Classic comedy in England’s seediest boarding house

The show is on at The Capitol, Horsham, from Monday, July 7, to Wednesday, July 8, at 7.30pm. There is also a Wednesday matinee at 2.30pm.

ITV’s top comedy of all time, Rising Damp, originally ran between 1974 and 1978.

Set in a run down Victorian house it follows Rupert Rigsby and his variety of tenants who rent out his shabby bedsits in arguably the seediest boarding house that England has to offer.

His unlucky tenants include Ruth Jones, an administrator at the university, Alan, a medical student, and Philip, who is studying town and country planning.

Between them, Alan and Philip are the focus and foil of the majority of Rigsby’s many prejudices, usually at the expense of his dignity and standing in the eyes of Miss Jones with whom he is hopelessly and pathetically in love.

Eric Chappell took up full time writing in 1973 after his first stage play, The Banana Box, was produced at the Apollo Theatre, London.

The play later inspired Rising Damp, winner of the BAFTA award for best situation comedy. In 1979 Eric’s screen version won the Evening Standard Film award for best comedy.

Other television successes include The Squirrels, The Bounder, Home to Roost (all of which won PYE TV awards), Only When I Laugh, Duty Free, Singles, Fiddlers Three and Haggard. Eric has written more than 200 television comedy scripts and more than 20 stage plays, which are performed worldwide. He is unquestionably one of the top writers of comedy in Britain today.

Full tour information can be found at www.risingdampontour.com.

Tickets cost £22.50 (concessions £20). Monday evening and Wednesday matinee: all seats £15.

Call the box office on 01403 750220 or visit www.thecapitolhorsham.com.