Preview: Ray and Bob at South Shields Customs House

PANTO STALWARTS REUNITE FOR VARIETY SHOW AS PART OF SOUTH TYNESIDE COMEDY FESTIVAL

Ray and Bob: Together Again

South Shields Customs House

Friday 14^th July 2017

Ray Spencer (left) and Bob Stott (right)

Popular double act Ray Spencer and Bob Stott are reuniting on stage for the first time in two years for the South Tyneside Comedy Festival.

The much-loved comedy duo delighted audiences as the stars of The Customs House panto until Bob – best known as Dame Dotty - retired in 2013.

Bob and Ray take a bow in their final

show as Dame Dotty and Tommy in 2013

The pair’s last official appearance together was in 2015, in Doing It For The House, a fundraiser for The Customs House Trust.

But the magic was still there when they got together at Ray’s 60^th birthday celebrations earlier this year and they knew they had to perform together again.

Ray, who played Dame Dotty’s dopey son Tommy in the annual panto, said: “I’m looking forward to working with Mr Stott. I am sure he has lost none of his quick-wittedness and cheeky grin. It will be an exciting adventure for us both.”

Bob and Ray as Dame Dotty and

Tommy in Sleeping Beauty in 2003

Ray and Bob’s partnership began at The Westovian Theatre Society, at the Pier Pavilion Theatre in South Shields, in 1975.

They became Dame Dotty and Tommy when Ray began writing summer Tommy the Trumpeter pantomimes in 1990.

Bob, who lives in Washington, said: “A double act is about chemistry and from our first appearance on stage together, Ray and I just clicked. I doubt if either of us could explain it, it just happened. There is one thing that helps though - things are a lot easier and a lot funnier when you have a friend of over 40 years at your side and many more friends in the audience that have supported us over the years. If there is a secret to our double act, it’s that we really enjoy being on stage together.”

The South Tyneside Comedy Festival, based at The Customs House, is back for a second year, with a fantastic line-up of stars and up-and-coming comedians gracing the venue throughout July and August.

Upcoming shows include Rory Bremner: Partly Political, comedy magician and TV regular Pete Firman and Canadian comedian Sean Collins.

Tickets:

Ray and Bob: Together Again comes to The Customs House on Friday, July 14, at 7pm.

Tickets, priced £15 or £13 for Friends of The Customs House, are available from the box office on (0191) 454 1234 or online at www.customshouse.co.uk

For more information about the South Tyneside Comedy Festival, visit www.southtynesidecomedyfestival.co.uk

 

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