Stone Life June July 2014 | Page 26

STAFFORD FESTIVAL known for his portrayal of the character 'Boycie' in the popular TV series. After years of planning ‘Boycie’ and ‘Marlene' played by Sue Holderness starred in their own series The Green Green Grass which had four highly successful series on BBC1. “I am delighted to have been offered the part of Jacques in As You Like It, this year's Stafford Festival Shakespeare production. I played Malvolio in Twelfth Night two years ago at Ludlow Castle and he and Jacques are both melancholic characters, so I'm becoming type cast again!” 26 June/July 2014 Joked John. “We are hugely excited about working with John, he is an incredibly accomplished television and stage actor. I know he will be ideal for the role with his perfect comic timing and unrivalled deadpan delivery” commented Producer Derrick Gask. Starring alongside John this will be Eric Potts’ fifth year at Stafford Castle after performing in Twelfth Night (2009), The Merry Wives Of Windsor (2010), The Comedy Of Errors (2011) and he performed to critical acclaim as Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream last year. Speaking to Stone and Eccleshall Life Eric said: “I really am looking forward to coming back! I enjoy being in Stafford very much and I have never played this character before. I know already from tradition the show will have great music and will be lots of fun.” Eric is best known for playing Diggory Compton in Coronation Street and his extensive theatre career also includes Danny in Brassed Off, Major Wyndham-Pitts in A Little Local Difficulty, Al in April in Paris, Oliver Hardy in Laurel & Hardy, Various in The Invisible Man and Mannie Bernard in Simply The Best. Derrick added: “Eric has become a true favourite of Stafford audiences and as a truly gifted comic actor I have no doubt that Eric will deliver another unforgettable performance, it’s shaping up to be a very, very special year.”