Little Britain Live: UK Tour

"The biggest British live comedy show of all time."

The tour began in October 2005 all the way through to January 2007. By the end of the UK tour in December, Walliams and Lucas sold out the tour to over 200 live shows. When the tickets went on sale last year they shifted more than 200,000 in a single day. On December 13th, The British Comedy Awards announced the Best Stage Comedy went to Little Britain. On January 30 2007, the tour went over to Australia until March 9th '07.

Live Show: My Review

Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham, England - 14th Nov 2005.

Myself and my friends and family arrived at the Nottingham venue for about 6.45pm so we could get our hands on the merchandise (as you do!). There is surprisingly a huge choice of merchandise - I ended up purchasing a programme which includes a 'Computer Says No' mousemat.

The show kicked off at 7.30pm, with probably the most well-known characters to start off the show: Lou and Andy. Lou came out pushing an empty wheelchair and was asking the audience whether we had seen Andy and while he was saying this, from the top of the stage (right to left), Andy flies past facing the audience in a jet pack then slowly comes down to stage. Andy then runs straight towards the wheelchair and sits as if nothing had happened.

The back of the stage was a giant projector which projects each scene on the wall as something happens on the stage infront. For example, the second scene, Emily and Flo go past on their tandem bicycle whilst the back wall projector projects shops going the opposite direction to what they are riding.
Emily and Flo don’t actually ride their tandem, there are rails on the stage floor which pulls them along. This is how each set is done in between each scene. After a scene is finished, the lights would go off for about five seconds and at this point, all the set is changing if by magic. Nobody is actually on stage pushing the objects such as tables and chairs, they just change position (thanks to the rails).

As the show moves on, we see nearly every character there could possibly be including the all new Thai Bride. The only scenes which were not shown live were the ‘Bitty’ scene, Dame Sally Markham and the scene with Jason and his Gran.

During the show, there was a bit of audience interaction including a very funny scene from Wicky Woo and his crocodile where he gets two “boys” (he makes this clear he only wants two boys), to play the "sausage game". Basically, one of the two blokes get given a sausage and they have to hide it somewhere on them so Wicky Woo can search one of them...
Another audience participation would be Marjorie Dawes and the Fat Fighters where one person is brought up to the stage to be weighed (weighed more than the person actually is).

There weren’t really many 'mess ups' apart from when the head microphones went a little squeaky and made an echo. He used a hand-held microphone for the audience participation and when the set moves in on rails, the Dennis Waterman scene with Jeremy Rent, the table wouldn’t stop coming in and started going off stage.

Then when we thought it had all ended, Tom Baker’s voice spoke “wait, we have missed one more scene..." The only gay in the village! This was set in a pub with Myfanwy and a policeman. Daffyd insisted to the policeman that he should be arrested because he’s a… gay! Then somehow this started a “gay song”. The disco balls came in with the colourful back stage projector and then entered Samantha Power, Paul Putner and David as Daffyd's dancers.

When the show had ended, me and my brother legged it to the stage door for autographs etc (thinking their will be a queue) but there was nobody there. The three security guards then let me in (ready with my camera and programme of course!) and I first saw Matt and I think I was star struck. He asked me how I’m doing etc and I got them both to sign my programme cover and got plenty of photographs.

The following day, I realised Little Britain were putting on another live show at the same venue. I decided I'd go along to get more autographs and say another hello, like you do! This time I took both of the Little Britain script books to be signed. I arrived at the stage door for about 9.45pm and the show had just ended. This time, I wasn't at the front of the queue, I was at the back behind about thirty or so fans but that didn't bother me because I thought I would just be able to talk to them longer... which I did! Again, it was a nice welcome with them both asking how I am and spoke about the show, then I got a few more photographs and they both signed my script books. Matt did an impression of Andy when he pointed to the front-cover of the book (seeing himself on the cover) "that one".
Paul Putner or Samantha Power were around but unfortunatly at the time they were nowhere to be seen.
I let the two know about this site and that I've written a review of the live show and we had a good ol' chat.
David then asked me if I'd gone to the show tonight but I told him it was actually last night so he said I should have been there tonight as it was far much funnier and a few things happened. Once again... well worth it!

14th February 2006

I have once again (for the third time) met Matt and David. I have now got all my merchandise (books, dvd's, cd's and programme) have been signed (and you will not be seeing these items on ebay!)

The only downside about meeting and greeting (as people that have already met them may be aware) the security will not allow photographs taken of the them or with them. I was hoping to get a photograph with them both for this site but unfortunately it was down to the security.

Two days later I met them for the fourth time and this time, I got a photograph! As you can see, I was pretty determined to get this once in a life time kind of opportunity...

Matt says "Good luck with the site!".

I was the last person in the queue behind about thirty or so fans. Security would not allow photos to be taken like the other night but David asked me if I had my camera on me so we could get a photo because he remembered me from the previous day. Not just that, but Matt and David signed my Limited Edition Comic Relief DVD. Good times.

I was quite shocked when David asked me if I had any ideas of sketches because I know they like to think of their own ideas so I had to have a real quick think! Of course... I was speechless and had not come up with one idea in the space of a minute but I just think it's great I was asked.

May 11th 2006 - Nottingham Arena

I expected a slightly different show today as it was being performed in an Arena rather than a concert hall. The Nottingham Arena seemed a lot more of a lively crowd with being more people.

Before the show began (and in the interval), the camera crew were filming the audience which kept everyone occupied. Occasionally just focusing the camera on one person for about two minutes.

Security was very tight at the Arena as no photographs were allowed at any point. I noticed a lot of people that took a photograph were taken out of the Arena and had to delete all photos before they could be seated again.
I took my digital camera and finished with about fifteen photographs. No flash of course! It seemed like a difficult challenge to get a photo with the security and a few of my photographs were a little blurred.

Back to the show, and once again, it was a pretty good live performance from Matt and David. I noticed they changed a couple of sketches from when I last saw the show such as the Ting Tong sketch.
The Dennis Waterman and Roy sketch had to be the funniest as these are the only scenes that went wrong. Apart from them both forgetting their lines, Matt Lucas called Dennis Waterman by his ‘real’ name, David! And for the Roy sketch (the paint shop), someone in the audience shouted out “Margaret!” a few seconds before Roy was supposed to shout out Margaret which then confused their lines and ended up starting that scene all over again.

The laughs did not stop coming as Matt, who kept getting laughter attacks, flew into an hilarious extended version of Vicky Pollard's 'yeah but no but' with even hints of French and German thrown in.

The audience seemed to really enjoy Anne's performance of Whitney Houston's classic 'I Will Always Love You' in a mock-up Stars in Their Eyes scene.

The show ended with Daffyd Thomas who performed a cheesy pop track to the tune of the Pet Shop Boys', Go West.

Trivia

• The content of some sketches varies depending on the show's location.
• On 7th November in Sheffield, an obscure joke in the Dennis Waterman sketch was argued over and, due to public demand, was removed completely in subsequent shows. Lucas and Walliams apparently want to include it again for the run in the West End.
• After the initial run in 2005, the Anne and Ting Tong sketches were altered as both of the original ones had been seen on TV.
• The Des Kaye and Marjorie Dawes sketches both include audience participation.
• The show runs for 140 minutes with an interval.
• The show tricks people into thinking no Daffyd sketch was included. However, as the show ends and expect people to be leaving the theatre, Tom Baker mentions that there was one place where the show didn't take the audience, being Wales, hometown of Daffyd.
• Matt and David do research on the places in which they are performing and try hard to include that in the show.
• Early on in the tour, two sketches were cut, both featuring lesser known characters: Viv in one and Pat and Don in the other. Matt Lucas said that this was to increase the pacing of Act 2.

Live Tour DVD

The live tour DVD was filmed during the Blackpool Opera House show on Tuesday 9th May 2006 and was released on November 13th 2006.

Extra bits were filmed especially for the DVD on 9th May.

XL Video supplied Little Britain's UK theatre and arena tour, the live rendition of Matt Lucas and David Walliams' phenomenally popular cult TV show that sold out multiple dates across the country.

Projected video backdrops were an essential element of the stage set. It allowed locations and timeframes to morph seamlessly throughout the energetic set, which leapt from school classroom to the prime minister's office - and every imaginable location in between - in two hilarious 50 minute halves.

UK Tour Dates

2005

Portsmouth Guildhall MON 24/10/2005
Portsmouth Guildhall TUE 25/10/2005
Portsmouth Guildhall WED 26/10/2005
Bournemouth Int'nl Centre THU 27/10/2005
Bournemouth Int'nl Centre FRI 28/10/2005
Bournemouth Int'nl Centre SAT 29/10/2005
Bournemouth Int'nl Centre SUN 30/10/2005
Southend Cliffs Pavilion TUE 01/11/2005
Southend Cliffs Pavilion WED 02/11/2005
Plymouth Pavilions THU 03/11/2005
Plymouth Pavilions FRI 04/11/2005
Plymouth Pavilions SAT 05/11/2005
Sheffield City Hall MON 07/11/2005
Sheffield City Hall TUE 08/11/2005
Sheffield City Hall WED 09/11/2005
Manchester Carling Apollo THU 10/11/2005
Manchester Carling Apollo FRI 11/11/2005
Manchester Carling Apollo SAT 12/11/2005
Nottingham Royal Concert Hall MON 14/11/2005
Nottingham Royal Concert Hall TUE 15/11/2005
Nottingham Royal Concert Hall WED 16/11/2005
Glasgow Clyde Auditorium @ SECC THU 17/11/2005
Glasgow Clyde Auditorium @ SECC FRI 18/11/2005
Edinburgh Playhouse SUN 20/11/2005
Newcastle City Hall MON 21/11/2005
Newcastle City Hall TUE 22/11/2005
Newcastle City Hall WED 23/11/2005
Liverpool Empire THU 24/11/2005
Liverpool Empire FRI 25/11/2005
Liverpool Empire SAT 26/11/2005
Oxford New Theatre MON 28/11/2005
Oxford New Theatre TUE 29/11/2005
Bristol Hippodrome WED 30/11/2005
Bristol Hippodrome THU 01/12/2005
Bristol Hippodrome FRI 02/12/2005
Bristol Hippodrome SAT 03/12/2005
Ipswich Regent Theatre MON 05/12/2005
Ipswich Regent Theatre TUE 06/12/2005
Birmingham N.I.A. Academy THU 08/12/2005
Birmingham N.I.A. Academy FRI 09/12/2005
Birmingham N.I.A. Academy WED 07/12/2005
Birmingham N.I.A. Academy SAT 10/12/2005
Blackpool Opera House MON 12/12/2005
Blackpool Opera Opera House TUE 13/12/2005
Brighton Centre WED 14/12/2005
Brighton Centre THU 15/12/2005
Cardiff International Arena FRI 16/12/2005
Cardiff International Arena SAT 17/12/2005
Cardiff International Arena SUN 18/12/2005

2006

Newcastle City Hall WED 25/1/2006
Newcastle City Hall THU 26/1/2006
Glasgow Clyde Auditorium @ SECC FRI 27/1/2006
Glasgow Clyde Auditorium @ SECC SAT 28/1/2006
Sheffield City Hall TUE 31/1/06
Sheffield City Hall WED 1/2/06
Sheffield City Hall THU 2/2/06
Manchester Carling Apollo FRI 03/02/2006
Manchester Carling Apollo SAT 04/02/2006
Edinburgh Playhouse SUN 5/02/06
Edinburgh Playhouse MON 6/02/2006
Newcastle City Hall WED 08/02/2006
Newcastle City Hall THU 09/02/2006
Manchester Carling Apollo FRI 10/2/06
Manchester Carling Apollo SAT 11/2/06
Manchester Carling Apollo SUN 12/2/06
Nottingham Royal Concert Hall TUE 14/2/06
Nottingham Royal Concert Hall WED 15/2/06
Nottingham Royal Concert Hall THU 16/2/2006
Bournemouth Int'nl Centre FRI 17/02/2006
Plymouth Pavilions TUE 21/2/06
Plymouth Pavilions WED 22/2/06
Cardiff International Arena THU 23/2/06 - Cancelled. New Date - 06/12/06
Cardiff International Arena FRI 24/2/2006 - Cancelled. New Date - 07/12/06
Cardiff International Arena SAT 25/2/2006 - Cancelled.
Cardiff International Arena SUN 26/2/2006 - Cancelled.
Liverpool Empire TUE 28/2/06
Liverpool Empire WED 1/3/06
Liverpool Empire THU 2/3/06
Liverpool Empire FRI 3/3/2006
Liverpool Empire SAT 4/3/2006
Portsmouth Guildhall MON 6/3/06
Portsmouth Guildhall TUE 7/3/06
Portsmouth Guildhall WED 8/3/06
Brighton Centre THU 9/3/06
Brighton Centre FRI 10/3/06
Brighton Centre SAT 11/3/06
Manchester Carling Apollo WED 15/03/2006
Manchester Carling Apollo THU 16/03/2006
Manchester Carling Apollo FRI 17/03/2006
Manchester Carling Apollo SAT 18/03/2006
Blackpool Opera House TUE 21/03/2006
Blackpool Opera House Wed 22/03/2006
Birmingham N.I.A. Academy THU 23/3/06
Birmingham N.I.A. Academy FRI 24/3/06
Birmingham N.I.A. Academy SAT 25/3/06
Birmingham N.I.A. Academy SUN 26/3/06
Bristol Hippodrome TUE 28/3/06
Bristol Hippodrome WED 29/3/06
Bristol Hippodrome THU 30/3/06
Bristol Hippodrome FRI 31/3/06
Bristol Hippodrome SAT 1/4/06
Plymouth Pavilions MON 03/04/2006
Brighton Centre FRI 6/4/06
Brighton Centre SAT 7/4/06
Liverpool Empire TUE 11/4/06
Liverpool Empire WED 12/4/06
Sheffield Arena THU 13/4/05
Birmingham N.I.A. Academy FRI 15/4/05
Nottingham Arena SUN 16/4/05

Little Britain Live: Australian Tour

January 30 2007 - March 9 2007

With a large following in Australia it only made sense to bring the show to Australia, for the very first time. Australia is the first and only country outside the UK to host Little Britain Live.

The stars credited velcro for their smooth transition to performing on stage, saying they needed 20 helpers backstage to ensure speedy costume changes. Just getting their costumes to Australia, for characters ranging from Vicky Pollard to Daffyd ("the only gay in the village"), was an extravaganza.

"They all came on boats," Walliams said. "A flotilla of tankers carrying our fat suits."
Lucas said: "I think they had a six-week journey by boat."

The two performers spent $250,000 on wigs alone for their stage show. The start-up cost for the Australian tour was $2.5 million.

"We had to do a long run, because it's a lot of money to spend [on a tour], but we wanted to give people a great show," Walliams said.

The Little Britain Live Australian Tour concluded in Perth at Challenge Stadium with 7 shows, 5 of which sold out within minutes.

The tour programme is priced at $25.00 and a tour t-shirt is available with the Australian tour dates on the back which can be bought from the show.

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