
Royal Court Liverpool: Jigsy
Part of Streamdoor: theatre you can watch from home
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Overview
Welcome to the first online show recorded at Liverpool's Royal Court.
The theatre, like all others, has been unable to put any shows on stage since mid-March. They wanted to produce something for their audience so were delighted when Les Dennis offered to come in to record Tony Staveacreâs one man show about an aging Liverpool comic.
The show was originally performed at the Royal Court in 2012 following a successful run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. It was loved by audiences and critics, picking up excellent reviews across the board:
âA thoroughly compelling performanceâ 9/10 Liverpool Echo
âFunny, thought-provoking, unmistakably Liverpudlianâ FIVE STARS Liverpool Daily Post
âCaptures the life of a comic in all its glory, mundanity and miseryâ Seven Streets
Lurching unsteadily off-stage at a Liverpool working menâs club - sweat, smoke and failure clinging to his faded 70s dinner suit - Jigsy is a journeyman variety comedian, struggling for survival in a modern world that has left him far behind. The bright lights of tv fame that transformed the careers of many of his contemporaries are flickering on a distant horizon. Talking directly to the audience, Jigsy reviews his life, the ups and downs, mostly the latter. Jigsy is a one-man play that gives a glimpse into the earthy heartland of Northern comedy, and also connects with the social history of Liverpool, the spirit of Scouse, and the meaning of life. Itâs a struggle, and then you die. âStill you have to laugh, donât you?â
Critic reviews
The scuzzy end of show business and all its sozzled, sentimental excesses are captured by the ex-standup in a heartfelt monologue