The 39 Steps touring production comes to Hanley’s Regent Theatre

Feb 17 2010 by Will Harris, Crewe Chronicle

THE West End’s longest running comedy The 39 Steps comes to the Regent Theatre in Hanley next week.

The current tour is adapted by Patrick Barlow and directed by Maria Aitken.

Now in its fourth year in the West End, The 39 Steps has racked up 28 productions internationally to date, including nearly two years on Broadway.

The show follows the adventures of handsome hero Richard Hannay, complete with his stiff upper lip and pencil moustache as he encounters dastardly murders, double-crossing secret agents, and devastatingly beautiful women.

A cast of four fearless actors play more than 139 roles between them in 100 minutes of fast-paced fun and thrilling action.

The production contains every single legendary scene from the 1935 classic Hitchcock movie thriller, including the chase on the Flying Scotsman, the escape on the Forth Bridge, the first theatrical bi-plane crash ever staged and the sensational death-defying finale in the London Palladium.

Barlow says: “We have four very skilled actors in the show, and they need to be.

“Where else would they get the opportunity to run out on stage as an old lady, come off and then go back on minutes later as an underworld villain?”

The show runs from Monday until Saturday, February 27.

Shows start at 8pm with 2.30pm performances on the Wednesday and Saturday. Tickets cost £9-£20, phone 0844 871 7649 to book.