THE Alhambra Theatre is preparing to welcome one of the nation's most beloved comedians to its stage this year.
Dawn French will bring her one woman show, Dawn French is a Huge Twat, to the city in October after a critically acclaimed 2022 run.
The date is one of 38 added for this year, kicking off in autumn.
The performance has been slated as a celebration of our common humanity, combined with one of Dawn's greatest talents - the ability to laugh at herself.
She said: “The people I love are flawed, hilariously flawed and I can relate to that.
"If you think of the best laughs you have with people it’s when you say, ‘Oh my God, you’ll never guess what I did today?’
"When you unzip and admit you’ve been a fool.
“We live in a time when we’re told we’ve got to be perfect, and we’ve got filters and selfies and all we ever present is the good part.
"That doesn’t appeal to me at all.
"I can’t relate to that because I know I can’t achieve it. I can’t look like that; I can’t be like that."
She continued: "I haven’t got that aspirational perfect life and I’ve got no time for it either.
"My mum used to say, ‘we don’t do perfect’ and she’s absolutely right.
"Don’t even aspire to it.
"Go on your journey knowing you’ll never get there."
Michael Grandage, the director of both Dawn's previous show, Thirty Million Minutes, and Dawn French is a Huge Twat, explained part of the appeal of the comedian and actress.
He said: "Nobody punctures the myth of celebrity better than Dawn.
"She’s very willing to show that she’s actually a person just like us, and one way she does that is by showing that she can make mistakes."
Mr Grandage is currently Artistic Director of the Michael Grandage Company, which produced the film Genius, starring Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman.
He also worked on Richard III with Kenneth Branagh, Madame de Sade with Judi Dench and Hamlet with Jude Law.
While not the most obvious choice for a comedian, his appointment made the show more than a 'laugh-a-minute' comedy.
He explained: "Dawn wanted to create a piece of visual theatre, more like a play, not just turn up and stand in front of a mike.
"The stories that Dawn is telling are personal but the way they’re dealt with is universal.
"This is about the common experience; the absolute best of what theatre should be."
Among the funny stories are more serious moments from Dawn’s career which audiences can relate to.
She said: "As I get older, I’m much more introspective.
"It doesn’t mean you lose the fun and froth – I love silliness – but I also don’t want to be pointless.
"I honestly can’t be arsed to get in the car and trail all around the country if I can’t say something I really mean.
"My life now is about being true to myself and living in my own skin.
"I’m 64 now and I know myself.
"For the most part I like myself and I can do this tour at this stage of my career because I’m very happy to tell you all these idiotic things that I’ve thought and done.
"This show is about mistakes and how you learn from them."
Dawn French is a Huge Twat will arrive at the Alhambra on October 28.
Tickets are available through the Kingsgate Box Office from Monday to Saturday between 11am and 4pm or via Ticketmaster.
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