Paul Chuckle to make stage debut in National Theatre play
Comedian and former ChuckleVision star takes a role in Jim Cartwright's The Rise and Fall of Little Voice after decades in entertainment.
Key points
- Paul Chuckle, real name Paul Elliott, will make his first stage play appearance at the National Theatre
- He will play Mr Boo in The Rise and Fall of Little Voice
- The run in London is scheduled from 2 December to 23 January
- The production later tours to Newcastle, Sheffield and Salford
Paul Chuckle is preparing for his first ever stage play, a move that marks a new step after more than six decades in entertainment. According to the BBC, the 79-year-old will appear at the National Theatre in London, where he is due to take on a role for the first time in a straight play.
Chuckle, whose real name is Paul Elliott, will play Mr Boo in Jim Cartwright’s The Rise and Fall of Little Voice. The production is directed by Robert Hastie. It will run at the National Theatre from 2 December to 23 January before touring to other venues, including Newcastle, Sheffield and Salford.
Cast and production details
The play follows a shy young woman who seldom leaves her bedroom. Her gift for copying famous singers catches the attention of a local club promoter, the part Chuckle will play. Silent Witness actress Francesca Mills will take the title role, while Waterloo Road star Jill Halfpenny will play her mother, Mari Hoff.
Later, toward the close of 2027, Chuckle is scheduled to take the Monsignor O’Hara part in a road tour of Sister Act. In 2025 he took part in the gangster film Fall to the Top, playing The Jackal, and later that year he appeared in Celebrity MasterChef.
A career built on working men’s clubs
Chuckle became well known with his sibling Barry, who has died, as a member of the comedy double act known as the Chuckle Brothers. Their children’s show ChuckleVision ran from 1987 to 2009. Barry died in 2018, and Chuckle said he chose not to retire after that loss.
He told the BBC that the role suits his background. Cartwright, who wrote the play, reportedly felt Chuckle would fit the part because of his years performing in working men’s clubs across the North East, South Wales, the Midlands and North Wales. Chuckle described those venues as demanding, with audiences that were either very warm or very hard to please.
Adjusting to live theatre
Chuckle said the change in style has been a challenge. He noted that he has not spoken a play’s lines for many years without the usual comic improvisation. He said learning the script word for word is hard, unlike television, where a mistake can be retaken.
He said he and his brother often ad libbed on stage and enjoyed the unplanned moments. In a live play, he said, that freedom is not available, so he must stick closely to the text.
Frequently asked questions
What role is Paul Chuckle playing at the National Theatre?
According to the BBC, Paul Chuckle will play Mr Boo, a club promoter, in Jim Cartwrightu0026#039;s The Rise and Fall of Little Voice. It will be his first ever play.
When does The Rise and Fall of Little Voice run in London?
The production will run at the National Theatre from 2 December to 23 January. It will then tour to locations including Newcastle, Sheffield and Salford.
Who is Paul Chuckle?
Paul Chuckle is the real name of Paul Elliott, who is 79. He was one half of the Chuckle Brothers, known from the childrenu0026#039;s show ChuckleVision, which ran from 1987 to 2009.
Sources
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