In a crumbling coastal town, a fading comedian is forced to confront his estranged ex-partner – a deranged recluse fixated on their distant heyday—in a tale of guilt, ambition and the ghosts of British show-business.
Billy Bash, who gloried in the title of Britain’s Third Most Offensive Comedian, refuses to admit he is in the twilight of his career, his brand of humour unchanged since his 80s family friendly double act with Clifford Biddle came crashing down. Billy went solo; Cliff went to prison. But now, the final night of Billy’s tour brings him to the decaying seaside resort of Saltmouth, to pay a visit to his former partner, who stews in resentful obscurity.
In Cliff’s storm-lashed maisonette, truths from their shared past resurface, and the line between guilt, madness, and the supernatural blurs, spiralling into a darkly farcical nightmare.
The Double Act is an outrageous dark comedy by Mark Jagasia, author of Clarion, “Appallingly funny” (Daily Telegraph), combining gothic madness with biting humour, exploring the price of ambition, the value of laughter and the demons we can never outrun.
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Running time
120 mins (including interval) -
Age guidance
15+
“A brave and intelligent elegy for a lost England...as thematically rich as it is darkly funny... strong shades of Osborne’s The Entertainer, Sartre’s Huis Clos and the brooding menace of early Pinter, and replete with literary allusions (from Poe to Hamlet) ... Highly recommended.”
“An incredibly witty and fiercely topical dark comedy... keeps the audience on their toes. A masterpiece of dark comedy drama.”
“A hilarious and horrifying satirical triumph... not only is the script compelling, but director Oscar Pearce has brought it to life as an atmospheric clown show... transports the audience to this sinfully silly night in Saltmouth.”
“Gleefully weird”- The Stage
“Excellent... A fast-paced satirical farce with a message for comedians old and new... a thought provoking and thoroughly entertaining evening.”
“This author seems to be that rare thing, a darkly observant, slightly pessimistic spirit who properly understands that the way to come at doubts and unease about your country is through comedy”
“Jagasia and director Oscar Pearce together bring us an evening of heightened energy and high-pace theatre that holds us in the moment and delivers life as farce.”
“a thought-provoking and grimly funny foray into a bygone showbiz age.”- Beyond the Joke
“The script is full of deliciously rude zingers and the performances are terrific.”
“Unsettling, multi-layered, hilarious dive into the great modern British divisions, Oscar Pearce’s skilled direction of the highly accomplished cast achieves the goal he sets himself in the programme of balancing the horror with humour.”
“Stuffed with comic invention, there's so much to love about The Double Act”
“The play explodes into a heady mix of tragedy, comedy, slapstick and farce.”- British Theatre Guide
“This is the darkest, wittiest comedy playing in London... a masterly comedy”
Production photos
Rehearsal photos
The Company
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Nigel Betts
Billy
Nigel Betts
Billy
Theatre: The Good Life (UK tour), Steel (Sheffield), Albion (Almeida), Three Days in the Country (National), Wonderland (Hampstead), Pastoral (Soho), One Man Two Guv’nors, War Horse (National/West End), Aladdin (Lyric Hammersmith), The 39 Steps, Up’n’Under, Henry IV and As You Like It (West End),Tinderbox (Bush Theatre), The Constant Couple, The Recruiting Officer (Blue Eagle) A New Way to Please You, Sejanus: His Fall, Thomas More, Night of the Soul (RSC), Eden End, Macbeth (West Yorkshire Playhouse), Neville’s Island (Watford)
TV includes: I Fought The Law, The Chelsea Detective, The Count of Monte Cristo, Midsomer Murders, Ralph & Katie, Boat Story, HMS Murder-Murder at Sea, The Larkins, The Long Shadow, Toast, King Gary, Ridley Road, Grantchester, Casualty, All Creatures Great and Small series 1 & 2, Father Brown, The A Word, Pennyworth, Harlots, Killing Eve 2, Trollied, EastEnders, Scarborough, Outlander, Little Boy Blue, Bliss, Bounty Hunters, Death in Paradise, Boy Meets Girl, Vera, Class, The Coroner, DCI Banks, New Tricks, You, Me & Them, The Wrong Mans, Doctor Who, Waterloo Road, Doctors, Holby City, Downton Abbey, The Escape Artist, The Starlings, Doc Martin, Moving Wallpaper, The Bill, Trial and Retribution, The Catherine Tate Show, Coronation Street, The Street, Emmerdale, Doctors, EastEnders, Grange Hill, Midsomer Murders, Silent Witness, Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, Sharpe’s Mission, Courtroom, Grease Monkeys, Inspector Lynley Mysteries, A Touch of Frost, Final Demand, Paradise Reclaimed, As Time Goes By
Films include: The Critic, The Fantastic Flitcrofts, All Those Small Things, Louis Wain, Eight for Silver, The Personal History of David Copperfield, Undercliffe, The Christmas Candle, Lipstikka, Desert Flower, Mrs Ratcliffe’s Revolution, In Your Dreams, Chain Male, Cheeky, Harold the Amazing Contortionist Pig, Keen Eddie, Thunderpants
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Nigel Cooke
Cliff
Nigel Cooke
Cliff
Theatre work includes: All’s Well That Ends Well, Doctor Faustus and Henry V (Shakespeare’s Globe); To Kill A Mockingbird (Royal Exchange); Berenice (Donmar Warehouse); Dreams of Violence (Out of Joint); King Lear (Liverpool Everyman); Pericles and The Winter’s Tale (RSC).
Television includes: Killing Eve; Sandman; His Dark Materials; Les Misérables; Grantchester; Knightfall; Dark Angel; The Crown; Beowulf; New Tricks; Father Brown; Wolf Hall; Endeavour; Luther; Heartbeat; Casualty 1906.
Films include: Forget Me Not; Henry V; Myrrdin; Mary, Queen of Scots; Peter Rabbit 2.
Then along came Oscar Pearce with Mark Jagasia’s play at the Arcola and the part of Cliff Biddle and Nigel couldn’t resist it!
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Edward Hogg
Gulliver
Edward Hogg
Gulliver
Since graduating from RADA, Edward Hogg has worked on an array of acclaimed projects. Most recently, Ed starred in OTHELLO at the Royal Shakespeare Company. Earlier this year he filmed a series regular role in the TV series BURIED, produced by Quay Street Productions for Amazon. In 2023 Edward starred in THE HYPOCHONDRIAC at the Sheffield Crucible Theatre and filmed a role in the feature film THE YELLOW TIE starring John Malkovich. In the same year he could be seen on the big screen in the highly anticipated feature film NAPOLEON directed by Ridley Scott.
His other major feature film credits include LUTHER: THE FALLEN SUN, KILL YOUR FRIENDS as well as the critically acclaimed WHITE LIGHTNIN’. In 2015 he also appeared in the highly anticipated Stephen Frear’s Lance Armstrong film THE PROGRAM, as well as the Wachowski’s blockbuster JUPITER ASCENDING. Other film credits include IMAGINE, MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS, THE COMEDIAN and ANONYMOUS. The short film THE PHONE CALL, in which he also starred, won an Oscar for Best Short Film in 2015.
On television, Edward can be seen starring in THE IRREGULARS for Netflix, PENNYWORTH for Starz and he also starred in the BBC’s superb TABOO with Tom Hardy, as well as HARLOTS for Hulu. Prior to this, Ed shot JONATHAN STRANGE AND MR. NORRELL for the BBC and Channel 4’s period drama INDIAN SUMMERS. Further television credits include THE BORGIAS, DEAD BOSS and MISFITS. Further to his screen roles, Edward has also played many roles at the National Theatre and Shakespeare’s Globe, including playing ROMEO in Daniel Kramers’ ROMEO AND JULIET. In 2022 Ed played Caliban in THE TEMPEST at Theatre Royal Bath and he has also starred in Rob Icke’s WILD DUCK at the Almeida, and APPROPRIATE at the Donmar.
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Mark Jagasia
Writer
Mark Jagasia
Writer
Mark Jagasia is a former national newspaper journalist. His first play Clarion, starring Greg Hicks and Claire Higgins, was greeted with universal critical acclaim. The Double Act is his second full length work for the stage.
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Oscar Pearce
Director
Oscar Pearce
Director
Oscar Pearce is an award-winning actor/ director/producer. He was born in Zambia and grew up in post-independent Zimbabwe, his work is characterized by a highly energetic, intense, and dynamic style, with a rigorous focus on storytelling and theatrical logic. This will be his 4th world premier for the Arcola Studio 1. Previous directing credits include Possession by Sasha Hails, Keith? by Pattrick Marmion and Great Apes by Patrick Marmion. As an actor, Oscar has had a long association with the RSC, including the Wolf Hall trilogies, and Spanish Golden Age. He has performed in over 9 productions in the West End and many of the country’s most loved theatres, including the Arcola, Donmar Warehouse, Almeida, Bolton Octagon, Theatre Royal Bath, Nottingham Playhouse, Edinburgh Lyceum, Sheffield and Birmingham Rep. Internationally he has performed in Paris, Madrid, Dublin, Tokyo and Broadway. He won the Manchester Evening News award for Best Supporting Actor and was shortlisted for the Best Director in the Stage Debut Awards.
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Sarah Beaton
Designer
Sarah Beaton
Designer
Sarah is a performance designer & visual dramaturge. She studied Design for Stage at The Central School of Speech & Drama, graduating in 2011 with First Class Honours. Later that year she was awarded The Linbury Prize for Stage Design. From 2015-2016 she was the Designer on Attachment at The Old Vic. Her work has been exhibited at The National Theatre, World Stage Design (Cardiff), the V&A and World Stage Design (Taiwan).
Theatre work includes The Lightest Element, The Harmony Test, Nineteen Gardens, Mother Christmas (Hampstead Theatre; Carmen (Scottish Opera); The Merchant of Venice (Shakespeare’s Globe); Babur in London (Sadler’s Wells); Wild East (Young Vic); MUM (Plymouth Theatre Royal/Soho); Faust (Altes Schauspielhaus, Germany); La Bohème (Longborough Festival Opera); The Human Voice (Gate); Building the Wall (Park Theatre); Crocodiles (Manchester Royal Exchange); Possession and Great Apes (Arcola); Rise (Old Vic); In Event of Moon Disaster (Theatre503); One Who Wants to Cross (Finborough Theatre), Diary of a Madman (Sherman Theatre); Mix the Play (Old Vic); Missing, Run, Gap in the Light (Engineer Theatre Collective).
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Katherine Watt
Costume Supervisor
Katherine Watt
Costume Supervisor
Katherine was born in County Durham and studied Costume Design & making at London College of Fashion. She enjoys collaborating across a wide variety of genres within film & theatre, working alongside award-winning companies such as Balletboyz (‘Young Men’ Film & Stage, ‘Deluxe’, ‘Us & Them’, ‘Rumpelstiltskin’ Film) & Punchdrunk (‘The Burnt City’, ‘Sleep No More’). She is looking forward to working with Sarah Beaton for a second time, previously working with her on ‘La Boheme’ at Longborough Festival Opera (2024).
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James Christensen
Stage Manager
James Christensen
Stage Manager
James is a director, deviser, composer, and stage manager from Melbourne Australia. His work spans a range of styles including new writing, classical adaptation, experimental performance, musical, opera, and live art – with a particular focus on formal innovation and collaborative interplay between varied artistic disciplines. He is currently the Resident Production Manager for the Advanced Theatre Practice programme at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Recent Stage Management credits include: After Sex (Arcola Theatre); Othello (Riverside Studios); Form(at) Festival (Camden People’s Theatre); Earthquakes in London and Nora: A Doll’s House (Rose Bruford College).
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Josh Collins
Production Manager
Josh Collins
Production Manager
Josh is a freelance Production Manager working across opera and theatre. After graduating from The Guildhall School of Music and Drama with The Gold Medal he worked in electrics throughout the West End and then at Hampstead Theatre. Josh now Production Manages for various companies across London and further afield. Recent Production Management credits include; Christmas in Exeter Street, King James, Maria de Rudenz, Visit from an Unknown Woman, and An Actor Convalescing in Devon.
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Dan Balfour
Sound Designer
Dan Balfour
Sound Designer
Dan is an Olivier Nominated Sound Designer. His work includes: The Cherry Orchard (Donmar); Vanya (West End); Dear England (National); Stranger Beasts, I Am Kevin (Wildworks); My English Persian Kitchen (Soho); Make Good, One Of Them Ones, IDYLL (Pentabus); Dear Annie I Hate You (Zoo Playground); Mrs Caliban (Theatre Technic); Wuthering Heights (Royal & Derngate/Tour); Les Dawson Flying High (National Tour); How To Break Out of a Detention Centre (Riverside Studios); Private Peaceful (Nottingham Playhouse/ Tour); Two Character Play, Wilderness (Hampstead); The Hatchling (Trigger Productions); hang (Sheffield Crucible); Counting Sheep (Belarus Free Theatre); Sugar Syndrome, The Misfortune Of The English (Orange Tree); Operation Mincemeat (New Diorama); Effigies of Wickedness (Gate); Great Apes, Sputnik Sweetheart, Dance Of Death (Arcola).
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Matt Haskins
Lighting Designer
Matt Haskins
Lighting Designer
Matt works extensively in Theatre, Opera and on site specific projects. At the Arcola: Great Apes, House of Mirrors and Hearts. Theatre Work includes: A Tupperware of Ashes (National Theatre); Peter Pan Goes Wrong (West End & Broadway); The Empress (RSC);Jesus Christ Superstar; Miss Saigon (Folketeateret Oslo); The Clinic (Almeida); The Wedding Band and Schoolgirls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play (Lyric Hammersmith); The Girls of Slender Means (Edinburgh Lyceum);Wish You Were Here (Gate); King James, Out of Season; Biscuits for Breakfast; The Art of Illusion; Mary; Ravenscourt; Lotus Beauty; The Fever Syndrome; Folk; Malindadzimu; Raya; The Cost of Living and I & You (Hampstead Theatre); Northanger Abbey (Orange Tree); Nina – A Story About Me and Nina Simone (Young Vic, Unity, Riksteatern, Stockholm); Private Peaceful (Nottingham Playhouse/UK tour); Fair Play (Bush); Death of a Salesman (UK tour); The Lovely Bones (Birmingham Rep/UK tour); Hakawatis (Shakesperare’s Globe); Truth and Reconciliation (Royal Court); Hobson’s Choice (Royal Exchange Manchester).
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Siân Williams
Movement Director
Siân Williams
Movement Director
Siân Williams co-founded The Kosh physical theatre company in 1982 with Michael Merwitzer and performed in all its productions. As a freelance choreographer and performer her credits range from Shakespeare’s Globe to Broadway, Edinburgh Festival to Glastonbury.
Productions include: Kate Bush’s Before The Dawn concerts; Wolf Hall BBC2 television; Richard III Belasco Theatre Broadway; Richard III, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Troilus and Cressida, Wolf Hall, Bring Up The Bodies for the RSC; The Tempest, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Henry IV part 1&2, Henry V, As You Like It for Shakespeare’s Globe; London’s Turbulent Son – a Pageant for City of London; James Graham’s Labour of Love in the West End; Beauty and the Beast, The Secret Garden for Theatre By The Lake; My People for Theatre Clwyd/Invertigo; Movement Coach for Arthur Hughes Shardlake Disney+. Siân choreographed and performed in Gluck’s opera Orfeo Ed Eurydice for Purefeo Productions.
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Emily Hawkins
Assistant Stage Manager
Emily Hawkins
Assistant Stage Manager
Emily Hawkins is a director, producer, theatre practitioner, and a recent graduate of the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, with a Masters in Advanced Theatre Practice. Originally from California, her theatrical work spans from directing to design to occasional covid safety management. Her recent creative endeavors include As If You Know Me with Dubious Company, a devised, cabaret-inspired exploration of identity and perception. She is thrilled to join the Arcola team as Assistant Stage Manager, contributing to bringing this dynamic production to life!