Tribute play premiering at the Edinburgh Fringe

Dead Ringers impressionist Jon Culshaw is to play Les Dawson in a new one-man tribute to the late comedian.

The play, entitled Flying High, will debut at Assembly George Square at the Edinburgh Fringe before going on a UK tour, which ends in Lytham St Annes, where Dawson lived for many years.

This will be the third stage tribute to a comedy great to be written by playwright Tim Whitnall, following Best Possible Taste: The Kenny Everett Story and  Morecambe. Bob Golding, who played Eric in that show as well as Bob Monkhouse in A Man Called Monkhouse, will be directing the Dawson tribute.

The play imagines Dawson flying on Concorde and is described as channelling ‘all the emotions such a rich life would procure, gifting the audience with anecdotes, incidents, and insights into Les’ journey’.

Producers add: ‘With the intent to go beyond and above a basic recount of Dawson’s life, the piece explores contemporary themes such as mortality, identity, love, kindness, spiritual beliefs or even ambition, that paced Les’ life.

‘Whitnall analyses concepts we have all faced or inevitably will, as he magnificently narrates the happy moments, trials, and tribulations of Les’ life. He presents a more philosophical version of the late popular comedian, as he dives into his indisputable literary talent and the origin of such a successful and brilliant life. 

Growing up, Dawson, the self-declared ‘slum kid’, yearned to be recognised for his writing prowess, and to transform his passion of literature into a full-time profession – although it was his ability to make people laugh that made his career. But he carried the literary ambition into adulthood as he described in his memoirs ‘No Tears for the Clown, which Whitnall drew upon for the play.

Tour dates for Les Dawson: Flying High are below.

• The Gilded Balloon has also announced a raft of new comedy shows ahead of the release of a new batch of Fringe shows tomorrow, They include   Maisie Adam, Lost Voice Guy, Jamie MacDonald , Elf Lyons, Cerys Bradley, Lou Conran, Esther Manito, Alice Fraser, Julie Jay, Pete Firmanm Notflix, Impromptu Shakespeare and The Oxford Review

Tour dates for Les Dawson: Flying High

3-28 August: Assembly George Square: Gordon Aikman Theatre
22 September: Lancaster Grand
23 September: Lincoln Theatre Royal
24 September: Salford Lowry 
25 September: Newbury Corn Exchange
30 September: Milton Keynes The Stables
1 October: Maidenhead Norden Farm
2 October: Bridgwater Mcmillan Theatre
8 October: Bristol Redgrave Theatre
9 October: West Super Mare Playhouse
16 October: Shrewsbury Theatre Severn
22 October: Bridport Electric Palace
23 October: Swindon Wyvern Theatre
3 October: Southampton Mayflower Studios
4 November: Wimborne Tivoli Theatre
6 November: Bognor Regis The Regis Theatre
13 November: Southend Palace Theatre
19 November: Liverpool Playhouse
10 December: Lytham St Annes Lowther Pavilion
11 December: Lytham St Annes Lowther Pavilion

Published: 6 Apr 2022