An Eclipse Theatre and Sheffield Theatres Co-production

One Monkey Don't Stop No Show By Don Evans The Albany, Deptford 4 - 8 October 7.30pm, Saturday matinee 2.30pm 'That's what comes from listening to white folks!!!' 'Poor folks, baby! I've been listening to poor folks!!!'

A UK premiere, One Monkey Don't Stop No Show from acclaimed company Eclipse Theatre is a co-production with Sheffield Theatres and an uproarious family drama where The Cosby Show meets Restoration humour in an intoxicating blend of riotous comic elements.

Avery and Myra Harrison and their son Felix, are a respectable middle-class black family in 1970s Philadelphia. Their niece Beverly arrives from the rural South after the death of her father to live with Caleb, her late father's business partner and newly adoptive guardian. Beverly's fresh approach and novel ideas turn everyone's life upside down, even the street-wise Caleb, who is rapidly undermined as Beverly decides she wants involvement with both her father's business affairs and Caleb's life.

Recreating a 70s sit com feel, the set replicates the sights and sounds of a live television recording with authentic TV monitor effects and on-air lights.

Award-winning comedian and actor Jocelyn Jee Esien stars as matriarch Myra. Jocelyn was the first black female comedian to write and star in her own BBC TV series, Little Miss Jocelyn. Her other credits include the comedy series 3 Non Blondes, recent British film Anuvahood and the Chichester Festival Theatre production of Racing Demon. Jocelyn speaks of her part in this brand new comedy:

"I have avidly watched the progress of Eclipse as a theatre company and I jumped at the chance to work with Dawn Walton on this project. As an audience member I have always found the company's productions both thought provoking and entertaining. One Monkey Don't Stop No Show is a brilliantly funny play and I think we're going to have a great time on tour."

Avery will be played by Roger Griffiths, a founder member of The Posse and star of the Lenny Henry comedy Chef!. Daniel Francis plays Caleb, Daniel having played the title role in eclipse theatre's acclaimed production of The Hounding of David Oluwale. They're joined by Ayesha Antoine, Michelle Asante, Jacqueline Boatswain and Isaac Ssebandeke.

One Monkey Don't Stop No Show is directed by Eclipse Theatre's Artistic Director Dawn Walton, nominated for Best Director at the TMA Awards for The Hounding of David Oluwale.

This production of One Monkey Don't Stop No Show is the UK première of Don Evans' classic comedy. Evans (1938 - 2006) was an American playwright, director, actor and teacher and a founding member of the groundbreaking Black Arts movement of the 1960's & 1970's. He wrote eighteen plays which have been staged across the US and Europe. His writing was hugely influential to the development of US TV Sitcoms such as The Cosby Show.

One Monkey Don't Stop No Show is the first co-production between Eclipse Theatre and Sheffield Theatres since Eclipse moved to its permanent home at the Crucible Theatre. Eclipse Theatre produces high quality middle scale touring work from a Black British perspective, which increases the diversity of work on offer to existing audiences whilst attracting new ones. Eclipse Theatre also aims to raise the profile of black theatre practitioners. Since 2003, in partnership with a consortium of regional producing theatres, Eclipse Theatre has toured: Moon on a Rainbow Shawl by Errol John; Mother Courage and Her Children by Bertolt Brecht, adapted by Oladipo Agboluaje; Little Sweet Thing by Roy Williams; Three Sisters by Anton Chekhov, adapted by Mustapha Matura; Angel House by Roy Williams, (nomination for Best Actress in a visiting production MEN awards); The Hounding of David Oluwale by Kester Aspden, adapted by Oladipo Agboluaje (nominated for Best Director TMA awards) and Sus by Barrie Keeffe. In March 2011 Eclipse Theatre Company was confirmed as a National Portfolio Funded Organisation.

Ages 12+Tickets: Tues & Weds £12, £9 concs, Thurs - Sat £14, £10 concs. Sat matinee all tickets £9.

WHEN: 4th - 8th October 2011

WHERE: The Albany, Deptford, London