KEEP YOUR SUNNY SIDE UP!

Our next production will be Keep Your Sunny Side Up! (The Gracie Fields Story) a play with songs written by David Hampshire which will run at the Lantern Theatre, Brighton on 25th- 27th September 2025. 

Featuring Lisa Rouselle as Gracie Fields.

Keep You Sunny Side Up! tells the ‘rags to riches’ story of Rochdale-born Gracie’s 75 year career recounting her northern upbringing, her three husbands, her life-threatening illness and the unjust way she was treated by the British press during World War Two.

Direction is by Maurice Thorogood, with musical supervision by Moody & Moody and staging by Crissy Mullen.

Reviews

‘’A wonderful five star play. Funny, touching, beautifully realized and full of heart and truth. It’s ‘The Good Companions’ meets ‘The Entertainer’ and it’s as good as Priestley and better than Osborne. Seriously.’’
Gyles Brandreth

‘’A heart-rendingly funny play and an important piece of literature; well observed and essential for the understanding of a modern audience. Five stars.’’ 
Remotegoat

‘’It’s moving and entertaining with great writing and fabulous performances. It made me laugh and cry and it should be a major hit. See it.’’ 
Su Pollard

 ‘’A vintage piece that reflects a bygone age; delightful, funny and sad, and exactly what good theatre is all about.’’ 
forallevents.com

‘’A magical play that warms the heart and lightens the soul.’’ 
Adrian Barry, Director, The Music Hall Guild of Great Britain

Funny Turns

Following two sold-out London productions, David Hampshire’s acclaimed play, Funny Turns, played to sold-out houses at the Grove Theatre, Eastbourne in 2023.

 ‘‘A darling show.’’ Dame Joanna Lumley

Set in a theatrical boarding house in 1935.  Struggling comedian Norman Tate passes his time rehearsing his average act with Sally, the daughter of his landlady Alice.  When Norman’s ex-wife Nellie Price moves into his lodgings it sets in motion a chain of events which changes Norman’s life forever.  A tale of humour, heartbreak and eventual redemption which demonstrates that life is indeed full of Funny Turns.

With Jeffrey Holland, Judy Buxton, Mansel David, Beth Burrows, Kenn Oldfield, Georgia Bellett and Carl Lovejoy, directed by Maurice Thorogood.