Comedian, entertainer and EastEnders star Shane Richie is to star in a one-man play to be streamed online.
He plays the title role in actor/writer Justin Butcher’s Scaramouche Jones, available to stream from 26 March - 11 April.
In Scaramouche Jones, directed by Ian Talbot, the clown is about to celebrate his 100th birthday, recounting his colourful life in an changing world through a video diary. Shaped by misfortunes of slave ships, concentration camps and royalty, Scaramouche’s centenary reflections also see him preparing for death while backstage at the circus. Richie plays all the other characters that drive the story along. The last person to play the role was the late Pete Postlethwaite.
Riche has previously played roles including Ebeneezer Scrooge, McMurphy in One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest and Archie Rice in The Entertainer. One review said of his Archie Rice: "Shane Richie gives a career defining performance here. He is known for being upbeat but here he is a gin sozzled, womanising comedian with no real respect for his family or his shrinking audience."
He was on tour and putting his tights on for a Birmingham show when he was sent home at the start of the pandemic.
He appeared last year in I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here which was set in Wales. "I had the best time," he said. He told Breakfast TV he is still in a Whatsapp group with Sir Mo Farah and others that were in the show.
He was due to return to the stage in the hit show Everybody’s Talking About Jamie as Hugo/Loco Chanelle at the Apollo Theatre. Performances have been postponed due to the pandemic. It will be back later this year from May 20: "I've got to get into a size 12 dress....the show is about 'be who you want to be.'"
