Tabard Theatre Is 'Like My Second Home'

Hi-de-Hi star Jeffrey Holland on his forthcoming appearance at the local theatre

Jeffrey Holland ( on left) in rehearsals at the Tabard Theatre, with Nick Wilton. Image-Alastair Hilton

Jeffrey Holland describes the Tabard Theatre as 'his second home'. A long time resident of Chiswick, twenty-odd years at the Stamford Brook end, he has been a frequent visitor to the the Chiswick theatre both on stage and off.

An actor best known for his appearances in hugely successful sit-coms (Are you Being Served? , Dad's Army and especially Hi de Hi ), he is relishing the prospect of appearing in the production of Dog Ends by long-time friend Richard Harris.

The stage première of Dog Ends runs from 22 March - 15 April and marks the relaunch of the Tabard Theatre. Jeffrey plays the role of Henry, friend of the main character.

The plot revolves around middle-aged aged George who is under increasing emotional and financial pressure looking after his father and his beloved dog. When George confides in neighbourhood friend Henry that the dog is nearing the end of his time, he is passed the contact of a highly-recommended vet. However, there is a serious misunderstanding over just what it is the vet actually does and who he works for.

Jeffrey describes Dog Ends as "a dark play with a dark plot, but a comedy as well."

Richard Harris has written extensively for both theatre and television. His many stage plays include the award-winning Outside Edge, The Business of Murder and Stepping Out, a major West End revival of which is soon to open at the Vaudeville Theatre starring Amanda Holden.

Says Jeffrey: "I've known Richard socially for many years and we were at a Ray Cooney garden party when he said 'I've got a new play at the Tabard would you play in it?' so naturally I said 'thanks', you can't turn down an author like Richard."

Jeffrey has turned seventy but shows no sign of slowing down from his acting career which spans touring plays, theatre and panto- his career has mostly been staged based for the last thirty years since he stopped working in sit coms. "I'm quite happy to work, I will be doing a tour of Brassed Off in the summer, and my wife will be working with me.

"I've reached seventy now and last Christmas I was in panto and I just thought, standing there in the wings in my frock and my boots waiting to go on 'what on earth are you doing at your age?' but then you go on stage and its wonderful. "

He has appeared in so many sitcoms, it's impossible to list them but he says he will always be identified with the role of Spike in Hi-de-Hi. "Whatever I've done since, or whatever I do in the future, I will l always be the bloke from Hi-de-Hi."

His personal favourite was the comedy You Rang M' Lord , where he played the uppity footman in the 'Upstairs Downstairs' inspired comedy series co-starring with Paul Shane and Su Pollard.

"It was a wonderful show, the characters were brilliant, it was a 50 minute sitcom with a lot of story in each episode, beautifully written, and all those wonderful 1920s costumes plus a fabulous set. David Croft ( the writer) said that show was the cherry on his cake in his long career."

Jeffrey ( left) in You Rang M'Lord with Su Pollard and Paul Shane

Jeffrey has a lifelong fascination with comedy duo Laurel & Hardy and wrote a one-man show about Stan Laurel in 2013. He launched And This Is My Friend Mr Laurel at the Tabard Theatre and also took it to Edinburgh where it was a sell-out. The show is a collaboration with writer Gail Louw and will be performed in July.

"I wanted to tell his story, as Stan was the brains behind the act and he organised all the writing, edited the films, was the creative genius behind the team. He also had a tempestous private life, so it's a very entertaining show as there was a good story to tell."

Dog Ends has been adapted and updated by Richard Harris for its limited 4 week run at the Tabard Theatre. Keith Strachan directs Christien Anholt (The Vet), Anita Graham (Beatrice), Bryan Hands (Grandad), Jeffrey Holland (Henry), Alex Mann (Julian), Charlotte Peak (Danielle) and Nick Wilton (George). Designed by Mike Leopold; Lighting by Adam King.

Dog Ends is at the Tabard Theatre 2 Bath Road, Chiswick , W4 1LW from 22 March to 15 April. There are performance at 7.30pm from Tuesday to Saturdaywith matinees on Saturday at 4pm and Sunday at 2pm. Tickets are £22 and £18 for concessions.

March 15, 2017