PAUL Mayhew-Archer, co-writer of The Vicar of Dibley, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2011.
Despite it being a serious neurological condition, Paul was determined to see the lighter side. So he started writing jokes about it, appearing at the Royal Albert Hall and The Comedy Store. In 2015 he made an award-winning documentary called Parkinson’s - The Funny Side.
Now Paul is bringing his comedy show, Incurable Optimist, to Shipley to raise money for the Bradford and Shipley Parkinson’s UK support group.
Paul, whose show is at Shipley’s Owlet Social Club on Saturday, October 8, says his wife “lives in hope that a cure will be found so that I will finally shut up about it!” In his show, he talks about living with Parkinson’s and aims to raise awareness of the condition.
Mark Scott from the Bradford and Shipley support group of Parkinson’s UK, says: “We’d like to thank Paul for giving up his time to not only raise awareness of the condition but also much-needed funds for our group.
“Many of us loved watching The Vicar of Dibley and we can’t wait to see his entertaining show.”
For tickets email mark.a.scott350@gmail.com or call 07788 432567 or (01274) 568193.
* OVER at Keighley Playhouse, a new season begins with Entertaining Angels, a bittersweet comedy described as “provocative and deceptively profound”.
It follows Grace, a recently widowed vicar’s wife coming to terms with her husband’s death, the loss of her family home, the return of her eccentric missionary sister and a daughter who has her own issues. As long hidden secrets are unearthed, relationships come under scrutiny.
As a clergy wife, Grace has spent a lifetime on her best behaviour. Now she’s enjoying the freedom to do and say exactly as she pleases. But the return of her sister prompts some disturbing revelations, forcing Grace to confront her husband’s ghost and expose the truth about their marriage. Entertaining Angels asks whether God can be trusted to do anything right at all - “Or is the whole thing a divine exercise in trial and error?”
Runs at Keighley Playhouse from September 5-10. Call 07599 890769.
* GARY Numan fans - and there are many of them - are in for a treat when this popular tribute act comes to town.
Tubeway Days - The Gary Numan Live Experience 1979/80, at Bradford venue Tapestry Arts on Saturday, September 3, is a “full image and sound-alike show” dedicated to the synth-pop pioneer in the period when he hit the top of the charts. Nobody had seen anything quite like Gary Numan on Top of the Pops and he went on to influence generations of musicians.
The Tubeway Days show includes the hits, such as Cars and Are Friends Electric, and classic album tracks from the time with frontman Chris Fielding - who appeared on TV’s Stars In Their Eyes as Numan in 1998 - performing in a number of costume changes to replicate the original Tubeway Army tours.
The shows have been a hit with fans and the band have had three sold-out gigs this year - their first year with a new line-up. For tickets go to tapestryarts.co.uk. Check out the Tubeway Days Facebook page.
* BRADFORD based Ghost Dance enjoyed success in the 1980s ‘goth supergroup’ comprising Gary Marx of Sisters of Mercy and Anne Marie Hurst of Skeleton Family.
Although Gary is no longer in the band, Anne Marie re-formed it in 2020 and they have since played several sold-out shows, signed to Voltage Records and released a single, Falling Down, which went down a storm with fans old and new.
New single Jessamine is out in September and the band have been finishing off their album. On October 28 they will be joint headliners on the Friday of Tomorrows Ghost Festival at the famous Whitby Goth Festival.
Ahead of that is a warm-up show at the Delius Arts Centre in Bradford on September 16.
The new incarnation is vocalist Ann-Marie Hurst, Tim Walker, Phil Noble, Dave Wood and Stephen Derrig - all from regular 80s Ghost Dance support acts, Harlequyn and Original Sin.
The new album is due for release through Voltage Records/PHD in early 2023, with a UK tour and overseas gigs to follow. Visit ghost-dance.co.uk
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