10:37am Thursday 11th June 2009
By Kat Dibbits
AS Britain’s politicians face scandal after scandal, Bolton Little Theatre’s new production couldn’t be more timely.
The company are producing Feelgood, written by Alistair Beaton who is better known as the genius behind Drop The Dead Donkey and Spitting Image.
The play tells of the backstage shenanigans that go on before the final speech of the party conference, with local celebrities including Bernard Wrigley, Norman Prince, Roger Morlidge and Allan Beswick taking on the role of the Prime Minister.
Eddie, a spin doctor (played by Phil Lunt), and speech writer (played by Simon Mott ) are trying to write the PM’s conference speech. Helen Price Aindow is a crusading journalist who knows a secret, while Charlotte Carlin is the PM’s PA.
Matthew James plays Lord George whose business venture causes problems while Michael Morris is the writer brought on board to make the speech funny.
And as our own PM is increasingly beleaguered, the Feelgood motto of “We’ll do whatever it takes” seems increasingly apt. And although the play has caused some controversy in the letters pages of The Bolton News, with one correspondent branding it “irresponsible” of the theatre to be producing the play at a time when the country’s faith in their politicians is so low, director Steve Gill believes it is more relevant than ever. “The scandal over Damien McBride’s e-mails and then the success of Armando Iannucci’s film In the Loop made us realise how we have our finger on the pulse of today,” he said.
l Feelgood opens on Saturday and runs until June 20. Tickets cost £8 and £9 and are available from the Albert Halls box office, via ticketsatbolton.com and skiddle.com or by ringing 01204 334400.
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