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Rising Damp

Full-Length Play, Comedy  /  1w, 3m

Eric Chappell

When Student Alan moves into an attic flat, he does not expect to find it already inhabited by someone else. They mysterious Philip claims to be the son of an African chief with ten wives waiting for him back home, but his presence is the least of Alan's worries.

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    1w, 3m
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Adaptations (Stage & Screen)

Details

Summary

When Student Alan moves into an attic flat, he does not expect to find it already inhabited by someone else. They mysterious Philip claims to be the son of an African chief with ten wives waiting for him back home, but his presence is the least of Alan's worries.

He also has to contend with a hole in the floor, water running down the walls and sinister landlord Rigsby, who has designs on Miss Jones downstairs, who herself has developed a passion for Philip.

Eric Chappell's much-loved ITV comedy was adapted by him for the stage and first performed as The Banana Box. It's West End production in 1973 starred Leonard Rossiter, Don Warrington and Frances de la Tour. This version of Rising Damp was revised by the author and toured in 2013 by Classic Comedy Production.

History

First produces as The Banana Box in June 1971 at the Phoenix Theatre, Leicester, directed by Stephen MacDonald.

Subsequently transferred to the Apollo Theatre, London, in June 1973.

This new version of the play was revived for a national tour in 2013 by Classic Comedy Productions and directed by Don Warrington

Rigsby - Landlord, mid-40s

Alan - a fresh faced young man in his early 20s

Philip - a young black man

Ruth - late 20s, tall and gangly but attractive
  • Time Period 1960s
  • Setting

    The interior of an attic flat.

    The late 1960s

Media

A thoroughly enjoyable evening's entertainment - The Stage

An accomplished, nostalgia-stirring staging, by Don Warrington, of the much loved sitcom in which he starred - Telegraph

Don Warrington's rigorous direction coupled with Eric Chappell's ability to write great comedy was certain to produce a comic gem in their theatrical reworking of Rising Damp - Manchester Evening News

Rising Damp is Eric Chappell's masterpiece...it is a please to revisit the greatest ITV comedy of the past 40 years - Oldham Evening Chronicle

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: £70 per performance plus VAT when applicable.

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Authors

Author

Eric Chappell

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