Following in Ken Dodd's footsteps as Malvolio in Twelfth Night

Les Dennis is set to make his Shakespearean debut, playing Malvolio in Twelfth Night.

The comic and actor will be following in the footsteps of Ken Dodd when he takes the role in the new  Shakespeare North Playhouse  production in June.

Dodd famously played the role – a pompous puritan who acts foolishly when he believes that the wealthy Olivia is in love with him –  at the Liverpool Playhouse in  1971.

Dennis, 70, said: ‘I am thrilled to be playing Malvolio in Twelfth Night. Ever since I went to Stratford with the school and saw it I have always wanted to do it. 

‘The great Sir Ken Dodd famously played the part… How tickled I am to be following in his footsteps.’

In 2019, Dennis made his debut with the Royal Shakespeare Company in the Restoration plays The Provoked Wife and Venice Preserved and two years later made is operatic debut, playing  Sir Joseph in the English National Opera Performance of Gilbert and Sullivan’s HMS Pinafore.

 Twelfth Night – a co-production with the Not Too Tame company – runs at the  Shakespeare North Playhouse in Prescot, Merseyside,from June 7 to 29. Tickets are on sale from 10am today here.

Published: 7 Feb 2024