Spotlight Shines on Great British Comedy

The Last Laugh

Theatre Severn

Wednesday 13^th-Saturday 16^th 2026 (Matinees 2.30pm)

Friends and attendees are already aware of the great skill Paul Hendy shows as a writer; time and again his scripts have enthralled us. Every year he does this, at the amazing annual Shrewsbury Pantomime.

So how interesting to note that the script for this show, “The Last Laugh,” was written by no other than Paul Hendy too. Oh my, and what a show. Whatever is higher than the top draw, whatever is more than the ultimate definitive one, this show deserves every accolade going. It is wonderful.

Set in a seedy down at heel dressing room, in some indistinct theatre. That remains unimportant. On the wall there is a bank of past entertainer’s pictures, Max Miller, Arthur Askey, Tony Hancock and amongst the others we see Sid James too. Tommy Cooper (Damian Williams) is on stage and there are three dressing tables for three artists. Tommy’s table is in chaos covered and surrounded by an hilarious plethora of his props.

He is Joined by Bob Monkhouse, (Simon Cartwright) He was brilliant and spitting image of Bob, finally they are joined by Eric Morecambe (Steve Royale). Again, capturing the very essence of the man Eric and Bob added real quality to the already unbelievably accurate way that Tommy was being played.

The narrative follows the three of them getting ready to play their set in this unnamed theatre. Together they explore variety, gags and jokes, they let little bits about their personal lives slip too. The performers humanitise the characters and let loose little bits of their own personal stories.

We explore their insecurities, their fears, their worries about never getting another laugh and we see how they fret about the day when they won’t be a household name.

With great gags, superb observations, pathos and timing, one is there in the dressing room with them. You as audience are invested and you want to see where it goes and you feel a little thrill seeing the real personalities of people who, when you were younger, you may have adored.

The script is great, a really well written piece of theatre. Leaving nothing to chance Mr. Hendy has created a solid script, a frame if you like, on which he can hang his story. Really great writing and a joy to be lead through its magical words by such talented players. One could not put a pin between the abilities of the troupe, they are excellently cast and so beautifully observed.

To ignore the set is not possible. It creates just the right amount of everything. It is a perfect mis-en-scene. From the down at heel look of the dressing room, behind the glamour one came to understand, that the stars spent very little time in front of the lights getting laughs; their real lives were lived and played out in theatre dressing rooms just like this one.

The technical side of the show was utterly faultless one did not see a single cue missed and up there in the box, there are plenty of them to go wrong, not one did!

The direction and timing of this stunning piece is second to none. The guys have worked hard and now the fruit hangs just so ripe. It would be impossible to find an area where one might suggest any improvements. It is everything it should be already!

This is theatre at it’s very best; this is what theatre is built for. This is a truly great show, stepping out of reviewer role for one moment which I never do, I want to say that I love this show. It might be one of the best shows to come this way in sometime. Even if you only go to the theatre once every blue moon, I suggest you give this one a go. The warmth one gets from the nostalgia if you can remember these acts first time round is so comforting, almost reassuring. But whether you recall these classic acts from the days of 20^th century British comedy or not, you are guaranteed a great time. Superb.

This is a Five-Star Review

Sofia Lewis