Arts: TV stars perform in Charley’s Aunt

TWO actors who featured in The Bill have swapped the beat for the stage to feature in one of the most successful farces ever staged.

Ben Roberts, who played Ch Insp Derek Conway in the TV series, and Neil Stacy, who appeared as a judge in three episodes in 2004 but is probably best remembered for playing Robert Cochran in 1980s sitcom Duty Free, head the cast of Charley’s Aunt, which comes to Stevenage after long spells in the West End and on Broadway.

The play follows the fortunes of Charley Wyckham and his friend Jack Chesney, who both want to propose marriage to two lovely young women. However, the young ladies’ guardian, Stephen Spettigue (played by Glyn Grain), will not let them anywhere near the boys without Charley’s aunt as chaperone.

When his aunt’s arrival is delayed, some quick thinking is called for and Charley persuades his fellow student Babbs Babberly to pose as his aunt.

The ruse quickly begins to spin out of control as the eccentric Babberley begins to play fast and loose with his role and matters are not helped by the imminent arrival of Charley’s true aunt!

Providing merry chaos from start to finish, Charley’s Aunt comes to the Gordon Craig Theatre from Tuesday to Saturday, September 21 to 25.

Evening performances start at 7.45pm with matinee shows on Thursday and Saturday at 2.30pm.

Tickets start from �16, call 01438 363200.