FOLLOWING the success of last year’s adaptation of Dad’s Army, Titchfield Festival Theatre continues to champion the resurgence of old sitcoms on stage with their current production of Rising Damp.

Rising Damp was one of ITV’s most successful sitcoms of the 70s and starred Leonard Rossiter as the main character Rupert Rigsby, a miserly, seedy landlord of a run-down Victorian townhouse which he shared with an eclectic mix of tenants.

Actors Frances de la Tour, Richard Beckinsale and Don Warrington played the roles of the tenants in the original sitcom alongside Rossiter: a whimsical spinster, a naïve medical student and the son of an African Chief. Each of these four actors without doubt lit up the stage with their comical genius.

Titchfield Festival Theatre has chosen a series of four of Eric Chappell’s hilarious episodes: ‘Charisma’, ‘The Permissive Society’, ‘The Prowler’ and ‘Things that Go Bump in the Night’.

The series was chosen by a late and much-adored trustee of the theatre, Ivor Dugdale-Jenkins who sadly died earlier this year. Ivor performed in the production of Dad’s Army and would have made his directorial debut with Rising Damp.

Recognising the popularity of sitcoms amongst audiences, Ivor was also the driving force for having the theatre’s Chairperson and Artistic Director, Kevin Fraser perform in the lead role.

Kevin says, “It’s such a great atmosphere when we show comedies and Rising Damp should create a great deal of interest with our audiences, both older and younger, bringing it to a whole new generation.

“It’s great fun for me, having the opportunity to play Rigsby. Ivor joked it was a perfect role for me with my skinflint nature!”

Tickets for Rising Damp can be booked online via the Titchfield Festival Theatre website. The show is running until Saturday October 22 - http://titchfieldfestivaltheatre.com