A GLOSSOP couple, who tour around the country and abroad with their own theatre company, are back on home turf for their latest show.
Patricia Hartshorne and Michael Elphick — aka GlovesOff Productions — will be staging their quirky comedy Alternative Medicine at the Partington Theatre on Henry Street, Glossop tomorrow (Friday) and Saturday. It tells the story of Enid Pringle, the doctor’s receptionist who makes an unexpected discovery — and her life is never the same again.
Patricia said: "We write the scripts together and Michael is the technical director and I perform. We’ve done tours in California, Northern Ireland and Dublin and been to the Edinburgh Fringe three times.
"We’ve been touring for six years and are a two-man company, which means you can make your bookings anytime, anywhere as there is just the two of you — you don’t have to think of other people!— different from larger companies."
They have lived together in Glossop for the last three years. "We are renovating a house near the train station," she said. "We chose Glossop because it is a beautiful place and only half-an-hour from Manchester city centre."
Patricia has been writing and performing one-woman shows for the last 10 years. In 2000 she won the comedy award at the Buxton Fringe with Off Her Trolley, where she met Michael. They formed GlovesOff Productions in 2003.
Patricia performed another one-woman show last year, based on the life of Marlene Dietrich, which sold out at the Partington Theatre.
"In Alternative Medicine I play both the cleaner and the receptionist," said Patricia. "It’s a long way from the glamour of Me and Marlene, but if you come to see the show you might just discover that Enid Pringle and Marlene Dietrich have something in common!"
She added: "We’ve also got this new show coming up at the fringe in Buxton called Absolute Pants in July and a bigger Marlene Dietrich show for 2010."
Their latest show begins at 8pm both nights. Tickets priced £8 (£6 concessions) are available from Glossop Heritage and Information Centre on 01457 855920 or the Partington Theatre clubroom on 01457 852066.
