AUDIENCES for the early awaited production of the musical Kipps, coming to The Town Hall, Yeadon later this month, could be forgiven for thinking they are seeing double!

Whilst the leading role of ‘Arthur Kipps’ is played by the multi-talented Alex Wright, director Anita Adams has designed the show as a ‘talking book’ so as Kipps reminisces on his life, we see his younger self, played by Jasper Adams.

Alex and the large cast have been rehearsing energetic dance routines and are now putting the finishing touches to the production, which runs at The Town Hall, Yeadon from March 17 – 19 with nightly performances and a matinee on the Saturday. Taking a break during rehearsal, Alex managed to catch his breath for a few moments after performing the iconic ‘Flash, Bang, Wallop! – he is rarely off stage throughout the whole show – and explained: “Kipps is a re-vamped version of Half a Sixpence, which starred Tommy Steele in the original West End production. Most of the great tunes have been retained but some new jazzy, upbeat songs have been added. Anita, our director, has set the whole piece as if in a book – returning, in part, to the original H G Wells novel. There really is something for everyone in this show. The show is a running commentary on the class system, something of a chosen specialist subject for book writer Julian Fellowes who, of course, wrote Downton Abbey on TV and film. All the familiar tropes of British musical theatre are assembled, from knees ups in the local pub to the parasol laden garden party that descends into a riotous song and dance about the most British of conversations – the weather!! If you loved Downton Abbey – you will adore this – and you have the song and dance routines!!”

Yeadon Theatre Company is confident that this is the perfect pick-me-up following the pandemic which prevented any productions through 2021. As this pandemic hopefully rolls towards a turbulent end we need musical comedy – like Kipps - more than ever.

Kipps – The Musical, presented by Yeadon Theatre Company is at The Town Hall, Yeadon, 17 – 19 March 2022.

Tickets for the show can be booked on the theatre company website: www.yeadontheatrecompany.co.uk

* Picture shows, left, Alex Wright as Arthur Kipps and, right, Jasper Adams as Young Kipps.