Barking in Essex

Barking in Essex Theatre Breaks

Although Lee Evans and the cast of Barking in Essex are still performing till 04 January, Theatre Breaks are now no longer available foir the rest of the run.

Barking in Essex follows a notorious gangster, Algie Packer who, after 7  years at Her Majesty’s pleasure, returns to Essex to collect his illegal gains of over £3.6 million – in untraceable notes of course – But there is something that his family – Darnley the ‘village idiot of the underworld’ (Evans) and his mother, Emmie (played by Sheila Hancock) – have failed to tell him.

Now they must desperately try to cover their tracks before he gets home.

Lee Evans is best known for his high energy, stand-up routines. Here is London he wowed West End audiences when he appeared in Mel Brookes’ comic musical The Producers.

Sheila Hancock is just as much an icon of stage and screen. Here in London a long list of hit shows include  Sister Act at the London Palladium, The Anniversary the Garrick Theatre and Cabaret at the Lyric Theatre for which she won an Olivier Award in 2007. For her services to drama, she was made a CBE in the same year.

Even though Barking In Essex Theatre Breaks are only just now coming to London, its writer, Clive Exton died in 2007. His credits include scripts for Poirot, Jeeves and Wooster and 10 Rillington Place.

Barking in Essex and Hotels for London Theatre Breaks

The Wyndham’s Theatre, where Barking Essex is playing)  is just by Leicester Square underground station on the Northern Line and Piccadilly Line. The nearest hotels, if you don’t fancy a tube journey home are the three Radisson Edwardian Hotels – the Hampshire, the Edwardian and the Mercer Street. Also handy in the Strand Palace Hotel. If you fancy a three star hotel then just head up Charing Cross Road to the Dominion Theatre (where We Will Rock You is playing) and just behind there is the St Giles Hotel.

These central London hotels do come with a slightly higher price tag so if you want to save some money check out the hotels in Bloomsbury or Kensington. Both easily accessible on the Piccadilly Line from Leicester Square.

Restaurants nearby for pre-theatre dinner

The Wyndhams is perfectly placed as it is surrounded by many super options for a pre-theatre dinner. Just nip down the side alley separating itfrom the underground station and there are some love places there. Carry on walking down there and you will come to the excellent fish restaurant J Sheekey. If fish is not your dish carry on round to St Martin’s Lane where you will find Brown’s which does fabulous British food alongside some excellent pasta, vegetarian and fish choices.