The Tabard Theatre Relaunches With 'Dog Ends'

Black comedy by Richard Harris gets its stage premiere

Theatre is back at the Tabard with the stage premiere of Dog Ends by Richard Harris.

The theatre relaunches with this play, last seen as part of the BBC's popular Play For Today series, featuring local Chiswick resident Jeffrey Holland Hi-de-Hi).

Dog Ends has been adapted and updated by Richard Harris for its limited 4 week run at the Tabard Theatre. Keith Strachan directs Christien Anholt (The Vet), Anita Graham (Beatrice), Bryan Hands (Grandad), Jeffrey Holland (Henry), Alex Mann (Julian), Charlotte Peak (Danielle) and Nick Wilton (George). Dog Ends opens on 23 March with previews from 22 March running until 15 April.

The time is tomorrow. Middle aged George is under increasing emotional and financial pressure looking after his father and his beloved dog. When George confides in neighbourhood friend Henry that the dog is nearing the end of his time, he is passed the contact of a highly-recommended vet. However, there is a serious misunderstanding over just what it is the vet actually does and who he works for.

Richard Harris has written extensively for both theatre and television. His many stage plays include the award-winning Outside Edge, The Business of Murder and Stepping Out, a major West End revival of which is soon to open at the Vaudeville Theatre starring Amanda Holden. His television credits include A Touch Of Frost, Shoestring, The Last Detective and The Avengers.
Christien Anholt plays The Vet. Previous credits for the Tabard include Bluebird and Wastwater.

Jeffrey Holland plays Henry. Theatre credits include Hi-De-Hi (Victoria Palace Theatre), Run For Your Wife (Criterion Theatre), Travels With My Aunt (Whitehall Theatre), Dong Ding Murder Me on High!, Secondary Cause of Death, ‘Allo ‘Allo (All UK tour), And This Is My Friend Mr Laurel (Jermyn Street Theatre)On television he is perhaps best known for his portrayal of Spike in BBC TV's Hi-De-Hi, the stuffy footman, James Twelvetrees in all four series of the hugely successful You Rang M’Lord? and more recently as Mr Parkin the stationmaster in Oh, Dr. Beeching!

The cast also includes Christien Anholt, Anita Graham, Bryan Hands, Jeffrey Holland, Alex Mann, Charlotte Peak and Nick Wilton. It is directed directed by Keith Strachan; designed by Mike Leopold and lighting isby Adam King.

Anita Graham plays Beatrice. Her theatre credits include West End productions of Ray Cooney’s plays – including Run For Your Wife, Move Over Mrs Markham, The Mating Game and Wife Begins At Forty. She also originated roles in Funny Money, Time’s Up and Michael Cooney’s Cash On Delivery.

Bryan Hands plays Grandad. His theatre credits include Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, Much To Do About Nothing and The Warden (Gatehouse Theatre).

Alex Mann plays Julian. He previously appeared in Sherlock Holmes and the Invisible Thing for the Tabard Theatre. Charlotte Peak plays Danielle. Her theatre credits include Dreamboats & Petticoats, Dreamboats & Miniskirts (UK tours), In Love and Warcraft (Theatre N16), Royal Flush (Spanish tour).

Nick Wilton plays George. Theatre credits include Dry Rot (Lyric Theatre), Cash On Delivery and Simple Spymen (Whitehall Theatre), Oklahoma! and The Railway Children (UK tour).

Keith Strachan has worked extensively in theatre and television as director, musical director, arranger and composer. His theatre credits, as director, include Dreamboats and Petticoats, Dancing In The Streets, Elvis The Musical, Four Steps to Heaven (West End and national tour and many more.

Tickets are £22 or £18 for concession and the play in being performed from 22 March to 15 April at 7.30pm Tuesday to Saturday with matinees on Saturday and Sunday.

February 24, 2017