Directors and company founders
Stand-up Comedy experts
John Arthur
Bobby Bragg
Jeff Stevenson
Robin Herford
Andrew Havill
Christopher Luscombe
Philip Franks
Patrick Drury
Ron Aldridge
Christopher Webber
Richard Derrington
Alison Skilbeck
Tim Hardy
Consultants
Gail Vinall
Phil Thomas
Jeffrey Thompson
Donald Blaylock
John Arthur
Comedy actor with over 30 years experience - Barbara, My Family, Fresh Fields, Skins, etc.
John is a well known face from many TV sitcoms, such as Barbara, Fresh Fields, Shelley, Andy Capp, Never the Twain, After Henry, Pilgrim's Rest and many more.
After falling in love with the theatre as an amateur in Sutton Coldfield, he went on to drama school in Birmingham. There followed over ten years in repertory all around England, playing dozens of roles.
John was a leading actor in Sir Alan Ayckbourn's company in Scarborough for around four years. During this time he played central roles in 9 new Ayckbourn plays, as well as major parts in other plays, such as John Proctor in Arthur Miller's The Crucible. Ayckbourn roles included Roland Crabbe in Taking Steps, Len Coker in Sisterly Feelings and Richard in Joking Apart. Subsequently he went on to play in Ayckbourn in other theatres such as The Royal National Theatre , The Palace Watford, Greenwich Theatre and The Theatre Royal Windsor.
During his repertory years companies included two seasons at the old Derby Playhouse, two seasons at the Lyceum Theatre, Crewe, The Swan Theatre, Worcester, and notably three years with the EMMA Theatre Company based in Loughborough. During this time he also worked for Jude Kelly at Leeds and the West Yorkshire Playhouses, where he played Simon Eyre in The Shoemaker's Holiday. He has played leading roles in many radio plays for BBC Radios Three and Four for the BBC, as well as playing guest roles in situation comedies for BBC Radio 2.
In the West End John has appeared in Michael Frayn’s Look Look, Sir Peter Hall’s revival of Piaf and Alan Ayckbourn’s Communicating Doors.
On television he has made numerous appearences over the past 20 years, and is perhaps best known for his situation comedy, which has included such regular roles as Mr Huntington in Leaving by Carla Lane (playing opposite Susan Hampshire), Barman in Andy Capp, John in Fresh Fields, Constable Dunstable in Pilgrim's Rest, John in Close to Home and currently Phil in ITV's Barbara. He has had many guest roles in series such as After Henry, Up the Elephant and Round the Castle, etc. John has played "straight" parts in Boon, The Practice, London's Burning, and The Bill amongst others, and most recently Dr. Wilson in the highly praised Worst Journey in the World for BBC 4.
He has been in two seasons at the Royal National Theatre, appearing as 'Enery in Tons of Money, and Desmond in A Small family Business among others. He recently played Wilf in Alan Bennett's Enjoy at the Palace Theatre, Watford.
Two recent films are Thunderpants and The Abduction Club