Crossroads’ Benny Set To Play Tragic Hancock

09 June 2010

After the Ed James ‘Wallop Mrs Cox’ production, Press Club members may want to take advantage of another stage show with a Birmingham connection.

This time it is the story of tragic Brum born comedian Tony Hancock, who is being brought to life by former ‘Crossroads’ legend Benny

Paul Henry, the actor who played the loveable simpleton in the long running Midlands soap, will be starring on stage at the Alexandra Theatre as the tortured funnyman who committed suicide at the age of just 44 in a Sydney hotel room.

The play is based around Hancock's dressing room while the comedian awaits a TV interview. The 25-year-old production is coming to the Alexandra Theatre from June 21-26, after tiny Birmingham-based not-for-profit company Maverick Theatre bought the worldwide rights.

Maverick’s Nick Hennegan said: "It's a fairly tall order for Paul - it's only a three-hander and runs the whole gamut of Hancock's life. It's a big part and a difficult part but I think it's also the perfectBirmingham dream team with Paul as Hancock."

Like Hancock, Paul, now in his 60s and based in Shropshire, has suffered a troubled life, with the biggest blow the death of his 18-year-old daughter Justine in a road crash in the late 1980s.

His luxury home in Barnt Green, near Bromsgrove, was repossessed after he racked up debts of more than £400,000 following the axing of Benny from earning £100,000 a year to nothing, but rebuilt his life with his wife Sheila with pub ventures and TV work.

*Press Club members who want to go to the show are eligible for a small discount on tickets, and are also invited to the after-show party on the opening night (21 June) and meet the star of the show, Paul Henry. Anyone interested in taking up this offer can book tickets by calling 0844 8472294.