CHRISTMAS LAFFALANG FOR ST OSWALD'S

Anyone wanting a pre-Christmas laugh with workmates or friends is invited to the “Christmas Laffalang”, which will be held at The Stand Comedy venue in High Bridge, Newcastle, on Tuesday, December 10. The Stand is on High Bridge, Newcastle, NE1 1EW  (between Grey Street and the Bigg Market, opposite the Duke of Wellington pub The show will comprise Christmas sketches written by Ed Waugh, co-writer with Trevor Wood  of hit comedies such as Dirty Dusting, A  Funny Thing happened on the Way to Durham and Alf Ramsey Knew My Grandfather,  linked by stand-up comedy from  Geordie comedian Gavin Webster. There will be two performances, at 5.45pm and 8.30pm with all profits going to St Oswald’s Hospice. The cast for the Christmas Laffalang includes two of the original Dirty Dusting ladies: Helen Russell and Gwen Doran,  former Lindisfarne stars Ray Laidlaw and Billy Mitchell, who are currently touring. The duo will hang up their instruments for the evening to do some acting and stand-up comedy. Pantomime legend Bob Stott will don the Widow Twanky costume and perform in three separate specially–written sketches, four of the Alf Ramsey Knew My Grandfather cast will be involved (Iain Cunningham, Wayne Miller, Mickey Cochrane and Rob Atkinson). The last time they were on stage together was for the Sir Bobby Robson 80th anniversary night at the Sage in Gateshead in February, where they performed two scenes from the hit show.  And  young actors:  Chris Foley, Hazel Pude, Amy Foley, Kylie Ann Ford and James de Lauch Hay.  BBC presenter Jeff Brown will also be involved. The sketches at the Laffalang include the Geordie Nativity, The Boxing Day Dip, a Christmas club go-as-you-please, Christmas Crisis: The Musical, Alan Pardew Bingo, Carol Singers and that North East institution known as “Fenwick’s Window”. Les Robson from St Oswald’s explained: “After I saw Ed’s wonderfully funny Geordie Nativity for the Teenage Cancer Trust at Newcastle Cathedral last December, the idea of a Christmas sketch show came. It will be a fantastic night. “Gareth Hunter from Ion Productions has kindly agreed to produce the show. Gareth was responsible for Ed and Trevor’s Son of Samurai at the Latitude Festival and Newcastle’s Theatre Royal, and Ed's recent hilarious Dracula: Die Laughing, so a top-notch show and a great laugh is guaranteed.” Tickets cost £10 and are on sale from Les Robson on 0780 549 6518 or from The Stand (0844 693 3336)