Hello world!

By Robert Louis Stevenson
Adapted and performed by Mark Stratford

‘Jekyll and Hyde’ – a mystery tale about the timeless conflict between good and evil – caused a sensation when it was published in 1886. In this highly acclaimed, gripping solo play, Mark Stratford offers a compelling and faithful adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s gothic classic.

In fog-bound Victorian London, Gabriel Utterson works as a respectable lawyer. Concerned by a strange clause in his friend Henry Jekyll’s will, Utterson investigates the sinister Edward Hyde – Jekyll’s unlikely protégé. Convinced that Jekyll and Hyde’s relationship is founded on blackmail, Utterson embarks on a quest to learn more but, as he does so, finds the truth to be far worse than he could have ever imagined…

What are men for? Most heavy things can be lifted by machines and most problems can be solved by computers and most puddles can be crossed without us gallantly draping our capes over them – so are we fellas of any use at all?

Award winning MAN Marcus Brigstocke thinks we might still serve some useful function. But what is it? This new tour show will resolve the entire issue once and for all (in a non-patriarchal, open minded, progressive sort of way).

DaVinci’s Vitruvian Man is the image of the ideal male form. Marcus’ Vitruvian Mango is the same, but sweeter, softer, seasonally available and, when ripe, delicately perfumed.

‘… charming, hilarious and utterly refreshing…’  The Sunday Mirror

“Sharpest one-liner merchant”  The Sunday Times

 “If you haven’t seen him live, then you haven’t seen him at his very best”  The Mirror

A celebration of the glory days of Variety

Freddie Francis has been a second spot comic for thirty years touring the country on every variety bill going. We find him in 1956 recalling his life spent touring the halls; the ups, the downs, the riotous, the fantastic and the downright silly!

He recalls his days entertaining the troops during the war, playing at the infamous Glasgow Empire, and we discover what really happened when a speciality act lost her snake on stage!!

Ultimately Twice Nightly is a fading memory of the variety stage. The death of something that has been part of everyone’s life for decades is now on the decline. Where will Freddie go when he finishes this tour?  Who will he go back to, and ultimately who really cares?

Twice Nightly also includes routines from amongst others: Max Miller, Rob Wilton, Jimmy James and Norman Evans and renditions of many of the popular songs of the time, such as The Man Who Broke The Bank at Monte Carlo, Happy Days Are Here Again and Goodnight Sweetheart.

This performance is part of our Members’ 241 Offer. Please ask for details.

A celebration of the glory days of Variety

Freddie Francis has been a second spot comic for thirty years touring the country on every variety bill going. We find him in 1956 recalling his life spent touring the halls; the ups, the downs, the riotous, the fantastic and the downright silly!

He recalls his days entertaining the troops during the war, playing at the infamous Glasgow Empire, and we discover what really happened when a speciality act lost her snake on stage!!

Ultimately Twice Nightly is a fading memory of the variety stage. The death of something that has been part of everyone’s life for decades is now on the decline. Where will Freddie go when he finishes this tour?  Who will he go back to, and ultimately who really cares?

Twice Nightly also includes routines from amongst others: Max Miller, Rob Wilton, Jimmy James and Norman Evans and renditions of many of the popular songs of the time, such as The Man Who Broke The Bank at Monte Carlo, Happy Days Are Here Again and Goodnight Sweetheart.

This performance is part of our Members’ 241 Offer. Please ask for details.

Snake is one of the most in-demand rock soul and jazz sax players in the world, widely known for his solos on tracks such as Lisa Stansfield’s “Change”, M-People’s “Search For A Hero, Moving On Up and Take That “A Million Love Songs”. He has played and recorded with artists ranging from James Brown to Tina Turner to Paul McCartney, The Eurythmics to Amy Winehouse. 

With his catchy sax riffs on Klingande’s “Jubel” and Faul’s “Changes”  he helped launch careers for many players in the Sax/DJ field.

As a session player to the stars he plays arenas and stadiums, but his greatest love is to play intimate venues as himself. Playing the saxophone family as well as flutes, whistles and the ancient Japanese wind instrument, the Shakuhachi, and vocals, it is his total passion and commitment to sound, to every single note, that draws people in. Ropery Hall is the “hometown gig”, a very favourite venue. It’s a couple of years since the Snake Davis Band were here though. Guitar, drums, bass guitar and a sensational boundary-blurring mix including Soul, Northern Soul, Jazz, R+B, Ambient and classy pop.

With JOHNNY THIRKELL – Trumpet, MARK CRESWELL – Guitar

Snake teams up with long time cohort and best buddy Johnny Thirkell and their mutual friend, guitarist Mark Creswell, for an evening of gorgeous mellow music infused with jazz soul and pop.

Snake Davis is one of the most in-demand rock jazz and soul sax players in the world, widely known for his solos on tracks such as Lisa Stansfield’s “Change”; M-People’s “Search For A Hero” and “Moving On Up”; and Take That’s “Million Love Songs”. 

He has played and recorded with artists ranging from James Brown, Tina Turner and Paul McCartney to The Eurythmics and Amy Winehouse

Johnny Thirkell is one of the UK’s top Trumpet and Flugelhorn players. After an early career in Jazz, having been a member of the Buddy Rich Band, the Gil Evans Orchestra and the BBC Radio Big Band, he went on to play on hundreds of pop, rock & jazz recordings and at one stage was on at least one album in the UK charts continuously, without a break, for over  13 years!  In 2024 he scored his 38th No.1 album with Snow Patrol’s “The Forest is the Path”

 His credits include Level 42, George Michael, Jamiroquai, Pet Shop Boys, Phil Collins, Grace Jones, Bruno Mars, Cher, Tina Turner, UB40, Kylie Minogue, Pet Shop Boys, Swing Out Sister and Lisa Stansfield. 

Mark Creswell

Virtuoso exquisite sensitive guitarist, studied at Leeds college of Music with Snake and Johnny. Mark is well known for his work with Tanita Tikaram, The Suspicions and Burden of Paradise.

Expect beautiful music, fascinating tales, banter and opportunity for question and answer and challenges.

“Johnny Thirkell is maddeningly talented; funny, clever, handsome, the best damn trumpeter I ever heard, and the only man I know who can wear a beret without making you want to move to another carriage” – Hugh Laurie

 “Snake Davis has one of the most passionate sax styles and simple bluesy approaches a-la-Sanborn heard in these isles for a while”.  TIME OUT.

“A virtuoso saxophonist”.                                                    DAILY TELEGRAPH

“A brilliant sax player who could wail like the best American players, but was at his best weaving around slow ballads, won deserved acclaim”  BLUES + SOUL

“He doesn’t mess about”                 THE GUARDIAN                     

“Snake is a joy to work alongside. His musical skills have no limit, in fact he is as free as a bird.”             DAVE STEWART (Eurythmics)