Hale & Pace

Editorial

When: 8pm, Thu 13 Aug 2009
Where: Festival Theatre
Tickets: $59-$69
Bookings: Bass 131-246

Well before Little Britain, Gareth Hale and Norman Pace were creating comedy sketches and crazy characters that poked fun at their own culture. And now, the British comedy double act that has been making people laugh since the early 1980s, is returning to Australia for a month with a brand new tour.

The pair met at teachers college, discovered they had similar senses of humour, and started performing stand-up routines before branching out into radio and TV. After a few appearances in the cult British show, The Young Ones, they got their own series in 1988, The Hale and Pace Show, which ran for ten years. They've received more international comedy awards and nominations than you can poke a stick at, and even appeared in an episode of Doctor Who back in 1989.

Hale has since appeared on stage in My Fair Lady and in the TV drama, The Royal, and Pace has become something of a poker expert, and has also done his fair share of theatre. But it's the comedy sketches, and audience interaction, that will be the basis of this tour. “Expect all the favourites,” says Hale. “The Rons will be there, Jed and Dave, Billy and Johnny, and songs that will tickle your fancy.”

“There will be lots of new material” adds Pace, “and we will be poking fun at anything that moves….or stays still. Members of the audience will also have a chance to star in the show.”

Tim Hunter, Citysearch