordshire WD7 8HL
Book: radlettcentre.co.uk

Century Theatre, Coalville
7.30pm Thursday 2nd November
Ashby Road, Coalville, Leicestershire LE67 3LN
Book: centurytheatre.co.uk

Barton-Under-Needwood Village Hall
7.30pm Friday 3rd November
Crowberry Lane, Barton under Needwood, Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, DE13 8AF
Book: bartonunderneedwood-pc.gov.uk/Village_Hall_30504

Chequer Mead Theatre, East Grinstead
7.30pm Saturday 4th November
De La Warr Road, East Grinstead, West Sussex RH19 3BS
Book: chequermead.org.uk

Taunton Brewhouse, Taunton
7.30pm Monday 6th November
Taunton Brewhouse, Coal Orchard, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 1JL
Book: tauntonbrewhouse.co.uk

Wyvern, Swindon
7.30pm Tuesday 7th November
Wyvern Theatre, Theatre Square, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN1 1QN
Book: swindontheatres.co.uk

Old Town Hall, Hemel Hempstead
7.30pm Wednesday 8th November
High Street, Hemel Hempstead, HP1 3AE 
Book: oldtownhall.co.uk

Watersmeet Theatre, Rickmansworth
7.30pm Thursday 9th November
High Street, Rickmansworth WD3 1EH
Book: watersmeet.co.uk

Friday 10th – Trinity, Tunbridge Wells – 7.30pm
Trinity Theatre, Church Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 1JP 
Book: trinitytheatre.net

Sunday 12th – Savoy, Monmouth – 7.30pm
Savoy Theatre Church Street, Monmouth NP25 3BU
Book: monmouth-savoy.co.uk

Wednesday 15th – Chelmsford Theatre – 7.30pm
Fairfield Road, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 1JG
Book: chelmsfordtheatre.co.uk

• Check out the Apollo Theatre Company at apollotheatrecompany.com | Facebook | Twitter

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.

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