Back in the day when I wrote for Frankie Howerd he asked me to write a brand new stage play based on his most successful TV show Up Pompeii. Frank’s plan was to do a UK tour and then perform it in the West End. We were just about to roll into action when Larry Gelbert asked him if he would reprise his role as Pseudolus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at the Piccadilly Theatre. As there is only so much Roman farce a man can do, Up Pompeii was temporarily put on the back burner but you can read the full story here.
Fast forward a few years and theatre producer Bruce James heard about the play and tracked down a copy. Apparently it made him laugh so much he decided to produce a UK tour starring Damian Williams as Lurcio the slave (see photo above with Richard Colson). Up Pompeii is now back entertaining audiences with Lurcio, Ludicrus Sextus, Ammonia, Erotica, Senna the Soothsayer and others. So many thanks Bruce!
Barnstaple Musical Comedy & Dramatic Society
 Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe, Devon
 August 2013.
 More info here.
The Duston Players
 Duston Community Centre
 Duston, Northamptonshire
 April 17 - 20th 2013
 More info here.
RHUL Classical Society
 Jane Holloway Hall
 Royal Holloway University of London
 December 4/5/6th 2012
 More info here.
Murwillumbah Theatre Company
 Murwillumbah, NSW
 Australia
 May 24th - June 9th 2013
 More info here.

 The worldwide stage rights (amateur and professional) to Up Pompeii are now
available for production.

Contact Josef Weinberger Ltd for more information or to buy the play.

Up Pompeii has a cast of 11 (M6, F5) and
 uses one set of a courtyard.
Edward Alderton Theatre
 Bexleyheath, Kent
 April 2014.
Bolton Little Theatre
 Bolton, Lancs
 December 2013.
The Jubilee Players
 Jubilee Hall
 Bratton, Wiltshire
 November 8 - 10th 2012
The Phoenix Players
 The Rotherham Civic Theatre
 Rotherham, Yorkshire
 October 15 - 20th 2012
 Read NODA review here.
St John’s Players
 The Swan Theatre
 Worcester, Worcestershire
 October 2nd - 6th 2012
 More info here.
Boo and Hiss Theatre Company
 Queen’s Hall
 Watton, Norfolk
 September 27 - 29th 2012
 More info here.
Mossley AODS
 George Lawton Hall
 Manchester
 September 18th - 22nd 2012
 More info here.
The Rye Players, Rye 2011
 The Amateur Premiere of Up Pompeii was staged in Rye, East Sussex on 13 October 2011.

Lurcio...........................Andy Godfrey
 Corneous...........................Sam White
 Ammonia......................Clare Murray
 Ludicrus Sextus................Ian Saxton
 Erotica....................Stephanie Wilson
 Senna............................Lavinia Smith
 Voluptua.....................Rachel Kimber
 Nausius...........................Ben Burford
 Treacherus...............David Shortman
 Kretinus..........................Alan Sinden
 Suspenda.......................Liz Plampton
Directed by Amy Shortman.
 Photos here.  NODA review here. NODA Best Drama award here.
Laughing Monkey, Norwich 2012
 Laughing Monkey at The Norwich Puppet Theatre March 9 - 10th 2012.
Up Pompeii 2011 UK Tour
 Lurcio....................Damian Williams
 Corneous.........................Ben Roddy
 Ammonia............Jacqueline Roberts
 Ludicrus Sextus.......Richard Colson
 Erotica......................Cloudia Knight
 Senna...........................Sophie Leigh
 Voluptua..................Mieke Dockley
 Nausius......................Alex Newbold
 Treacherus.................Andrew Ryan
 Kretinus.............................Neil Bull
 Suspenda..............Lucinda Kennard
Directed by Bruce James for Bruce James Productions. More details here.

 Review of Up Pompeii (1)

 Review of Up Pompeii (4)

 Review of Up Pompeii (3)

 Review of Up Pompeii (2)

 Review of Up Pompeii (5)
Up Pompeii
 2014 June - Royalty Theatre, Sunderland
 2014 June - Little Theatre, Burton upon Trent
 2014 May - Cosmopolitan Players, Leeds
 2014 April - Edward Alderton Theatre, Bexleyheath
 2013 Dec - Bolton Little Theatre, Bolton
 2013 Oct - Maldon Drama Group, Maldon
 2013 Oct - Queen’s Hall Theatre Club, Hexham
 2013 Sept - Sutton AODS, Sutton-in-Craven
 2013 Sept - Cannock Chase Drama Society
 2013 Aug - BMCDS, Village Hall, Croyde
 2013 Aug - BMCDS, Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe
 2013 Aug - BMCDS, Centre Stage, Barnstaple
 2013 June - The Community of  Hungerford Theatre Company
 2013 May/June - Murwillumbah Theatre Company, Australia
 2013 April - The Duston Players, Duston
 2013 April - The Playhouse, Cheltenham (play reading)
 2013 April - The Corn Exchange Comedy Players, Stamford
 2013 March - Reid Kerr College, Paisley
 2013 March - Norbury Theatre, Droitwich (play reading)
 2012 Dec - Classical Society, Royal Holloway University of London
 2012 Nov - The Jubilee Players, Bratton
 2012 Oct - The Phoenix Players, Rotherham
 2012 Oct - St John’s Players, Swan Theatre, Worcester
 2012 Sept - The Boo and Hiss Company, Queen’s Hall, Watton
 2012 Sept - Mossley AODS, Ashton under Lyne, Manchester
 2012 March - Laughing Monkey, Norwich
 2011 Oct - The Rye Players, Rye
 2011 April - Playhouse, Weston-super-Mare (Bruce James tour)
 2011 March - Key Theatre, Peterborough (Bruce James tour)
 2011 March - Marina Theatre, Lowestoft (Bruce James tour)
 2011 Feb - Middlesbrough Theatre (Bruce James tour)
 2011 Feb - Octagon Theatre, Yeovil (Bruce James tour)
 2011 Feb - Grand Theatre, Blackpool (Bruce James tour)
 2011 Feb - Palace Theatre, Southend-on-Sea (Bruce James tour)
 2011 Feb - The Opera House, Buxton (Bruce James tour)
 2011 Jan - Pomegranate Theatre, Chesterfield (Bruce James tour)
More dates to follow...
Up Pompeii
Latest news!
Directed by
 Amy Shortman
Winner of NODA
Best Play award 2012
 for the Rye Players’ production
 of Up Pompeii