Trials and Tribulations of a Victorian Actor

Likely Lads actor Rodney Bewes brings his one-man show On the Stage and Off to the Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe, tomorrow as part of the North Devon Festival. Jerome K Jerome’s first novel tells of the trials and tribulations of life as a Victorian actor. Based on his own experiences in the 1880s, this is an hilarious journey through weekly repertory theatre, touring and pantomime, leaving our hero declaring he will never darken a stage door again. Rodney Bewes stars as the would-be actor regaling his audience with tales of the stage, as well as all the characters he encounters, including actor- managers, landladies and comedians.

Box Office: 01271 324242.

KEVIN Tomlinson takes Shakespeare’s idea of the seven ages of man from As You Like It as the ideas for Kepow Theatre Company’s Seven Ages show, which is at Exeter Northcott on Tuesday. The performance received five-star reviews and standing ovations at the Edinburgh Festival and is now wowing audiences around the UK. Taking true stories from his own life and that of his audience, performer Kevin Tomlinson goes through seven stages in life: infancy, childhood, lover, soldier, wisdom, retirement and old age. Kevin is internationally renowned for his exciting performance style, which makes use of comic masks and spontaneous improvisation.

Seven Ages is at the Northcott Theatre, Exeter, on Tuesday at 7.30pm. Box office: 01392 493493.

ENJOY a new, vigorous telling of six of Chaucer’s classic Canterbury Tales stories adapted by Phil Woods and Michael Bogdanov and performed by Lord Basil’s Reformers, the Pilton-based amateur theatre group. Come with your blankets and chairs to share Chaucer’s take on life, warts and all, as you watch the travellers’ stories unfold. Treachery, lust and avarice are writ large in this testament to the human condition. All performances are outside, but there is an indoor alternative at each venue. This tour is a fundraiser for the local halls and the work of Beaford Arts.

The Canterbury Tales can be seen at Welcombe Village Hall (01288 331360) tonight at 7.30pm, at West Down Village Hall (01271 866396) tomorrow at 7.30pm, the gardens at Croft, Winkleigh (01837 83209) on Friday June 13 at 7.30pm and Loxhore playing fields (01271 850279) on Sunday June 15 at 5pm (gates open 4pm).

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