Apollo Theatre Company will be performing a tribute to the late, great Kenneth Williams at the Guildford Fringe on July 3. William Gadsby Peet discusses a comedy legend in a quick-fire Q&A
- How did Apollo Theatre Company come about?
I [Tim Astley] founded the company soon after graduating from the Guildford School of Acting and quickly fell in love with producing theatre. Since then we have produced over a dozen different productions and toured all over the country.
- What made you want to put on a production about Kenneth Williams?
In 2015 I produced the 50th anniversary tour of the classic radio comedy, Round the Horne, in which Kenneth Williams starred. Colin Elmer played Kenneth in that production and in conversation after the show one night we discussed what a brilliant raconteur Williams was and how it would be fun to do a show that told his life and work in his own words. Three years later here we are with just that show.
- Are you excited to see Colin Elmer reprise his role as the great comic?
Colin has the incredible ability to not just impersonate Kenneth Williams but to really become him. He totally transforms on stage, not just vocally, but physically too, and so many people have commented that watching the show it is as if the great man has been brought back to life. What better compliment could you ask for?
- What does it mean to have work performed at The Fringe?
We were involved the first ever Guildford Fringe Festival several years ago and it has been fantastic to see it grow year on year. As a Guildford-based theatre company it is always exciting to perform in our hometown and we are hugely supportive of anything that gives more performance opportunities to a town with a rich and exciting theatre culture.
- Favourite Kenneth Williams anecdote/witticism?
Kenneth had a huge collection of funny stories and was a particular lover of the rude retort, so much so that he compiled a book of them called Acid Drops. A favourite of mine is an exchange a friend of his overheard between two men in a gentlemen's club. The first said "I've just come from Evita." to which his companion replied, "Oh. You don't look very brown!".
The Apollo Theatre Company perform Kenneth Williams: Cult Figure in the back room of the Star Inn on July 3. For more information and to book tickets, visit: guildfordfringefestival.com
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