Little Britain Live
Tour by David Walliams and Matt Lucas
DVD cover
Start date24 October 2005 (2005-10-24)
End date9 March 2007 (2007-03-09)
Legs2
No. of shows211 in UK & Ireland
32 in Australia
243 Total

Little Britain Live is a stage show based on the television sketch series Little Britain, performed by its stars, David Walliams and Matt Lucas, and directed by Jeremy Sams. Supporting characters are played by Paul Putner and Samantha Power (with Anthony Head and Ruth Jones in certain performances). As in the television show, Tom Baker is the narrator, although his lines are pre-recorded. The show toured the United Kingdom and Ireland from October 2005 until December 2006, and Australia from January–March 2007.

Development

In an interview in the show's program, Walliams and Lucas state that they had always wanted Little Britain to be a radio programme, a television series and live stage show.

After production of the third series of the television show, the duo settled down to write and plan the show. In rehearsals, the sketches were tweaked, re-ordered and re-written in order to accommodate the rapid costume and make-up changes required by the principal performers. To remove the need for stagehands to make set and prop changes, an elaborate stage floor was designed with track lines for the props. Sets were projected onto the background of the stage, with computer-animated transitions designed by video and lighting designer Willie Williams.[1]

Certain sketches required elaborate technical mechanisms, such as the vomit machine for the Judy and Maggie "Village Fete" sketch, and oversized props for the Dennis Waterman sketch.

During the show's UK run, several sketches were rewritten to improve the pacing, or removed in cases where the sketch was the same as the television series.

Performances

The show's run began at the Portsmouth Guildhall in Portsmouth, Hampshire on 23 October 2005. The show toured for 49 performances in 18 cities: Bournemouth, Southend, Plymouth, Sheffield, Manchester, Nottingham, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Liverpool, Oxford, Bristol, Ipswich, Birmingham, Blackpool, Brighton and ending in Manchester on 20 December.

Walliams and Lucas took a month off, before resuming the UK tour and returning to the previously-toured cities. A month-long residency at the Hammersmith Apollo in London in October and November 2006 followed, with two shows at the Brixton Academy.[2] There were 3 live shows in Ireland during the summer of 2006, shown at the Point Theatre in Dublin. The show was eventually seen by nearly one million people on its UK tour from November 2005 to December 2006.[3] Little Britain Live toured Australia in early 2007. Initial bookings were made in Sydney, with other cities added as ticket sales soared. Eventually the show sold out six performances in Melbourne and Brisbane, seven in Sydney and Perth, and two in Adelaide. Performances were also held in Canberra, Newcastle and Wollongong.

Show order

Act 1

  • Lou Todd and Andy Pipkin – "Welcome"
  • Emily Howard and Florence Rose – "Plumber"
  • Carol Beer – "Disneyworld"
  • Dudley Punt and Ting Tong – "Dudley in Hospital"
  • Kenny Craig – "Engagement Ring"
  • Ray McCooney – "Paying the Bill"
  • Vicky Pollard – "Assembly"
  • Des Kaye – "Hide the Sausage"
  • Maggie Blackamoor and Judy Pike – "Village Fete"

Act 2

  • Anne – "Stars in Their Eyes" – "Whitney Houston's The Greatest Love of All" (guest star Natalie Brown)
  • Bubbles DeVere – "Bank"
  • Sir Norman Fry – "Press Statement"
  • Mr Mann – "Roy's Paint Shop"
  • Linda Flint – "Chewbacca", "Blind Dave", "Fiddler on the Roof"
  • Dennis Waterman – "Celebrity Big Brother"
  • Marjorie Dawes – "Game for New Members", "Audience Weigh-in"
  • Mrs Emery – "Greengrocer"
  • Sebastian Love and Michael – "Separation"

Encore

  • Daffyd Thomas – "I'm Gay" song

Variations

Anthony Head (as the Prime Minister) and Ruth Jones (as barmaid Myfanwy) reprised their roles for certain performances, also appearing as backup dancers during Daffyd's song. Head appeared in three performances in Birmingham (5–6 May, 9 December), two in Blackpool (8–9 May), during the show's London run, Cardiff (7 December), Melbourne (30 January – 2 February) and Sydney (3–5 February). Jones appeared in Blackpool (and hence on the DVD), Cardiff, and during the London run.[4]

A special version of the stage show featuring several celebrity guests was performed at the Hammersmith Apollo in London on 22 November 2006, and was shown by the BBC on 16 March 2007 as part of Comic Relief. Celebrity performers included Kate Moss as Vicky Pollard's sister Katie, Dawn French as lesbian barmaid Myfanwy, and the real Dennis Waterman who appeared to sing the Minder "feem toon" with his pint-sized counterpart. The show also featured cameo appearances from Russell Brand, Patsy Kensit, Kate Thornton and DJ Chris Moyles.[5]

Several sketches are adjusted to reflect local content, such as the locality referred to as a 'shithole' by travel agent Carol Beer (Preston in Blackpool, Bolton in Manchester,[6] Wolverhampton or Chelmsley Wood in Birmingham, Derby in Nottingham, Strabane in Belfast, Shepherd's Bush in London, Broadmeadows in Melbourne, Elizabeth in Adelaide, Balga in Perth, Ipswich in Brisbane, Sunderland in Tyne and Wear, Dapto in Wollongong and Charnwood in Canberra), or retail outlets frequented by Vicky Pollard. In Australia, Lucas and Walliams were assisted by local comedians such as Gina Riley and Jane Turner (creators of Kath & Kim) for Melbourne references and Andrew Denton for Sydney.[7]

The Des Kaye and Marjorie Dawes sketches include audience participation, with members of the audience invited on-stage to take part in a game of 'Hide the Sausage' with Des, or participate in a 'weigh-in' with Marjorie.

Tour dates

Date City Country Venue
UK & Ireland[8]
24 October 2005 Portsmouth England Portsmouth Guildhall
25 October 2005
26 October 2005
27 October 2005 Bournemouth Windsor Hall
28 October 2005
29 October 2005
30 October 2005
1 November 2005 Westcliff-on-Sea Cliffs Pavilion
2 November 2005
3 November 2005 Plymouth Plymouth Pavilions
4 November 2005
5 November 2005
7 November 2005 Sheffield Sheffield City Hall
8 November 2005
9 November 2005
10 November 2005 Manchester Carling Apollo Manchester
11 November 2005
12 November 2005
14 November 2005 Nottingham Nottingham Royal Concert Hall
15 November 2005
16 November 2005
17 November 2005 Glasgow Scotland Clyde Auditorium
18 November 2005
20 November 2005 Edinburgh Edinburgh Playhouse
21 November 2005 Newcastle England Newcastle City Hall
22 November 2005
23 November 2005
24 November 2005 Liverpool Liverpool Empire Theatre
25 November 2005
26 November 2005
28 November 2005 Oxford New Theatre Oxford
29 November 2005
30 November 2005 Bristol Bristol Hippodrome
1 December 2005
2 December 2005
3 December 2005
5 December 2005 Ipswich Regent Theatre
6 December 2005
7 December 2005 Birmingham NIA Academy
8 December 2005
9 December 2005
10 December 2005
12 December 2005 Blackpool Opera House Theatre
13 December 2005
14 December 2005 Brighton Brighton Centre
15 December 2005
16 December 2005 Cardiff Wales Cardiff International Arena
17 December 2005
18 December 2005
19 December 2005
20 December 2005 Manchester England Manchester Evening News Arena
25 January 2006 Newcastle Newcastle City Hall
26 January 2006
27 January 2006 Glasgow Scotland Clyde Auditorium
28 January 2006
29 January 2006
31 January 2006 Sheffield England Sheffield City Hall
1 February 2006
2 February 2006
3 February 2006 Manchester Carling Apollo Manchester
4 February 2006
5 February 2006 Edinburgh Scotland Edinburgh Playhouse
6 February 2006
8 February 2006 Newcastle England Newcastle City Hall
9 February 2006
10 February 2006 Manchester Carling Apollo Manchester
11 February 2006
12 February 2006
14 February 2006 Nottingham Nottingham Royal Concert Hall
15 February 2006
16 February 2006
17 February 2006 Bournemouth Windsor Hall
18 February 2006
19 February 2006
21 February 2006 Plymouth Plymouth Pavilions
22 February 2006
28 February 2006 Liverpool Liverpool Empire Theatre
1 March 2006
2 March 2006
3 March 2006
4 March 2006
6 March 2006 Portsmouth Portsmouth Guildhall
7 March 2006
8 March 2006
9 March 2006 Brighton Brighton Centre
10 March 2006
11 March 2006
13 March 2006 Manchester Carling Apollo Manchester
14 March 2006
15 March 2006
16 March 2006
17 March 2006
18 March 2006
21 March 2006 Blackpool Opera House Theatre
22 March 2006
23 March 2006 Birmingham NIA Academy
24 March 2006
25 March 2006
26 March 2006
28 March 2006 Bristol Bristol Hippodrome
29 March 2006
30 March 2006
31 March 2006
1 April 2006
3 April 2006 Brighton Brighton Centre
4 April 2006
5 April 2006
6 April 2006
7 April 2006
8 April 2006
11 April 2006 Liverpool Liverpool Empire Theatre
12 April 2006
13 April 2006 Sheffield Hallam FM Arena
14 April 2006 Birmingham NIA Academy
15 April 2006 National Indoor Arena
16 April 2006 Nottingham Nottingham Arena
18 April 2006 Bristol Bristol Hippodrome
19 April 2006
20 April 2006
21 April 2006
22 April 2006
24 April 2006 Oxford New Theatre Oxford
25 April 2006
26 April 2006
27 April 2006 Nottingham Nottingham Royal Concert Hall
28 April 2006
29 April 2006 Newcastle Telewest Arena
30 April 2006
2 May 2006 Glasgow Scotland Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre
3 May 2006
4 May 2006 Birmingham England NIA Academy
5 May 2006
6 May 2006 National Indoor Arena
8 May 2006 Blackpool Opera House Theatre
9 May 2006
10 May 2006 Manchester Manchester Evening News Arena
11 May 2006 Nottingham Nottingham Arena
12 May 2006
13 May 2006
14 May 2006 Sheffield Hallam FM Arena
20 September 2006[A] Dublin Ireland Point Theatre
21 September 2006[A]
22 September 2006[A]
23 September 2006[A]
24 September 2006 Belfast Northern Ireland Odyssey Arena
25 September 2006
26 September 2006
28 September 2006[A] Dublin Ireland Point Theatre
3 October 2006 London England Hammersmith Apollo
4 October 2006
5 October 2006
6 October 2006
7 October 2006
9 October 2006
10 October 2006
11 October 2006
12 October 2006
13 October 2006
14 October 2006
16 October 2006
17 October 2006
18 October 2006
19 October 2006
20 October 2006
21 October 2006
23 October 2006
24 October 2006
25 October 2006
26 October 2006
27 October 2006
28 October 2006
30 October 2006
31 October 2006
1 November 2006
2 November 2006
3 November 2006
4 November 2006
6 November 2006
7 November 2006
8 November 2006
9 November 2006
10 November 2006
11 November 2006
14 November 2006 Edinburgh Scotland Edinburgh Playhouse
15 November 2006
16 November 2006 Aberdeen Press & Journal Arena
17 November 2006
18 November 2006
21 November 2006 London England Hammersmith Apollo
22 November 2006
23 November 2006 Carling Academy Brixton
24 November 2006
25 November 2006
26 November 2006 Manchester Carling Apollo Manchester
27 November 2006
28 November 2006 Leeds Grand Theatre
29 November 2006
30 November 2006
1 December 2006
2 December 2006
3 December 2006 Liverpool Liverpool Empire Theatre
5 December 2006 Cardiff Wales Cardiff International Arena
6 December 2006
7 December 2006
8 December 2006 Bournemouth England Windsor Hall
9 December 2006 Birmingham National Indoor Arena
11 December 2006 London Hammersmith Apollo
13 December 2006
14 December 2006
15 December 2006
16 December 2006
Australia[9][10]
30 January 2007 Melbourne Australia Vodafone Arena
31 January 2007
1 February 2007
2 February 2007
3 February 2007 Sydney Hordern Pavilion
4 February 2007
5 February 2007
7 February 2007 Sydney Entertainment Centre
8 February 2007
10 February 2007 Adelaide Adelaide Entertainment Centre
11 February 2007
13 February 2007 Sydney Hordern Pavilion
14 February 2007
16 February 2007 Brisbane BCEC Great Hall
17 February 2007
18 February 2007
19 February 2007
20 February 2007
21 February 2007
23 February 2007 Newcastle Newcastle Entertainment Centre
24 February 2007
25 February 2007 Wollongong WIN Entertainment Centre
26 February 2007 Canberra AIS Arena
27 February 2007 Melbourne Vodafone Arena
28 February 2007
3 March 2007 Perth Challenge Stadium
4 March 2007
5 March 2007
6 March 2007
7 March 2007
8 March 2007
9 March 2007
Festivals and other miscellaneous performances
A Bulmers International Comedy Festival[11]
Cancellations and rescheduled shows
23 February 2006 Cardiff, Wales Cardiff International Arena Rescheduled to 6 December 2006[12]
24 February 2006 Cardiff, Wales Cardiff International Arena Rescheduled to 7 December 2006[12]
25 February 2006 Cardiff, Wales Cardiff International Arena Cancelled[12]
26 February 2006 Cardiff, Wales Cardiff International Arena Cancelled[12]
28 November 2006 Bournemouth, England Windsor Hall Rescheduled to 8 December 2006

Official releases

DVD

The 9 May performance at the Blackpool Opera House was recorded and released on DVD in the UK (Region 2) and Australia (Region 4). The UK DVD was released on 13 November 2006 in a standard edition format and a special edition format (which included a miniature tour programme).

Also included on the DVD released in Australia (6 December 2006) and in the UK was 'Little Britain's Big Swim' which featured David Walliams swimming the English Channel.

"I'm Gay" single

Daffyd Thomas's song "I'm Gay" was recorded in a studio and released as an Internet-only single on the UK and Australian iTunes Stores.[13]

Comic Relief does Little Britain Live

This is a night of Little Britain Live with celebrity guests such as Kate Moss and Peter Kay. £3 from each DVD sale goes to Comic Relief. A live Little Britain show was made for Comic Relief at the Hammersmith Apollo on 22 November 2006, and featured many guest artists and celebrities. This version was released in March 2007 and televised as part of Comic Relief: The Big One. It was later included as a bonus feature on the Little Britain Abroad DVD.

Guest artists included:

References

  1. ↑ Little Britain Live programme
  2. ↑ Little Britain Tour 2005 Archived 3 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine, DavidWalliams.com.
  3. ↑ Matt Lucas: Littler Britain Archived 28 January 2007 at the Wayback Machine, The Independent, 1 January 2007.
  4. ↑ Shows you shouldn't miss, bbc.co.uk, October 2006.
  5. ↑ Model Moss joins Little Britain, BBC News, 23 November 2006.
  6. ↑ Little Britain Live tour review, Little Britain Online, 12 November 2006.
  7. ↑ Adams, Cameron: Look at moi, Britain, Herald Sun, 31 January 2007.
  8. ↑ "Little Britain – on Tour". Little Britain. Granada Ventures Ltd. Archived from the original on 23 October 2006. Retrieved 3 November 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  9. ↑ "Little Britain – On Tour!". LiveGuide. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  10. ↑ "Australia 2007 Tour Dates". Little Britain. Granada Ventures Ltd. Archived from the original on 5 February 2007. Retrieved 3 November 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  11. ↑ "2007 Awards Finalists". Marketing Institute – All Ireland Marketing Awards. Marketing Institute of Ireland Ltd. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  12. 1 2 3 4 "Four Little Britain shows are off". BBC News Online. 23 February 2006. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  13. ↑ I'm Gay Archived 3 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine, Bucks Music Group.
  14. ↑ "Model Moss joins Little Britain". BBC. 23 November 2006. Retrieved 11 February 2007.
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