Storyteller lifts the lid on his own life

A comedy laced with poignant family stories, music and a trace of Shakespeare is heading to Sheringham this month.

A Piece of Work is a new show devised and performed by James Rowland which is based on his own life, with a mix of humour, sadness and exploration of mental health issues.

It earned rave reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe and is now on a 50-plus venue UK tour including Sheringham Little Theatre on Friday September 29.

James explains: “There are lots of laughs and happiness, but it also looks at the complexities of inter-generational relationships, and who we are – with a bit of Hamlet as you’ve never seen it before.”

The 39-year-old added: “Life is a rich tapestry, with joy and wonder balanced with pain and weighty matters. The show is autobiographical fiction, about fathers and sons – and Shakespeare— which I tell in a way that makes it an entertaining show rather than therapy.”

Yorkshire-born James, who is renowned for his compelling storytelling style, graduated from drama college in 2007, and after spells of acting (including a debut show in a one-man Hamlet) has been successfully touring his own solo shows since 2016.

He is pleased with A Piece of Work, which is described as a “hilarious and heart-breaking road trip.” Tickets for A Piece of Work are available at here or the box office on 01263 822347.