A HEART-WARMING comedy which tracks the ups and downs in the life of a young Yorkshireman is being staged in Bolton.

Bolton Little Theatre will present Second from Last in the Sack Race until Saturday.

Focusing on the often troubled childhood of Henry Pratt, a boy almost as unfortunate as his surname, the comedy drama is based on the 1983 novel by David Nobbs, adapted by Michael Birch for the West Yorkshire Playhouse.

Kev Walsh, who plays Henry Pratt from birth to age 18, said: “It’s been good fun really.
“It’s a nice, fun play to do.

“It’s hard work.

“We can’t wait until we have got our audience in now.”

The play follows Henry from his birth in a back-to-back house in 1935 to the beginning of his National Service in 1953.

For the nostalgic, there will be video footage from the era showing events in the wider world while the story of Henry unfolds.

Kev said: “It’s a funny heart-warming tale about a young boy growing up in the 1930s/ ‘40s.
“It’s got sort of that feel-good factor really, reminiscing about what it was like being a kid growing up.

“It’s got something for everybody really.

“It’s following this lad’s tale of growing up, losing his father and his mother.

“Going to a boarding school down South and being from the North of England and the fun that was had there.

“How he deals with bereavement, falling in love and lust and things like that.

“It’s quite a fast-paced play as well.”

There will be six actors playing multiple roles including Keith Brian as Paul Hargreaves, Ruth Morley and Alex Bradley as Mr and Mrs Hargreaves and Sara Collinson as Lorna Arrow.

Second from Last in the Sack Race, directed by Jonathan Broadley, is on at Bolton Little Theatre, Hanover Street, from Saturday, June 14, until Saturday, June 21.

Phone the Albert Halls box office on 01204 334400 for tickets or visit boltonlittletheatre.co.uk.