Corrie’s Cilla on working with ‘legend’ John Cleese - as Bang Bang comes to Peterborough

Wendi Peters, Tessa Peake Jones and Tony Gardner lead the cast in Bang Bang, the stage writing debut of one John Cleese, a hilarious new adaptation of a classic comedy – a delicious blend of French farce and, you’ve guessed it, Fawlty Towers which comes to Peterborough’s New Theatre from February 25-29.

Wendi, who has enjoyed a long and distinguished stage career, is probably best known for her spell on Coronation Street as the brassy, in-your-face Cilla Battersby.

“I was very lucky,” she says. “I got a call to say could I do a reading for Bang Bang. Well I read it, and it was very, very funny and then I saw the people involved.

“I mean, John Cleese is a legend. It is like I have known him since I was little. I have grown up watching him on TV in Fawlty Towers – a TV classic – and lots of other stuff.

“Having him with us for two weeks (prior to the tour opening earlier this month) was phenomenal. Having him watch and have an input as we worked in rehearsals made such a difference,” says Wendi, who plays a Countess caught up in a whole series of goings on.

“There are little bits in the play that are Fawlty Towers-ish. It is very funny and very clever. There are some great characters and physical comedy, which is great because that is what he does best.”

The fun and games centres around Leontine, a respectable society lady, who discovers that she’s been hoodwinked by her husband, Duchotel, who’s always pretending to go hunting but really chasing after other ‘prey’, she vows to take revenge on the philanderer.

But while Duchotel’s away, his lifelong friend comes calling – and he’s on the hunt, too.

Will Leontine get caught in his sights, or instead set a trap of her own?

Secrets unravel as the devilish Duchotel finds himself snared in a door-slamming, trouser-dropping, balcony-climbing night of chaos set amidst the stylish apartments of Paris.

Wendi, despite her instant and lasting fame as a soap star, insists theatre is where she is happiest.

“Theatre is where I come from and it is what I love doing,” she says. “You just cannot beat live theatre and in a show like this it is great to go out there on stage and hear a full house belly-laughing. Come and see the show in Peterborough – it is fun and fast you will have an awful lot of laughs.”

Wendi is joined in the cast of nine by Tessa Peake-Jones, who became a household name as Raquel in the iconic comedy Only Fools and Horses. Her extensive stage work encompasses the National Theatre and RSC, recent credits include The Winslow Boy and Shirley Valentine.

Tony Gardner has appeared on TV in roles ranging from the My Parents are Aliens to Last Tango in Halifax and on stage in Alan Ayckbourn’s classic Bedroom Farce.

Tickets: www.newtheatre-peterborough.com