Ealing comedy adapted for stage

Miles Jupp and Justin Edwards  are to star in a new stage version of  the classic Ealing comedy The Lavender Hill Mob.

Jupp will play Henry Holland – as originally portrayed  by Alec Guinness – a Bank of England clerk who hatches a plan to steal a van full of gold.

Edwards has been cast as his accomplice, Alfred Pendlebury, portrayed by Stanley Holloway in the 1951 film.

The show, adapted from TEB Clarke's screenplay by playwright Phil Porter and directed by Jeremy Sams,  will tour from October.

Jupp said: ‘I loved the Lavender Hill Mob when I first saw it, I love Phil Porter's ingenious adaptation of it, I've loved every Jeremy Sams production I've seen, I love working with Justin Edwards, I absolutely love being part of an ensemble onstage, and I've loved doing nearly every play I've been in.

‘Additionally, the producers appear to be honest. I can really see no reason not to turn up on time, and put the bloody hours in.’

He previously co-starred with Edwards in the Radio 4 comedy In And Out Of The Kitchen.

This version of The Lavender Hill Mob  follows previous stage adaptations of fellow Ealing comedies The Ladykillers in 2011 and  The Man in the White Suit in 2019 

It will open at the Cheltenham Everyman from  October 13 before playing Mold, Cardiff, Malvern, Richmond, Brighton, Cambridge, Guildford, Glasgow, Bath and Truro.

Published: 17 Jun 2022