Looking ahead to actors' old age

Pantomime stars John Elkington and Rebecca Little get a taste of the future in Nottingham Playhouse’s latest production, Forever Young.

It imagines a world five decades from now, when the Playhouse’s illustrious theatrical history has come to an end and the building serves as a retirement home for aged performers — the very actors who once trod its boards.

With the urge to perform still coursing wildly through their veins, they live for the moment their attendant, Sister Rosa, leaves the room.

Instantly they are up on their wobbly feet, belting out classic rock and pop numbers such as I Will Survive, I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll, Barbie Girl and Smells Like Teen Spirit with blithe disregard for their heart conditions and hip replacements.

Written by Erik Gedeo, it is a show that it is already popular in Germany and Scandanavia and has been given a local twist by Nottingham Playhouse Theatre Company under the guidance of artistic director Giles Croft.

It also stars Mark Jardine, Sara Poyzer, Stefan Bednarczyk, Claire Storey, and Jason Pennycooke.

The show runs from Thursday, February 11 until Saturday, February 27.