Funny Stuff at the New Adelphi
Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor
Founded by comedy duo Sue Ryding and the late Maggie Fox in 1985, LipService created 22 original performance works, a BBC Radio series, and collected numerous awards during their four decades together.
When Maggie Fox died in 2022, Sue found herself left with an archive of stage props, costumes, wigs, hats and life-sized stuffed animals. In this new show – Funny Stuff – Sue takes a humorous and creative look at this shipping container full of ‘stuff’ – the things we accumulate, hoard and struggle to part with – as a response to grief and letting go.
Join Sue as she tries to part with a life-sized stuffed sheep, a badger onesie, some ruby slippers, a sinking bog, Charlotte Bronte’s knickers and numerous soft toys. You’ll also hear stories about the things Sue has already successfully managed to give away – the wicker horse that appeared every night in an improvised panto and the vintage suitcases that feature in a Stockport sculpture.
In this moving and witty show, Sue also incorporates touring anecdotes with video footage from LipService’s performance archive.
By the end of Funny Stuff, Sue is aiming to end up with ‘the right stuff’ – a small selection of items capturing the essence of LipService Theatre that will go into a national theatre collection.
We’re told that not all the items will be making it back up the loft ladder, so the audience is invited to take something home. Head down to this performance at Salford’s New Adelphi to celebrate LipService’s outstanding performance repertoire and help Sue on her journey of letting go.
