Nicholas Parsons: A Laugh A Minute

NICHOLAS PARSONS demonstrates his unique ability as a solo performer and raconteur in this anecdotal entertainment based on his experience of life and working in the various media of an unpredictable and always fascinating profession.  His ability to laugh at himself and see the humour in his early life and struggles to be an actor, while serving an Engineering Apprenticeship in the harsh world of Clydeside, building to anecdotes based on his varied work in so many branches of show business, is a constant joy and a humorous revelation that keeps his audience continually enthralled.

Nicholas Parsons began his theatrical career doing impressions and working in small repertory theatres in Glasgow but returned to London to become a full-time actor appearing in Charlie’s Aunt at the Palace Theatre.  He worked in repertory specialising in comedy and character roles; revues in small theatres near the West End; appeared in late night cabaret and also launched out as a solo comedian at the Windmill Theatre.  In 1965 he returned to the West End and starred in Boeing Boeing for 15 months.  This was followed by appearances in  Say Who You Are at the Vaudeville Theatre; Uproar in the House at the Whitehall Theatre; and touring with many shows such as Why Not Stay For Breakfast and  Stage Struck.
 
He has been chairman of radio’s Just a Minute for 25 years and was voted “Radio Personality of the Year” in 1967 for his satirical show Listen To This Space.  The 1970’s brought Nicholas onto the television screens, appearing in many Benny Hill shows and then hosting and compering  Sale of the Century for 14 years.  He hosted The All New Alphabet Game on LWT, featured with Rik Mayall and Ade Edmondson for the comic strip Mr Jolly Lives Next Door which went into the cinema and on television and starred in Charlie Girl for over a year at the Victoria Palace, making an impact in one scene by appearing on roller skates!  He played the narrator in the Stephen Sondheim musical, Into the Woods, at the Phoenix Theatre and then in complete contrast played the Narrator in the Rocky Horror Show at the Duke of York’s Theatre in ‘94/’95 and then went on tour.

He has written, produced and directed five short comedy films for the cinemas.  He has written a humorous book entitled Egg On The Face, a collection of broadcasting clangers and hiccups and his autobiography The Straight Man - My Life in Comedy was published in 1994.