dinnerladies Returns to the Stage – And I Can’t Wait!
There are few sitcoms I return to as often as Victoria Wood’s dinnerladies. Warm, brilliantly observed and packed with unforgettable characters, it remains one of the greatest British comedies ever written. So I was delighted to hear that dinnerladies is finally being adapted for the stage.
More than 25 years after it first aired on BBC One, the beloved canteen doors are opening once again. The new production, commissioned by The Victoria Wood Estate, will tour the UK throughout 2027, opening at Manchester Opera House before visiting theatres across the country, including London’s New Wimbledon Theatre.
Leading the cast is Les Dennis, who takes on the role of maintenance man Stan, with the rest of the dinnerladies cast still to be announced. The production is adapted by Beth and Emma Kilcoyne and directed by double Olivier Award winner Sean Foley, promising a fresh story inspired by the original television series while reuniting us with Bren, Dolly, Jean, Twinkle, Anita, Tony and all the familiar faces from the HWD Components canteen.
As someone who has spent the last six years celebrating Victoria’s extraordinary writing through Looking For Me Friend: The Music of Victoria Wood, it is wonderful to see more of her work finding new audiences on stage. Her characters, songs and observations remain every bit as funny, touching and relevant today as when they were first written.
If you’re planning to book tickets for dinnerladies, why not also take a look at my brand new show, What Wood Victoria Do? A fresh celebration of Victoria Wood’s wit, wisdom and music, it asks how on earth we’ve managed the last decade without her – and what she’d make of the world we live in today.
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